John Bible Study - Lesson 16

John Bible Study - Lesson 16  

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 6:1-15 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵ Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

John 6:1-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. ² A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. ³ Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. ⁴ (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.)⁵ Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”⁶ He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

⁸ Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. ⁹ “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

¹⁰ “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) ¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. ¹² After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” ¹³ So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

¹⁴ When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” ¹⁵ When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

Note:

Here are the 3 questions for you to answer. I have given some basic answers below the questions to help you understand the passage. Answer the questions first yourself before you look at my answers. Take a moment before you begin and ask God to help you understand what you are reading.

3 questions to answer:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

3.    Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Answers to the questions above and some background:

Content: What is this passage about?

·         A Huge crowd began to follow Jesus due to their interest in Jesus’ miraculous signs and healings

·         Jesus decides to climb a hill where He and His disciples observed the huge crowd that came looking for Him. (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration)

·        Jesus, testing Phillip,  asks  him where they can buy bread to feed all the people

·        Phillip’s answer was practical in nature. Phillip determined the cost would outweigh the resources they had

·        Andrew then speaks up and points out a young boy with five barley loaves and two fish but realizes that amount would not be able to feed all the people

·        Jesus tells His disciples to tell everyone to sit down on the grassy slopes

·        There were at least 5000 men present not counting the women and children

·        Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward Jesus did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted

·        When everyone had enough to eat Jesus told His disciples to gather the leftovers

·        There was 12 baskets of food leftover

·        When the people saw Jesus perform this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting

·        When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        It is clear Jesus had compassion for the crowds that followed Him.

·        Not only did Jesus want to feed the crowd in order to meet their physical needs, He also wanted to teach them in order to meet their Spiritual needs.

This passage from Mark indicates Jesus’ concern for those who followed Him:

Mark 6:30-34 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

³⁰ The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. ³³ But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

·        Jesus was teaching His disciples of the importance about caring for God’s people

·        Jesus taught His disciples about serving others by instructing them to bring the food to the people

·        Jesus taught His disciples to give thanks to God for His provision.

·        Before we do work for God we should pray and give thanks

·        We should always include God in any decision or work He has called us to do, that way we will always be Spirit led in how we go about it

·        Followers of Jesus are also called to care for others by providing them with physical and material resources as well providing spiritual truth, godly counsel, compassion and love.

Galatians 6:2 ESV 

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Deuteronomy 15:11   ESV

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Hebrews 13:16 ESV  

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Philippians 2:4 ESV  

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Romans 12:13 ESV  

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

John 13:34 New International Version (NIV)

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Matthew 28:18-20New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

·        When Jesus is the source of nourishment, people will be satisfied

·        The Truth is: there is no satisfaction apart from Jesus. He is the only one that offers abundant life now and forever.

·        Many people who encounter the supernatural power of Jesus will have a new heart, mind and perspective. Yet, there are those who desire Jesus’ power to further their own agenda. That is why Jesus slipped away from the crowd. The people wanted Jesus to be a worldly warrior King in order to defeat the Roman Occupation. 

·        The people also saw Jesus as a way to get free food, but Jesus intended for the people to get spiritual food.

·        Many people misunderstood the purpose for God sending the Messiah.

·        The purpose for Jesus was to be the Lamb of God, a sacrifice to rescue God’s people from the consequences of unforgiven sin.

Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        Allow yourself to be spiritually nourished by reading and applying God’s Word and principles.

·        What kind of King are you looking for in Jesus?

·        Embrace Jesus as your spiritual King, Lord and Savior.

·        Feed others spiritually

·        Use the gifts and resources God has given you to help others.

·        Give thanks to God for His physical, material and spiritual provision

Don’t forget:

John’s main purpose in writing this Gospel:

·        To tell the world that Jesus is the Messiah for the Jews and Gentiles

·        The events were recorded so that we might believe and have eternal life

John 20:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Questions to ponder:

·        Does your diet consist of spiritual food?

·        Do you embrace Jesus as the Lamb of God?

·        How do you want Jesus to re-shape your life?

·        Do you desire real purpose and abundant life?

Have a great week…………….Dave