John 6.1-21
John 6:1-21
Jesus feeds the five thousand [draft sermon notes]
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Published July 14th, 2021
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John 6:1-21
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Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 6 1 After this j Jesus went away to the other side of k the Sea of Galilee, which is l the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on m the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now n the Passover, the o feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 p Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to q Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 r Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii 1 worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, s Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five t barley loaves and two fish, but t what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” u Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and v when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, w “This is indeed x the Prophet y who is to come into the world!” 15 z Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus a withdrew again to b the mountain by himself. Jesus Walks on Water 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, 1 they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 c But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
John 6:1-21
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6 1 Μετὰ ταῦτα ἀπῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς Γαλιλαίας τῆς Τιβεριάδος. 2 ἠκολούθει δὲ αὐτῷ ὄχλος πολύς, ὅτι ἐθεώρουν τὰ σημεῖα ἃ ἐποίει ἐπὶ τῶν ἀσθενούντων. 3 ἀνῆλθεν δὲ εἰς τὸ ὄρος Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἐκεῖ ἐκάθητο μετὰ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ. 4 ἦν δὲ ἐγγὺς τὸ πάσχα, ἡ ἑορτὴ τῶν Ἰουδαίων. 5 Ἐπάρας οὖν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ θεασάμενος ὅτι πολὺς ὄχλος ἔρχεται πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγει πρὸς Φίλιππον• πόθεν ἀγοράσωμεν ἄρτους ἵνα φάγωσιν οὗτοι; 6 τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγεν πειράζων αὐτόν• αὐτὸς γὰρ ᾔδει τί ἔμελλεν ποιεῖν. 7 ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ [ὁ] Φίλιππος• διακοσίων δηναρίων ἄρτοι οὐκ ἀρκοῦσιν αὐτοῖς ἵνα ἕκαστος βραχύ [τι] λάβῃ. 8 λέγει αὐτῷ εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, Ἀνδρέας ὁ ἀδελφὸς Σίμωνος Πέτρου• 9 ἔστιν παιδάριον ὧδε ὃς ἔχει πέντε ἄρτους κριθίνους καὶ δύο ὀψάρια• ἀλλὰ ταῦτα τί ἐστιν εἰς τοσούτους; 10 εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς• ποιήσατε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἀναπεσεῖν. ἦν δὲ χόρτος πολὺς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ. ἀνέπεσαν οὖν οἱ ἄνδρες τὸν ἀριθμὸν ὡς πεντακισχίλιοι. 11 ἔλαβεν οὖν τοὺς ἄρτους ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ εὐχαριστήσας διέδωκεν τοῖς ἀνακειμένοις ὁμοίως καὶ ἐκ τῶν ὀψαρίων ὅσον ἤθελον. 12 ὡς δὲ ἐνεπλήσθησαν, λέγει τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ• συναγάγετε τὰ περισσεύσαντα κλάσματα, ἵνα μή τι ἀπόληται. 13 συνήγαγον οὖν καὶ ἐγέμισαν δώδεκα κοφίνους κλασμάτων ἐκ τῶν πέντε ἄρτων τῶν κριθίνων ἃ ἐπερίσσευσαν τοῖς βεβρωκόσιν. 14 Οἱ οὖν ἄνθρωποι ἰδόντες ὃ ἐποίησεν σημεῖον ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἀληθῶς ὁ προφήτης ὁ ἐρχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 15 Ἰησοῦς οὖν γνοὺς ὅτι μέλλουσιν ἔρχεσθαι καὶ ἁρπάζειν αὐτὸν ἵνα ποιήσωσιν βασιλέα, * ἀνεχώρησεν πάλιν εἰς τὸ ὄρος αὐτὸς μόνος. 16 Ὡς δὲ ὀψία ἐγένετο κατέβησαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν 17 καὶ ἐμβάντες εἰς πλοῖον ἤρχοντο πέραν τῆς θαλάσσης εἰς Καφαρναούμ. καὶ σκοτία ἤδη ἐγεγόνει καὶ οὔπω ἐληλύθει πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς, 18 ἥ τε θάλασσα ἀνέμου μεγάλου πνέοντος διεγείρετο. 19 ἐληλακότες οὖν ὡς σταδίους εἴκοσι πέντε ἢ τριάκοντα θεωροῦσιν τὸν Ἰησοῦν περιπατοῦντα ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ ἐγγὺς τοῦ πλοίου γινόμενον, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν. 20 ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐτοῖς• ἐγώ εἰμι• μὴ φοβεῖσθε. 21 ἤθελον οὖν λαβεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον, καὶ εὐθέως ἐγένετο τὸ πλοῖον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς εἰς ἣν ὑπῆγον.
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Notes
Jesus feeds the five thousand Intro : An immensely famous miracle Jesus is the greater Moses. Up on the mountain - ie like Moses, and then he feeds in the wilderness; the greater Moses. Except that, whereas Moses spoke with the I AM, here the I AM himself comes to them directly in Jesus. We have seen his glory, in the flesh! The event sets up a long and important discourse; here in 6, as it was in 5. 1. Jesus multiplies a few loaves and fish to feed thousands of people with plenty left over v1 Sea of Galilee. Why known as Tiberias. v2-3. Likely Golan heights. v4 Passover is the backdrop. NB theological significance (sacrifice of lamb anticipates Jesus' death; OT manna shown to point to the Bread of Life; exodus points to deliverance into eternal life; passover feast points to the Lord's Supper; Moses generally in mind). v5-7 Jesus setting up the lesson for his disciples. v8-9 the principle of 'multiplying grace'; Jesus works through what is yielded to him. Tiny fish, and barley loaves - what poor people would have had. v10-11. Likely 20,000 people in total. Jesus thanks God for the food. When people are unbelievers they ask you to believe so much. E.g., alternative theories about this miracle - he shamed them into sharing, or a mere mythical metaphor for the Lord's Supper. Why these make no sense. v12-13 abundant provision, all you can eat with leftovers. How much grace is there for you in Jesus? As much as you need. v14 they see the sign [so this is marked out as a sign] they say v14 Jesus the greater Moses who provided for the people in the wilderness. Whereas Moses mediated God's presence, Jesus himself reveals it. v14 Significance of the phrase, 'is coming into the world' (present middle aspect) in John's gospel. v15 Northern Galilee area, huge crowd, wanting to make him King. Unlike Judea they were ruled by a king, though a puppet king (Herod Antipas). Our resources are ludicrously insufficient for the needs of the world; this is Jesus' coaching paradigm for them. Yield everything to Jesus and see what he will do. This is how the needs of the world will be met! Through individuals yielding themselves to Jesus Christ, and through his grace. 2. Jesus walks on water and says 'I AM' (v16-21) v16-18 This is no accident, Jesus has led them into this storm to reveal himself within it. v19 Jesus does what God is said to do in the OT. Also cf Moses and calming of sea/parting of waters etc. v20 significance is 'I AM' - the first of several. v21 allusion to Psalm 107; Jesus has done what God does, and revealed God's own name. Glory of God . He feeds his people generously in the wilderness. He reveals himself in the storm. He chooses to work through our utter insufficiency and show his mighty power through our weakness. FCF . We view the purely physical in front of us, and so don't perceive God with us. Thinking the bread and fish couldn't possibly feed the crowd, nor even a year's wages. Being terrified in the storm. H1. Assuming there is no god, or if there is that he is distant, uninvolved, even unknowable. H2. Whilst having a clever or robust theological system, functionally continuing as if God does not rule intimately. Not yielding ourselves fully to Jesus. Person of Jesus . God, in the flesh, in his creation, controlling it. Showing his providential power as creator through his miracles. Showing his generous compassion. Work of Jesus. Above all the I AM will be revealed at the cross. Jesus will say 'I AM' the final time at the point of his complete self-giving, and his complete despising and betrayal. If you don't know the God of the cross, you don't know God. The bread of life is given in substance at the cross. Union with Jesus . Come and trust the Creator who provides. Invitation (instruct). He will meet your needs. Yield your life to him. Confrontation (rebuke). Stop fearing and fretting and relying on self. Consolation (encourage. 'I AM; do not be afraid.' The revelation of God comes with the command, don't be afraid. Draw near. Wrap up : Jesus is the greater Moses. Jesus is the I AM. Jesus is the true bread, the true life - not just the giver of life. So come and yield your life to him. Whoever lays down his life will find it.
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