John 6 – Do You Want the Bread of Life?

Jesus feed over 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish and there were 12 baskets leftover.

The crowd wants to make him king by force so Jesus withdraws to a mountain. That night Jesus walks on water and catches up to the other disciples!

So many people there had their own agenda for Jesus. Jesus then says things like “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭53‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

We know he’s referring to the symbolic ritual we call communion or the Lord’s Supper. Those who have their own agenda for Jesus just think he’s crazy and many stop following him. 

The 12 apostles stay with him. Peter explains: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭68‬ ‭NIV) 

#newtestament #jesus #faith #spirituality #deconstructing #reconstructing #postchristianworld #christianity #christian

Video:

Message Notes:

Jesus is becoming more and more popular. The crowd is getting hungry so Jesus suggests they feed the 5000 men who are there (many more with women and children).

The disciples cannot imagine how to do that. It would be far too expensive! Jesus then takes 5 barley loaves and 2 fish and multiplies them and feeds the crowd. There are even 12 baskets of leftovers! 

The crowd wants to make him king by force so Jesus withdraws to a mountain. That night Jesus walks on water and catches up to the other disciples!

The crowds find them so Jesus begins teaching them that he is the “Bread from Heaven.” He explains:

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent…. I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.” (‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭29‬, ‭35‬-‭36‬ NIV)

So many people there had their own agenda for Jesus. Some want to force him to be king. Some want him to perform more miracles. Some want free food. Some truly follow him as the Messiah, the Son of God, the Bread of Life.

Jesus then says things like “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭53‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

We know he’s referring to the symbolic ritual we call communion or the Lord’s Supper. Those who have their own agenda for Jesus just think he’s crazy and many stop following him. 

The 12 apostles stay with him. Peter explains: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭68‬ ‭NIV) 

When reading this passage what stood out to you?

How do you sense God may want you to apply what you discovered?

John 5 – Do You Want to Get Well?

Jesus goes to the pool of Bethesda which the people thought had healing powers. Jesus sees a man who had never been able to walk and asks him: “Do you want to get well?”

The man makes excuses and blames others including Jesus after he was healed.

The religious leaders are more concerned that he is carrying his mat on the Sabbath than amazed that he can walk!

Sometimes we don’t get well because we prefer remaining as we are. Our identity may be wrapped up in blaming others and we prefer being a victim.

Jesus shares that his authority comes from his Father in heaven.

#newtestament #jesus #faith #spirituality #deconstructing #reconstructing #postchristianworld #christianity #christian

Video:

Message Notes:

Jesus goes to the pool of Bethesda which the people thought had healing powers. Jesus sees a man who had never been able to walk his entire life of 38 years and Jesus asks Him: “Do you want to get well?”

The man makes excuses and blames others explaining that when the water begins to stir he cannot get there in time. More than likely the people believed an angel was stirring the waters which is why so many people came there for healing.

Jesus heals him instantaneously! He’s able to walk! 

The religious leaders are more concerned that he is carrying his mat on the sabbath than amazed that he can walk!

The man doesn’t even know Jesus’ name. Once again he blames others rather than taking personal responsibility.

Sometimes we don’t get well because we prefer remaining as we are. Our identity may be wrapped up in blaming others and we prefer being a victim.

Jesus warns him that living that way will lead to bad consequences.

Instead of listening to Jesus, the man goes to the religious leaders to reveal Jesus’ identity to them.

The religious leaders begin persecuting Jesus because he did not abide by their man made rules concerning the Sabbath.

“In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Jesus shares a great deal on how interconnected He is with the Father.

Understanding how God is three persons in one is very difficult for our human minds to comprehend. 

A 7 year old in our church was having trouble with the idea of the Trinity or the Triune God which is what we call the God of the Bible who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit yet one God.

So I gave him this description which seemed to help:

God the Father is in heaven. Jesus was the name of God when on earth, and the Spirit of God is in our hearts.

Father, Son, and Spirit created the universe and you can see each expression of the One True God from the beginning to the end of the Bible. There is love, unity, and community within the One True God and each expression of this One True God plays a different role in His interaction with His creation.

One God seen in three different ways.

Perhaps like how water, ice, and steam are all made up of h2o (2 parts hydrogen, 1 part oxygen) or how the sun is a star and it’s also our source for light and our source of warmth.  One entity experienced in 3 different ways. 

When reading this passage what stood out to you?

How do you sense God may want you to apply what you discovered?