Sermon Study Guide

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Obtaining the Life-Changing Joy That Comes With the One Who Will Feed You Forever “Learning Jesus” (The Gospel of John) John 6:1-15 February 24, 2019

BIG IDEA The world-system doesn’t care about your soul, but Jesus does. He will never let you starve. He came “so that you might have life in His name.” This is what I want for you: To obtain the life-changing joy that comes with the One who will feed you forever.

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: This is the fourth of seven signs that Jesus did in order to prove that He is who He said He is. The Seven Signs  Changing water into wine at the wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-11)  Healing the royal official’s son (Jn. 4:46-54)  Healing the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (Jn. 5:1-15)  Feeding the 5,000 (Jn. 6:5-13)   

Walking on water (Jn. 6:16-21) Healing the man born blind (Jn. 9:1-7) Raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:1-44)

It was the time of Passover. The people were thinking in terms of the Old Testament, including the Exodus, and God’s provision for Israel by way of supplying manna. Now, they longed for a new Moses who would deliver them from Roman bondage. Israel had been fed by God’s manna in the desert. Now, Yahweh (Jesus) would feed them again; this time with fish and bread.

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John 6:1-15 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is 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 the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to 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 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” 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 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, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

DISCUSSION & APPLICATION Jesus loves you enough to take you on a journey toward Him. It isn’t an easy journey, but it does promise to find the One that will feed us forever. 1. Expect To Be Tested John 6:4-7 – Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to 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 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” Philip was like the rest of the crowd. He was thinking in human and temporal terms. He’d seen Jesus turn water into wine, yet here, it didn’t seem to cross his mind that he was talking to the person who did that. He needed to grow in his faith. Jesus was giving him, and the others, an education. Sometimes testing can be extreme. The Bible says:

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1 Peter 1:6-7 – In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. a. Why do you think Jesus tests those He loves? Can you describe a time in your life when you were tested by God? What was the result? What did you learn from that experience?

b. Peter tells us that a fortified faith is more “precious than gold.” Why is that? He also says that it results in the “praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” How does testing result in God’s glory?

c. Do you think that most Christians are ready to go through testing? Are you?

2. Bring Whatever You Have John 6:8-9 – One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” We also notice in this narrative that Jesus didn’t have much to work with. He only had two small fish and five loaves of bread. We aren’t expected to bring perfection or a tool bag to Jesus. When you are on this journey toward spiritual satisfaction in Christ, you’re simply asked to bring whatever you have. Jesus will do the rest. a. Why are we often tempted to try to solve all of our problems instead of placing them in the hands of Jesus? Can you find scripture that talks about the Lord’s willingness and ability to change your life through His power?

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b. The disciples were looking at this situation through a temporal lens. Can you think of some ways to help you see the world through the eyes of God? Share your thoughts with the group.

3. Submit To The Lord’s Plan John 6:10-11 – Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” 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 when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. Jesus had a plan! Like a shepherd leading his flock to sustaining nutrients, Jesus sat them down in the green grass, which again helps us understand that it was March or April because the grass would have been burned by summer. Mark 6:39-40 mentions that Jesus put them in groups of hundreds and fifties. Then he prayed a common Jewish prayer of thanksgiving. a. God has a plan for your life. It is the best plan. What would it take for you to submit to His plan for you? Why is it so hard for you to submit?

b. The Lord knew exactly what to do with very little food. Describe a time when He’s worked in your life in an unexpected way.

4. Allow Jesus to Teach You John 6:11-13 – Jesus then took the loaves, and 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.

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The disciples’ gathering of the twelve baskets of fragments was part of their education. It was to show them that Jesus is more than adequate for their needs. That there were twelve baskets is almost certainly significant: the Lord has enough to supply the needs of the twelve tribes of Israel. All four Gospels draw attention to the number. a. What are some ways that you can open yourself to being taught by God?

b. Willing to be taught takes humility. Are you willing to allow God to have deep access into your heart? What could you learn?

c. What rewards come with God’s teaching in your life? Isaiah 55:8 shouts: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

5. Keep Your Eyes On Jesus and Be Satisfied! John 6:14-15 – When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. The nature of Jesus’ Kingdom is very much in play here. Jesus wasn’t just an earthly king. He is King of the Jews. But He knew that His kingdom wasn’t about wielding the sword. Rather, it was about saving people from spiritual death by dying and rising from the dead. They were searching for the wrong kind of king. They didn’t recognize Jesus for what He really is: The King of the Universe! And so He fled from the crowd and according to Mark, He even sent His own disciples away, across the lake, perhaps in fear that they too might become contaminated by the crowd’s foolishly directed enthusiasm.

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a. Your journey to Jesus will be fraught with faulty theology and folk-theology. Why is it so important to understand the true nature of Jesus? Do you think that culture has a proper understanding of the Lord? Why or why not?

b. Jesus is more than a religious figure or Christian icon. He is the King of Kings. Take a moment and thank Him for loving you!

c. How does Jesus feed His children? What does spiritual food taste like?

PRAY Dear Lord, thank you for feeding your children with eternal food. It is amazing to think that you’ve chosen me. Help me to learn to receive from you so that I might be satisfied forever! Amen.

DIG DEEPER For further study this week:  

Five Lessons from John: When God Became Man - a book from Max Lucado The Gospel of John – A DVD featuring literal scripture in the Gospel of John

NEXT WEEK’S BIG IDEA Seven Signs Point to Jesus as Son of God; Sign #5 - Jesus Walking on Water (John 6:16-21)

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