2018.11.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ John 6:1-14

Read John 6:1-14

Questions for Littles: Where did Jesus go (v1)? Who followed Him (v2a)? Why (2b)? Where did Jesus go in v3? What does v4 specifically mention as being near? What does Jesus see in v5? What did Jesus ask Philip? Why did Jesus ask this (v6)? What does Philip say would not be sufficient in v7? For what would it not even be sufficient? What does Andrew point out in v8-9? What does Jesus say for them to do in v10? How many men were there? What did Jesus do first, when He took the loaves (v11)? Then what did He do? With what did He do likewise? When did Jesus speak to the disciples the words in v12? What did He tell them? How many baskets did they gather up (v13)? Of what? What did the men who saw the sign say in v14? 

In the Gospel reading this week, the primary issue, as usual, is: who is Jesus? John led off the book telling us that Jesus displays His glory as greater than Moses, and there are many gentle reminders of that in the passage this week.

First, Jesus leads His disciples over the sea and up the mountain. Remind you of anyone? And just in case we happened to miss that, John actually interrupts the narrative to point out that the Passover is coming. The Baptizer had said that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Here, Jesus feeds a multitude with miraculous bread. As we get further into the chapter, we’ll find that the people don’t miss the connection. In fact, when Jesus urges them to believe in Him, they will counter that the reproduction of manna bread would be a belief-worthy sign.

Finally, pay careful attention to what they say in v14: “This truly is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” This is a direct reference to Moses’s own prophecy that the Lord would send a prophet like him but greater.

For Christ’s part, we still remember from chapter 3 that He was entrusting Himself to no man. His wider popularity would prove to be very temporary, but Jesus is focusing on His own disciples.

Jesus knows what He is about to do, but He asks Philip the provocative question in v5-6. He has the disciples organize the people, distribute the food, gather up the leftovers. He is displaying to them who He is, that they would behold His glory as of the only begotten of the Father. Have you beheld that glory on the pages of Scripture? What have you done about it?

How can we tell if who Jesus is to us is more important than what He does for us?

Suggested songs: ARP2 “Why Do Gentile Nations Rage?” or TPH273 “Break Thou the Bread of Life”