John 6:14-15 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, 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. 
 
THIS is the third time John refers to “the Prophet”. Twice the authorities asked John the Baptist if he were the Prophet, who Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18:15 & 18 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him…18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. The now well-fed crowd saw the miracle. Suddenly, they believed Jesus could be the Prophet of whom Moses spoke.
   They were right. Jesus is raised up from among the Jews to fulfill Moses’ prophecy. The Living Word spoke to Moses. Now he has come in the flesh to speak God’s commands to teach the truth.
   Through Moses and Jesus, God fed the multitudes. Moses led the people from Egypt’s domination. Will Jesus now lead the Jews out of Rome’s domination? Yes, the Jews saw Jesus as the Prophet, who would feed and deliver them. They were right to a point. But their vison was limited.  
   The people saw Jesus with eyes of immediate physical food and freedom. They needed, instead, to see the Prophet would come to tell them everything I command him. The Prophet is to feed the Word of God to his people. His work is lead his people from sin’s penalty into eternal freedom.  
   That is why Jesus went away that day. He is the Son of God, working in the Father’s will. All he does is to point his people to heaven. He will not be forced into circumstances that will detract from his mission. He will not lead a nation from under a foreign rule. But he will lead the world out of sin’s rule.
   One day the disciples would fully see Jesus as the Holy Son of God, crucified, died, buried, risen, ascended: Acts 1:9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They would go from there with their eyes wide open in the Spirit’s power. Their work would begin to open the world’s eyes – even yours and mine – to see Jesus is the eternal Prophet come to proclaim God’s salvation.   
   See the true Jesus; help others see him, too. He is the ascended Lord of heaven and earth. He is Life everlasting.
 
Prayer: Open my eyes, Lord, to see the fullness of your salvation in my life. I want to see you. I want to know you. I want to show who you are to my friends and family, so they see you, too. Amen. 
 

John 6:11-13 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.
 
NOTE John writes that Jesus “distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted”? How do we understand this phrase? Were some unwilling to join with Jesus, his disciples and the eager crowd to experience God’s provision? Perhaps some said, “I’m not hungry.” Or maybe they thought, “I’ll wait to see if everyone else has enough.” Possibly the phrase is an affirmation that all the 5,000 men (plus women and children) were seated in expectation of needed food.
   How about you? Are you eager, even hungry to approach God’s invitation to sit down and feast on His Word? Do you sometimes stand back because you’re not hungry now? Or might you first want to discover if the Bible’s teachings nourish others? Do you wonder if the Living Word really is enough to help you “today”?
   Or are you eager to sit down and be filled? Do you believe the Lord’s Word is abundant for your life to nourish you in all circumstances? Can you trust your appetite will be satisfied when you sit down with Jesus?
   This is my prayer for you. I pray you will hunger for his Word. You will receive what he serves you through the Bible, your prayers and your experiences with him. I pray you will help the church set a welcoming table to care for many who are hungry all that is good in God’s name. I pray that together you will receive what the Lord delivers to you.  
   Too many times we prefer to stand back and defer the Lord’s offerings. “Is this what I need?” we ask. We forget we may have an appetite for something that will harm us. Let’s steadfastly believe, though, the Holy God knows exactly what to feed us each day. Let’s faithfully pray, “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) to know the Lord will feed what is good and nourishing for us.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, you have set the table with the right food to nourish my soul this day. Amen.
  

John 6:7-10 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not 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 the men sat down, about five thousand of them.
 
IN Psalm 23 David wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd. He makes me lie down in green pastures…You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Now Jesus gives us a picture of this promise literally come true.
   The Good Shepherd has come to earth. The has led his people to the green grass on Galilee’s far shore. He invites them to sit down to enjoy a meal he has prepared for them.
   How soothing are Jesus’ words, “Have the people sit down.”  He is the Host, who welcomes his friends. His desire is for their secure comfort. The gracious Shepherd knows his people are hungry. He acts to feed them and to show them he is their God of promise and hope.
   Do you remember a few lessons back when we spoke of Yahweh? This is the Hebrew name for God. The name Jehovah was also used at different points in history. In the Bible many versions write this name as LORD. The name defines God’s character. The LORD is eternal and able to do all that He wills; the LORD will do all that He has promised.
   David and other prophets described the LORD’s character. They defined who He is and what He would do. Then the LORD came in the flesh to demonstrate His promises are truly life to His people.
   The LORD speaks. The LORD acts. We can look into history to see he is true to his word.  In turn we gaze to the future to know with sure hope the LORD will invite his faithful to sit down and feast with him: Revelation 3:20-21 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” 
  
Prayer: LORD, come into my life. I look forward to the day I will sit with you and your people to savor the eternal feast of your love and joy. Amen.
    

John 6:1-6 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 miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast 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.
 
JOHN 5 focused on Jesus defending his deity at the temple in Jerusalem before the Jewish authorities. This is the apostle John’s method to help us, too, know Jesus is the Living Son of God. The Holy God has taught us Jesus is healer and judge. He is one with the Father, acting only in the Father’s will. Jesus is worthy of our love. And Jesus is a loving encourager. He praises us as we are faithful disciples.
   John 6 a chapter we can call “The Bread Speaks” begins some time after these events. What do you think Jesus was doing between the time in the temple and here on a mountainside on the far shore of Galilee?
   It’s plain, isn’t it, that life-changing miracles were his main work. Crowds of people followed Jesus! Surely, they expected to see more miracles. Likely they hope for change for themselves, their loved ones and their neighbors. Had the Messiah come? God had been moving among his people. They eagerly responded to the physical wonders before them.
   The stage is then set for another astonishing work. Thousands will be fed with mere morsels. But first, Jesus wants to increase his disciples’ faith. He uses this time for a teaching moment. He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” We’ll see in the next lesson that amid Jesus’ miraculous works, Jesus’ students missed the opportunity to say, “Why buy bread, Lord? You heal the sick. You raise the dead. Your word changes lives. Certainly, you can feed thousands of people. You did it for the Jews in the desert journey for 40 years! Certainly, you can feed a few thousand for one meal.”
   That’s what Jesus wanted to hear, I believe. He wanted the disciples to remember God’s work in the desert journey and to trust his work in the present.
   This is his will, his desire, for your life, too. When you come to a point in your life that asks the question, “What shall we do?” How do you respond? Do you disconnect from the Lord’s miraculous work? Or do you remember how he has miraculously come to earth to be your Savior? Are you firm in your hope and faith to believe the Lord God has the power to provide for all your needs?
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Living Word. I pray I believe in you to seek you first, even when things look impossible. 

John 5:44-47 “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? 45 But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
 
AFTER yesterday’s lesson to love the Lord above all, “Does the Lord praise you?” seem to be a self-centered question? Listen, though, to Jesus’ urging, “How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?” Does God praise his faithful followers?
   Yes he does. God is a good father. Good fathers praise their children for living well. Good children seek their parents’ praise.
   The Bible tells us so. Hear Jesus’ parable of the minas: Luke 19:17 “Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’” And listen to Jesus praising a faithful woman in Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.”  Third, consider the assurance of the Lord’s praise in Psalms 5:12 For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
   God praises his faithful whose hearts are devoted to him above all things. Jesus urges us to seek his praise with faithful lives. If we answer our last lesson question, “Do you love God?” with a certain, “Yes, I do!” then your love will become real as you seek to obey the Lord.
   That means God’s Word is your absolute. Reject the culture norm. Stand in the church to defend God’s gospel. Defend your family from temptation. He is your God. He is your Savior. He is the Spirit.
   The Holy Trinity has quickened your soul to eternal life. Why would we prefer, “Well done.” from another person above “Well done.” from our holy, absolute God?
  
Prayer: I pray, Lord God, I desire your praise above all words. Amen.
 

John 5:41-43 “I do not accept praise from men, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.”
 
HOW did you feel when you read the title to this lesson? Did you say to yourself, “Of course I do!” or did you stop and ask, “Do I?” I’m glad you’ve come this far in the lesson because it’s a question that deserves some time to consider. How do we know how to answer?
   Let’s consider those Jews standing before Jesus that day in the temple. He didn’t ask, “Do you love me?” he instead told them,  “I know that you do not have the love of God in your heart.” Wow! The Son of God, who is fully God, who is love, (1 John 4:8) rebuked his own. With all intentions to awaken their loveless hearts, the Lord essentially told the Jews, “You live constantly against the greatest commandment.”
   The Jews looked to Moses as the greatest prophet and law giver, yet they rejected Moses’ words: Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Jesus affirmed this Number One law: Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  Yet, their souls were empty.
   How do you think the guilty men responded to the Lord as we do? Our sinful hearts are first prone to reject judgment, aren’t we? The men, as we would, surely defended themselves. “Look at what we do!” could have been a first reaction. But Jesus knew their hearts were focused on, “How do I look? Do others see me as righteous? Do people know I’m a most important person in the temple? Are they aware of how much I know of the Law and the Prophets?” The Jews who denied Jesus’ deity that day in truth denied God every day.   
   Consider, too, how we love others above God. Why do we sometimes go to great lengths to see a celebrity, a politician or even well-known church leaders who comes to town? I’m always amazed at how a “celebrity preacher” or best-selling author will attract a large crowd to a church. But when he or she is gone, the crowd is gone, too! Don’t we know the Lord is in his church? Do we love God enough to put him above every person, each thing in his church?
   Where’s your love? On the Lord…on others…or on ourselves?
 
Pray: Lord Jesus, I pray I love you with all of my heart. Amen. Exodus 20:1-3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”

John 5:31-40 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 33 You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”
 
OUR Lord continues to defend his identity to the Jews. Recall the Jews asked the man whom Jesus healed, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick (up your mat) and walk?” (John 5:12)  
   Underlying this “Testimony of the Christ” passage is a law from Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. (underline mine) That’s why Jesus said, “My testimony is not valid”. He does not admit a lie. But faithful to the Scriptures, he uses “the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Here are the three witnesses.
   First, Jesus reminds the Jews of the prophetic authority as spoken in John the Baptist’s testimony. John had testified as an eyewitness: John 1:34 “I have seen, and I testify that this is the Son of God.” John was the last of many prophets who had testified to the Christ’s identity.
   Second, Jesus uses the testimony of his healing and saving miracles. These show he is more than a prophet. He continues to connect his work on earth as a fulfillment of the Father’s will on earth. Jesus declares he will finish the Father’s work as further testimony. Jesus did so. On the cross, he affirmed: “It is finished.” (John 19:30). 
   The Father, then, is Jesus’ third witness. The Father has spoken Jesus’ identity as recorded in several scriptures, including Matthew 317 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” And even more, God has spoken through Scripture, “This is my Son.” Jesus teaches that to truly know Scripture’s testimony the words must “dwell in you” (v 38). You will then know the prophets, the miracles and the Father have told you the truth of Jesus’ identity.
 
Prayer: I pray, Lord Jesus, that I receive in my heart the full testimony that you are Savior of my life and of the world. Amen.

John 5:28-30 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”
 
JESUS teaches the remarkable picture of a mass resurrection one day. All who have died in the world’s history will rise! In this unimaginable miracle, three things will happen.
   First, all the dead will hear Jesus’ call us out of the grave. This will be in the same manner Jesus spoke to Lazarus, who was four days dead in a tomb: John 11:43 Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Whether we are physically dead for four days or four millenniums, our physical bodies will hear the Son of Man’s command to rise.
   Second, God will separate those who have done evil and those who have done good. Now, this may confuse us as Jesus just taught in the previous passage: John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Here and in many New Testament scriptures we learn our faith in Christ, not our works in the law, is the reason for our salvation. 
   Jesus, though, refers to the “work” of belief or disbelief. Jesus will judge to eternal condemnation people who have done a “work” of rebellion, rejecting the gospel. Jesus will call to heaven people who have done a “work” of faith, receiving the gospel.
   Third, Jesus confirms again that his work is in unity with the Father and Spirit. He knows what pleases the Father because the Spirit has given him such wisdom. His ministry is Spirit-empowered, Father-pleasing to speak and do the truth. Jesus shows us true faith as he worked in the Father’s will.
   His faithful work continues today. Jesus is our mediator to open the pathway of forgiveness unto eternal salvation. He has come. He has spoken. His work on earth is done. His work in heaven continues as he intercedes for us before the Father until Jesus calls from the dead.
   What have you done? Have you rejected Jesus or received Jesus? Prepare now before he cries, “Come out of that grave.”
 
Prayer: Save me, Lord, from my sins. I confess you are my Lord, Savior and Resurrection. I await the day of your return with grand hope and expectation! In Jesus’ name I rejoice. Amen.
 

John 5:24-27 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.”
 
THERE is a hymn called “Wonderful Words of Life”:
 
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.
 
Christ, the blessèd One, gives to all wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life;
All so freely given, wooing us to heaven.
 
Sweetly echo the Gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever.
 
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
 
   How wonderful it is that the Lord said, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned”. How beautiful, too, are the words, “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.”
   Jesus taught these life-giving words to people intent on destroying him. He spoke into deadened ears to offer new understanding. The Savior urged his beloved Jews to hear – to listen and know – that he had come unto them to speak resurrection. Jesus, the Son, is one with the Father. Life is in the Father. Life is in the Son. Life is in in you when you know Jesus’ wonderful, beautiful words.
   Believe and be saved.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the sweet, sweet sounds of life coming from your Word each day. I pray I listen and believe. Amen.