May 11, 2024
“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66 ESV). In John 6:66, the shocking statement that Jesus made concerning His body and blood as spiritual food, made many so-called disciples desert Him. Just as Moses had led a “mixed multitude” into the wilderness from Egypt (Ex. 12:38),
May 9, 2024
“And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick” (John 6:2 ESV). The apostle John reported that large crowds began to follow Jesus in the Galilee region because of the “signs” he was doing. John called the miracles of Jesus “signs” for they were given
May 10, 2023
‘Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty”‘ (John 6:35 NLT). After Jesus miraculously fed the multitude, the crowd looked for Him the next day. When they found Him, Jesus told them that they weren’t really looking for
May 10, 2021
JESUS, THE TRUE FOOD FOR OUR SOULS After Jesus miraculously fed the multitude, the crowd looked for Him the next day. When they found Him, Jesus told them that they weren’t really looking for Him, but they were looking for more bread. He said they should stop looking for food that perishes but for food
May 9, 2019
DO YOU FOLLOW THE MASTER OR THE MIRACLES? The apostle John reported that huge crowds began to follow Jesus in the Galilee region because of his miracles. The crowds grew even larger when Jesus fed the 5,000, miraculously multiplying two fish and five loaves of barley to feed them all with twelve baskets leftover. Yet,
May 11, 2018
THE “666” OF JOHN’S GOSPEL
In John 6:66, the shocking statement that Jesus made concerning His body and blood as spiritual food, made many so-called disciples desert Him. Just as Moses had led a “mixed multitude” (Ex. 12:38) into the wilderness from Egypt, so a mixed multitude followed Jesus. On this day in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus separated those who only followed for the free bread, from those who followed because they truly believed.
In John’s Revelation, he wrote of another “666” (Rev. 13:16-18), the mark of the beast, which in the last days will cause many to turn away from God and turn to the Antichrist, in order to buy bread. Those who receive this mark will come under the “wrath of God” (Rev. 14:9-11), for they will have rejected the Bread of Life in order to eat the temporal bread of this world.
I suppose there are many “666” moments when those who follow Jesus must count the cost. In those moments, true believers will continue to follow Jesus no matter the cost. But false believers will turn away and desert Him.
May 10, 2018
ONLY ONE WORK, NOT WORKS.
Jesus told those who wanted to know what “works” they needed to do in order to please God, that only one “worK” was needed. What was that work? It is the work of faith. It is the “only work God wants,” that we might “believe” in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
May 9, 2018
A LITTLE LAD’S LITTLE LUNCH FEEDS A LARGE CROWD
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was always bringing people to Jesus. Here, he brought a young boy to Jesus with his packed lunch. The boy’s lunch was barely enough for him. It was not only a small lunch, but a poor one. For barley was the bread of the poor. Yet, Jesus loves using the young, the small and the poor to accomplish much! Jesus took the five barley loaves and fed five thousand. Andrew had enough faith to bring the little lad and his little lunch to Jesus. The young boy had enough faith to give the whole of it to Jesus, not asking for even one loaf or one fish back for himself. And Jesus had more than enough power to multiply it to miraculously feed a multitude with twelve baskets leftover.
The young boy had enough for a meager lunch for himself, but giving it to Jesus, there was more than enough for everyone, himself included.
May 9, 2017
After Jesus had miraculously fed the multitude, He “perceived” that the crowd had it in their minds to make Him king. So, He went into the mountain alone, staying there until nightfall. Jesus would not allow the people to determine His identity and purpose. The Father had not sent Him to be a temporal king, but a Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world. He was establishing an eternal kingdom.
We do not get to make of Jesus what we will. He will not allow it. We must receive Him for who He claims to be. Then, willing submit to Him, asking Him to make of us what He wills.
May 10, 2016
The crowd that sought Jesus had been present when he miraculously fed the 5,000. Jesus accused them of seeking him, not for Himself, but for more bread. What is your reason for seeking Jesus? Have you come with your laundry list hoping He will do your bidding? Would you prefer He offered a “drive-thru” for your fast food order? What do you seek of Jesus, His face or His hand?