What are we looking for?

Jesus fed the 5,000 then disappeared. When he reappears, the crowds gather to meet him. Are they looking for food, healing, teaching... or just for the next new thing? If they were looking for teaching, they certainly found some, though the disciples described it later as a "hard teaching."

 What are we looking for?


(43) Hard Teaching

Jesus has just fed the 5,000; John records this as Jesus’ fourth “sign” (Read John 6:14—the signs so far are: wedding feast at Cana, healing the official’s son, and healing at the pool) and so a seriously big deal in determining who Jesus is. Jesus then sails across the water (and walks on water—last week’s study). Meanwhile… Read John 6:22-24
1.       How do the crowds react when Jesus has “disappeared”?
2.       What efforts do we make to “find” Jesus when we don’t sense his presence?
Jesus lands at Gennesaret (probably Kineret on the Northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, not far to the west of Capernaum). Read Matthew 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56, John 6:25
1.       How do the crowds react when they find Jesus?
2.       How do you picture the scenes in “villages, cities or the country”?
3.       Are we this excited about Jesus?
Read John 6:26, Matthew 14:36, Mark 6:56
1.       How does Jesus respond to the crowds? Is he helpful, disappointed, generous, annoyed… all of these?
2.       Does reading the passages from Matthew and Mark help us understand the passage in John?
3.       If we feel like we’ve disappointed God, do we tend to retreat from him or drawer closer to him?
John invites his readers to draw close and listen to a famous sermon. Read John 6:27
1.       What do we normally “labor for”?
2.       Read John 6:28-29 When is believing “work”? What everyday beliefs require work?
3.       Read John 6:30-31 According to John, Jesus has just given them a “sign.” Why are they asking for another one?
4.       Is asking for signs any different from praying for guidance, or for things we need?(Read Mark 6:36 again)
5.       Read John 6:32-35 Did you know John is the only Gospel writer who doesn’t describe the institution of Communion at the Last Supper. Is he describing it here?
6.       How hungry are we for Communion?
Jesus’ sermon continues, while his listeners fail to understand. Read John 6:36-40
1.       What is God’s will for Jesus? (verse 38,39)
2.       What is God’s will for those who come to Jesus? (Verse 40)
3.       What is Jesus’ will for those who come to him? (Verse 37)
But the crowds don’t understand. Can we blame them, or would we be confused too?
1.       Read John 6:41-42 The NT tells us to “test” what we hear (read Deuteronomy 13:1-3). Is this what they’re doing?
2.       Read John 6:43-45, Jeremiah 31:3, Isaiah 54:13  How does this affect our confidence to trust in Jesus?
3.       Read John 6:46-51 How is Jesus’ like manna in the desert?
4.       Is this the first time Jesus foretells his death?
5.       Read John 6:52 Do we still misunderstand? Do we still argue about the wrong things, and let the wrong things divide believers?
Read John 6:53-58 Can you paraphrase this, after reading and studying the earlier parts of the passage?
Read John 6:59 The disciples are about to call this a “hard teaching” (verse 60). Would the crowds be happier to hear these things in a synagogue or by the lake? How might the meaning change in the context of worship and the Temple?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Meeting a ghost?

 Last week our group followed Mary and Cleopas (or possibly some other unknowns) on the road to Emmaus and met a rather familiar stranger. They rush back to tell the disciples who they've seen, and, of course, no one quite believes them. The same old story. Until suddenly... (112) Meeting the Risen Lord The risen Jesus appears to the others as well. 1.       Read Luke 24:36-37 Does it surprise you that Jesus’ disciples believe in ghosts? a.       Are wrong beliefs evil, or simply incorrect? 2.       Read Luke 24:38 Why were the disciples afraid? Why might they have been doubtful or unwilling to believe? a.       When something good happens, do we sometimes doubt? b.       What about when something bad happens? 3.       Read Luke 24:39-40, John 20:19-20   What’s so important about Jesus’ wounds? a.       What’s so important about Jesus saying “Peace”? b.       Do we have peace? What does peace enable us to do? 4.       Read Luke 24:40-43 What’s so special about Jesus’ eating? a.   
Read more

What happens when that stranger turns out to be a friend?

 It's been a "long and winding" year, but we're getting back to those Gospel Bible studies at last, and here's the next in the series: (111) Some Very Important Meetings Last time (yes, I know, a long long time ago) we read Mark’s cryptic comment that the risen Lord had appeared to “two of them.” This time we’ll join those two, travelling from Jerusalem after the crushing of all their hopes – having heard rumors of resurrection, but clearly not believing them. 1.       Read Luke 24:13-18, John 19:25 Who is traveling, where and why? a.       Some traditions say Clopas was the brother of Joseph, making Mary the “sister” of Jesus’ mother Mary.   Clopas’ son Simeon becomes Bishop of Jerusalem after the destruction of the city in 70 AD, which might make him Jesus' cousin. But what difference does all this make to how we view the story? b.       Was Jesus’ face hidden by supernatural means, or natural? How easily would you recognize someone if you knew they
Read more

A Prayer for Open Hearts and Doors

  O Lord May all your people be Transparent witnesses; may we, Instead of closing, open doors That all around us, evermore May see Our God is love not hate; Our God is watching, ever waits To mend our hearts and bodies heal And souls replenish, futures seal To Him To hope, to love, to more Than any dream; Lord we implore That you would free our hearts to sing Till lives with holy mercy ring Restored.
Read more