THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND–JOHN 6:1-15–LESSON 13

Introduction:

The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only sign recorded by all four Gospels with the exception of the Jesus’ resurrection. This fact alone points to its importance. The significance of the sign was expounded by the Lord in a long discourse in verses 22-71.

I. EVENTS OF THE TIME.

A. Herod Antipas had killed John the Baptist.

1. John was not in prison earlier, John 3:24, “For John was not yet cast into prison.”

2. By this time Herod had already killed him, Mark 6:14-16, “And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 15-Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. 16-But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.”

B. The disciples had preached throughout Galilee, Mark 6:7-13, 30-31.

C. Multitudes of people were curious about Jesus and Herod Antipas was seeking Jesus. Luke 9:7-9, “Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; 8And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.”

II. PLACE

A. The Lord had gone to the Northeast side of the Sea of Galilee with his disciples for some rest, v. 1, “After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.”

1. The Sea of Galilee was also called the Sea of Tiberias, name for a town east of the sea built by the Romans, John 21:1.

2. It is also called the “lake of Gennesaret” from the flat district lying on its west coast, Luke 5:1, “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,”

3. In the Old Testament it is called the “sea of Chinnereth,” Numbers 34:11; Joshua 12:3; 13:27.

B. The multitudes had followed Jesus to the hillside.

1. Even in this “solitary” desert place, Matthew 14:13, “When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.”

2. It was a very “remote” place, Matthew 14:15, “And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.”

III. THE TIME

A. About a year before the Lord was crucified.

B. The Jewish Passover feast was near. This is the second mentioned by John, John 13:1, “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” (This is the third Passover mentioned).

C. The thoughts of the people were on the theological aspects of the season, thinking in terms of blood, flesh, lambs and unleavened bread.

D. They longed for another MOSES who would deliver them from Roman bondage.

IV. THE MIRACLE

A. “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” vs. 5-6. The question was put to Phillip.

1. Phillip was from Bethsaida, the nearest town.

2. He would know the conditions for acquiring so much bread.

B. The answer to the question was that it was impossible, humanly speaking, to feed that many people under their conditions.

1. The amount of money needed was equivalent to 8 months wages.

2. Secondly, there weren’t enough ovens to bake that much on the short notice.

3. The Lord was testing Phillip to refine his faith, 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

C. Andrew, in contrast with Phillip, had gone into the crowd to determine its resources, vs. 8-9, “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9-There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”

D. The Lord begins to act, vs. 10-11, “Make the men sit down.”

1. The number was 5,000 men plus the women and children, Matthew 14:21, “And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” Perhaps there was as many as 10,000 people.

2. They were seated in groups of 50 and 100, Mark 6:40, “And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.”

3. Jesus gave thanks and distributed the food, Mark 6:41, “And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.”

E. The disciples learn that the Lord is more than adequate for their needs.

1. Everyone eat to his full satisfaction.

2. Twelve baskets of fragments left over was part of the disciple’s education, Mark 6:42-43, “And they did all eat, and were filled. 43-And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.”

F. Seeing this miraculous sign the people recalled Moses’ prediction that a PROPHET like him would arise, Deut. 18:15, “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;”

G. Understanding the sign, the people wanted to make Jesus their King.

1. Jesus was at the height of His popularity.

2. Could He have the kingdom WITHOUT THE CROSS? NO!

H. Jesus’ kingdom would be given Him by the Father, Psalm 2:7-12.

1. It would not come from the world, John 18:36, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”

2. Before Jesus can be the REIGNING LION of Judah, He must be the LAMB WHO BEARS THE SIN OF THE WORLD, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

THE THREEFOLD WITNESS TO CHRIST’S DEITY–JOHN 5:30-47–LESSON 12

Introduction:

There are three witnesses that testify to the fact that Jesus is who He says he is.

I. THE WITNESS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, (vs. 30–35).

A. The people listened to John and even rejoiced at his ministry.

1. John was sent from God, John 1:6-7, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.”

2. John preached the Kingdom of God, Matthew 3:1-2, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

B. But rejected him and his message.

1. John bares witness of Jesus, John 1:15, “John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.”

2. Only a few believed John, John 3:28, “Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.”

3. John accomplished his mission to prepare a people ready to meet the Lord. Luke 1:17, “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

II. THE WITNESS OF THE WORKS THAT JESUS DID, (v. 36).

A. A greater witness than John the Baptist, v. 36, “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”

1. God testified through the “signs and wonders” which Jesus did. Hebrews 2:4, “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

2. Peter declare that God worked through Jesus Christ, Acts 2:22, “God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

B. The miracles were so numerous and completely successful that no one can deny them.

1. Water turned into wine at the marriage at Cana, John 2.

2. The healing of the impotent man in John 5:1-9.

3. The raising of Lazarus from the dead, John 11.

4. The restoration of the sight of the blind, Luke 18:35-43.

III. THE WITNESS OF THE FATHER’S WORD IN THE SCRIPTURES, (vs. 37–47).

A. The Old Testament Scripture are the Father’s witness to His Son, v. 37, “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.”

1. The Jews searched the Scriptures, thinking that their studies would save them, but they read with eyes that were spiritually blind, v. 39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

2. These Jews were not willing to find Christ in the Word of God as were the Bereans, Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

B. God was pleased to bear witness of his Son himself.

1. By a voice from heaven at his baptism, Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2. At His transfiguration, Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

C. These Jews were not interested, v. 40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

1. The love of God was not in them, v. 41, “But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.”

2. Jesus did not accuse them, but Moses did, vs. 45-46, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”

CONCLUSION:

The conclusion to all of this is believing the Word of God. Jesus said in verse 47, “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”

CHRIST IS EQUAL WITH THE FATHER–JOHN 5:17-30–LESSON 11

Introduction:

The Lord had healed a man on the Sabbath and the Jews were trying to kill Jesus for this violation of their law. “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” Now they have another charge against Him, that is, that He made Himself equal with God. To the Jews this was the last straw, however, we can substantiate Jesus’ claims.

I. THREE WAYS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS EQUAL WITH THE FATHER.

A. Jesus is Equal in WORKS, v. 17, “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”

1. They sought to kill Jesus because He had healed the man on the Sabath, v. 18.

2. They also sought to kill Him because He made himself equal with God.

B. Jesus is Equal in JUDGMENT, v. 22, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”

1. The Son’s ability to give life is coupled with His right to judge mankind, v. 27, “And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”

2. The Father has placed this responsibility in the Son’s hands.

C. Jesus is Equal in HONOR, v. 23, “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

1. “Jesus’ unity with His Father is so complete that the honor of God is tied to Jesus.”

2. “To reject or dishonor God the Son is to reject and dishonor God the Father.” (Edwin A. Blum)

II. THE THREEFOLD RESURRECTION.

A. The resurrection of dead sinners today, v. 24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

1. Present tense, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,”

2. Future tense, “and shall not come into condemnation.”

3. Past tense, “but is passed from death unto life.”

B. The Resurrection unto life, vs. 28–29a, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29-And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

1. The resurrection unto life, v. 25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” v. 29a, ”And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;

2. This is the First Resurrection, Rev. 20:4-6, And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5-But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6-Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

C. The Resurrection unto death. This is the second resurrection where the unbelievers shall be raised to be judged before Jesus Christ. Rev. 20:11-12, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12-And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

1. This is the great white throne judgment.

2. There the unbeliever is judged.

a. He is not judged to see if he merits hell.

b. He is judged regarding the degree of his punishment or suffering in hell.

Lesson 12 next:

THE HEALING OF THE SON OF A NOBLEMAN OF CAMPERNAUM–JOHN 4:43 – 5:18–LESSON 10

Introduction:

Two incidents are seen in the portion of the book of John. The Lord Jesus does two more miracles. One is done in His home country and the other in Jerusalem. Both of these miracles brought controversy.

I. THE HEALING OF THE SON OF A NOBLEMAN OF CAMPERNAUM.

A. A Prophet has no honor in his own country, v. 44, “For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.”

1. “Prophets ought to have honour, because God has put honour upon them and we do or

 

2. “This due honour is more frequently denied them in their own country.” Luke 4:24, “And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.” Matt. 13:57, “And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”

B. Jesus returned to Cana of Galilee, vs. 45-46.

1. Here he had performed His first miracle, the turning of water into wine, John 2:1-11.

2. However, He encounters a different situation.

C. Jesus heals the son of nobleman, His second miracle, vs. 46-54.

1. The nobleman sought Jesus to heal his dying son, vs. 46-47.

2. “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” v. 48.

3. The man pleads with Jesus, v. 49.

4. “Go thy way; thy son liveth.” vs. 50-53.

a. The man believed the word of Jesus.

b. News comes of his son’s recovery, v. 51.

c. The time is established, v. 52.

d. His whole house believed, v. 53.

II. THE HEALING OF A MAN BY THE POOL OF BETHESDA.

A. The custom explained, John 5:1-4.

1. It was during a feast of the Jews in Jerusalem, probably the Passover, that this custom was observed.

2. The Jews were ordered by the Lord to attend their religious feast. This probably prompted the Lord to have the Apostle Paul write Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

3. The scene “was a pool (a pond or bath), which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda—the house of mercy; for therein appeared much of the mercy of God to the sick and diseased.” Matthew Henry.

4. “Dr. Lightfoot’s conjecture is that this was the upper pool, Isa. 7:3, and the old pool, Isa. 22:11; that it had been used for washing from ceremonial pollutions, for convenience of which the porches were built to dress and undress in, but it was lately become medicinal.” Matthew Henry

5. It was frequented with sick and cripples (v. 3): “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folks.” Matthew Henry.

B. The man who had an infirmity 38 years.

1. A man that had suffer the loss of all things, even hope, by the time that Jesus had asked him, “Wilt thou be made whole?” v. 7,“ The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”

2. Sometimes Jesus let us come to the end of ourselves before He works a miracle in our lives.

3. Jesus doesn’t need props such as water, to heal a man, v. 8, “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. “And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath.”

C. The religious crowd were not interested in the fact that a lame man had been made whole, but rather that there seemed to be a violation of the Law – the man was carrying his bed contrary to law, vs. 10-13, 15-18.

1. Much religion is based on the trivial.

2. The WELL BEING of the individual is not considered, but rather their petty man-made doctrines.

3. Jesus had exercised the POWER OF GOD in healing the man, but the only thing the Jews (Pharisees) could see was that he was carrying his bed.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus finds the man in the Temple in v. 14, saying, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” The Lord has healed us of our greatest problem, our sin. We need to consider how we live our lives lest “a worse thing come unto thee.”

THE SAMARITAN–JOHN 4:1-42–LESSON 9

Introduction:

“The Samaritans were “half-breeds,” part Jew and part Gentile. As such, they were considered outcasts and were despised by the Jews. They had their own religious system in Samaria that competed with the claims of the Jews (see 4:20–24) and believed in the coming of the Messiah (4:25). Jesus “needed to go through Samaria” (v. 4) because God had planned for this sinful woman to meet Him and find in Him the water of life. In the interview recorded, we see the different stages by which this woman came to believe in Christ.” (Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines of the New Testament).

I. THE CONTRAST.

A. The Woman was a Samaritan, vs. 3-6.

1. She was of a race that was mixed half Jew and half Gentile.

2. She was a harlot and an outcast, ostracized and marked off as immoral.

3. Chatting at the well was a social highpoint for the women of the village, but she came at noon when the other women would not be there.

B. Nicodemus was a leader of the Jews, John 3:1, 10.

1. He was respected in the community.

2. He was a ruler and probably sat on the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews.

3. He was a teacher of the Law of Moses and very religious.

II. THE GIFT, vs. 7-15.

A. “Give me to drink.” v. 7

1. She is surprised that Jesus, a Jew, would speak to her.

2. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans.

B. “If thou knewest the gift of God” vs. 10-15.

1. If you knew who was speaking to you, you would ask me for water.

2. Nothing with which to draw the water…she is still thinking of the water in the well.

3. “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:” v. 13.

C. Jesus offers the “living waters”, vs. 14-15.

1. Never thirst again

2. “A well of water springing up into everlasting life.” v. 14.

3. “Sir, give me this water,” v. 15.

D. Jesus reveals the Grace of God to the Woman.

1. The woman’s sinful condition is established, vs. 16-18.

2. She attempts to change the subject, vs. 19-20.

3. Jesus reveals a great truth to her, vs. 21-26.

a. Jesus basically says that she does not know what she is talking about.

b. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” v. 24.

c. Jesus reveals who he is to the woman, vs. 25-26.

E. The Samaritan Woman Trust Christ as Savior.

III. THE DIFFERENCES.

A. Nicodemus was a religious man and took pride in keeping the Law. He did not recognize his need for God’s Grace.

1. Jesus spoke to him of his need of a spiritual birth.

2. He took time to explain using Old Testament examples, John 3:14-15.

B. The Samaritan Woman already knew she was a sinner and needed to see herself as a person of worth and value.

1. She was an outcast from her own people.

2. She needed to be wanted, and to be thought of as a person of value.

CONCLUSION:

The evidence that this woman trusted the Lord as her Savior is seen in her spreading the news of the Messiah.

Many came to know Jesus as the Savior by her own testimony.

Isn’t it great to see how the Lord can take some like this woman and change her life and give it meaning again?

He took Nicodemus, a religious but lost Jew, and made him see his need of the Savior as well.

LESSON 10 TO FOLLOW: