The Word One to One

William Taylor/Richard Borgonon/10Publishing, 2013

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Printed in the UK

11
k
r
o
w
t
a
d
Go
9

John 5 vs 1-2

ion in Johns
ct
se
w
e
n
a
of
e start
John 5 sees th
chapter 10.
o
t
h
g
u
ro
h
t
s
n
Gospel that ru
esus
two miracles. J
h
it
w
s
d
n
e
d
n
a
It begins
ach us about
e
t
o
t
s
n
g
si
e
r
oth a
tells us that b
Gods work.
o
usly breaks int
lo
cu
a
ir
m
s
su
e
J
about
They show how
His work is all
.
t
h
ig
r
it
t
u
p
creation to
m new life and
e
h
t
g
in
iv
g
,
le
is peop
.
God rescuing H
is new Creation
H
o
t
in
m
e
h
t
g
bringin
spel:
e end of his Go
h
t
t
a
s
e
it
r
w
As John

Now Jesus did

many other sig
ns in the
presence of the
disciples, which
are not written
in this book; but
these are writt
en so that you
may believe tha
t Jesus is the
Christ, the Son
of God, and tha
t by believing yo
u may have life
in his name. - J
ohn 20 vs 30-3
1
4

The Sabbath
Both miracles happen on the Sabbath.

But what is the Sabbath?

The word Sabbath simply means rest!

It
comes from the book of Genesis at the
start
of the Bible. It speaks about a perfect
relationship with God in His perfect univ
erse.
This is perfect rest.
Because we have rebelled against God
we
have never known a perfect relationshi
p
with Him, or the perfect universe that
the
original Sabbath in Genesis 2 was all abo
ut.
However, God did promise that one day
He
would rescue us and give us perfect res
t. God
gave His people laws about the Sabbath
so
that one day of the week they would bot
h
remember they were made for a
perfect relationship with Him and
look forward to the perfect universe
He promised.
Sadly, the Jews of Jesus day had
missed the main point of the Sabbath
looking forward to His perfect rest
and were instead obsessed with the
minute details of the laws.
5

Chapter 5

Some time later, Jesu

s went up to
Jerusalem for one of th
e Jewish
festivals.
2
Now there is in Jerusa
lem near the
Sheep Gate a pool, which
in Aramaic
is called Bethesda and
which is
surrounded by five cove
red colonnades.
3
Here a great number
of disabled people
used to lie the blind, th
e lame, the
paralysed.
5
One who was there ha
d been an invalid
for thirty-eight years.
6
When Jesus saw him
lying there
and learned that he ha
d been in this
condition for a long tim
e, he asked him,
Do you want to get wel
l?
7
Sir, the invalid replie
d, I have no one
to help me into the pool
when the water
is stirred. While I am tr
ying to get in,
someone else goes dow
n ahead of me.
8
Then Jesus said to hi
m, Get up! Pick up
your mat and walk.
1

At once the man was

cured; he picked
up his mat and walked.
The day on
which this took place w
as a Sabbath,
10
and so the Jewish lead
ers said to the
man who had been heal
ed, It is the
Sabbath; the law forbid
s you to carry
your mat.
11
But he replied, The m
an who made
me well said to me, Pic
k up your mat
and walk.
12
So they asked him, W
ho is this fellow
who told you to pick it
up and walk?
13
The man who was heal
ed had no idea
who it was, for Jesus ha
d slipped away
into the crowd that was
there.
14
Later Jesus found him
at the temple
and said to him, See, yo
u are well
again. Stop sinning or
something
worse may happen to yo
u.
9

Some early manuscripts omit v 4

as it might
have been added by later copyists.
Modern
translations therefore do not include
the verse.
7

The paralysed man

Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pic
k
up your mat and walk.

At once the man was cured; he pic

ked
up his mat and walked. The day on
which this took place was a Sabbath,

How do these events pick up

on what we know of the Sabbath?

Jesus is working! He is doing the

work that the Sabbath was all about.
What happens to the paralyzed man?

Jesus totally heals him.

1-4
John chapter 1 vs

ord, and the Word

W
e
th
as
w
g
in
nn
gi
In the be
was
e Word was God. He
was with God, and th
ing. Through him all
nn
gi
be
e
th
in
od
G
h
wit
ut him nothing was
ho
it
w
e;
ad
m
e
er
w
things
e,
made. In him was lif
made that has been
.
e light of all mankind
and that life was th

v8

The man who couldnt move a

muscle can now get up and walk.
Remember he had been paralyzed
for thirty-eight years! This is
miraculous, and a picture of the
perfect rest God promised. v 9
How did Jesus do this?

He simply speaks, and the man is

instantly healed!
This was no magic trick Jesus is
the creator God! Lets read again
Chapter 1 vs 14.

How does Jesus defend working on the Sabbath?

Jesus explains that He is doing

His Fathers work!
15

e
The man went away and told th
s who
Jewish leaders that it was Jesu
had made him well.

16

ese
So, because Jesus was doing th
sh
things on the Sabbath, the Jewi
.
leaders began to persecute him

17

em,
In his defence Jesus said to th
rk to
My Father is always at his wo
rking.
this very day, and I too am wo

18

10

e
For this reason they tried all th
he
more to kill him; not only was
s
breaking the Sabbath, but he wa
even calling God his own Father,
making himself equal with God.

What is the reaction of the Jews?

The Jews reject Gods work.

v 16

They persecute Jesus.

They totally refuse to

recognize Jesus as Gods Son
and try even harder to kill Him.
v 18

11

The job description

19

 esus gave them this answer: Very

J
truly I tell you, the Son can do nothin
g
by himself; he can do only what he
sees
his Father doing, because whatever
the
Father does the Son also does.

For the Father loves the Son and sho

ws
him all he does. Yes, and he will sho
w
him even greater works than these,
so
that you will be amazed.

s His job description:

In these next verses Jesus outline

What His work is
 hy He has come to do it
W
When He will do it
How He will do it

20

For just as the Father raises the

dead and gives them life, even so the
Son gives life to whom he is please
d to
give it.

21

Moreover, the Father judges no one

, but
has entrusted all judgment to the Son
,

What is His work?

To do the work of the Father!

v 19

He can do nothing by Himself.

v 19

He does only what He sees

the Father doing.

v 19

Whatever the Father does He

does.

v 20

The Father shows Him all that

He is doing!

v 21

He has come to give life from

the Father.

v 22

He has come to judge on the

Fathers behalf.

v 23

Whoever does not honour

the Son does not honour the
Father.

22

that all may honour the Son just as

they honour the Father. Whoever doe
s
not honour the Son does not honour
the Father, who sent him.

23

So if we do not honour the Son

12

what are we saying to God?

13

Why has Jesus come?

To bring eternal life, and save us

from judgement.
How does this happen?
24

hears
Very truly I tell you, whoever
sent
my word and believes him who
be
me has eternal life and will not
m
judged but has crossed over fro
death to life.

By hearing and believing in the

words of Jesus.

When does it happen?

Now as we cross over from death
to life.
Why does Jesus
come and do this work?

Jesus tells us that our natural

condition without Him is dead and
without hope.
If we dont believe Jesus we will
still face His judgement. We remain
dead, with no hope of life.

Verse 24 is a key verse it

summarises the whole section.

So whats the big point from verses 23 and 24?

If Jesus is God as we have seen

that He is then not honouring
Him is evidence of our refusal to
honour God.
So what is sin?

14

First and foremost it is not about

failing to be a decent person. No,
its all about failing to honour the
Son that is sin.

15

Stop and think

in?

Are we guilty of s

d to honour the So

faile
Yes! All of us have

d condemned by God
an
st
e
w
hy
w
s
t
Tha
spiritually dead.
That s why we are
,
God, through Jesus
of
k
or
w
e
th
ut
ho
Therefore wit
we are condemned.
gh.
simply not good enou
is
gh
ou
en
d
goo
ng
Bei
help himself?
Can a dead man
man save himself?
Can a condemned
us.
e of ourselves Jes
id
ts
ou
om
fr
lp
he
No we need

16

This is one of the

clearest and biggest
lessons of Johns
Gospel we have just
discovered what sin
really is!

17

When will Jesus do His work?

Very truly I tell you, a time is com

ing
and has now come when the dead
will
hear the voice of the Son of God an
d
those who hear will live.

25

For as the Father has life in him

self,
so he has granted the Son also to
have life in himself.

26

And he has given him authority

to
judge because he is the Son of Ma
n.

27

Do not be amazed at this, for a tim

e
is coming when all who are in the
ir
graves will hear his voice

28

and come out those who have do

ne
what is good will rise to live, and
those who have done what is evil
will
rise to be condemned.

29

of saying:
This is another way
honouring the Son.
18

Now He is giving spiritual life to

those who are spiritually
dead.
Soon A day will come when He
will raise all people the
living and the dead to
judgement. vs 27, 29
Who will hear the voice of Jesus
and what will be the result?

Everyone! That includes:

relatives
business colleagues
people from every religion
you and me
the living and the dead!
And the result will be
judgement leading to either life or
condemnation.
How does Jesus do this work?

His word!

vs 25, 28

Jesus does His work both now, as He

gives us spiritual life with God, and
at a fixed point in the future, when He
will come to judge everyone.
He is sorting our eternal destiny! So
its vital we study the Word!

19

John 5 vs 1 29
Some time later, Jesus went up
to Jerusalem for one of the
Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is
in Jerusalem near the Sheep
Gate a pool, which in Aramaic
is called Bethesda and which
is surrounded by five covered
colonnades. 3 Here a great
number of disabled people use
d to lie the blind, the lame,
the paralysed. 5 One who was the
re had been an invalid for
thirty-eight years. 6 When Jes
us saw him lying there and
learned that he had been in this
condition for a long time,
he asked him, Do you want to
get well? 7 Sir, the invalid
replied, I have no one to help
me into the pool when the
water is stirred. While I am try
ing to get in, someone else
goes down ahead of me. 8 Then
Jesus said to him, Get up!
Pick up your mat and walk. 9
At once the man was cured;
he picked up his mat and wal
ked. The day on which this
took place was a Sabbath, 10 and
so the Jewish leaders said
to the man who had been healed,
It is the Sabbath; the law
forbids you to carry your mat. 11
But he replied, The man
who made me well said to me, Pic
k up your mat and walk.
12
So they asked him, Who is this
fellow who told you to
pick it up and walk? 13 The ma
n who was healed had no idea
who it was, for Jesus had slipped
away into the crowd that
was there. 14 Later Jesus found
him at the temple and said
to him, See, you are well again.
Stop sinning or something
worse may happen to you. 15 The
man went away and told
the Jewish leaders that it was
Jesus who had made him
well. 16 So, because Jesus was
doing these things on the
Sabbath, the Jewish leaders beg
an to persecute him. 17 In
his defence Jesus said to them,
My Father is always at his
work to this very day, and I
too am working. 18 For this
reason they tried all the more
to kill him; not only was he
breaking the Sabbath, but he was
even calling God his own
1

20

Father, making himself equal wit

h God. 19 Jesus gave them
this answer: Very truly I tell you
, the Son can do nothing
by himself; he can do only wha
t he sees his Father doing,
because whatever the Father doe
s the Son also does. 20 For
the Father loves the Son and sho
ws him all he does. Yes,
and he will show him even gre
ater works than these, so
that you will be amazed. 21 For
just as the Father raises
the dead and gives them life,
even so the Son gives life
to whom he is pleased to give
it. 22 Moreover, the Father
judges no one, but has entrusted
all judgment to the Son,
23
that all may honour the Son
just as they honour the
Father. Whoever does not honour
the Son does not honour
the Father, who sent him. 24 Ver
y truly I tell you, whoever
hears my word and believes him
who sent me has eternal
life and will not be judged but has
crossed over from death
to life. 25 Very truly I tell you
, a time is coming and has
now come when the dead will
hear the voice of the Son
of God and those who hear wil
l live. 26 For as the Father
has life in himself, so he has gra
nted the Son also to have
life in himself. 27 And he has giv
en him authority to judge
because he is the Son of Man. 28
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 what
is good will rise to live, and tho
se who have done what is
evil will rise to be condemned.

Coming next
troom
we will be in the cour
for these
looking at the evidence
Jesus!
extraordinary claims by
21

12
Evidence th
at
demands a
verdict

John 5 vs 3

0-47

Chapters 5 t
o 10 are all ab
out the work
of God. Jesus
does Gods wo
rk! But these
chapters also
introduce us t
o people who
reject Jesus.
In our first s
ection, watch
out for the
sudden and dra
matic shift in
what Jesus
says that app
ears half way
through v 37
!

22

judge
I
;
g
n
nothi gment is
o
d
n
d
lf I ca and my ju e myself
e
s
y
30 By m
pleas
ear,
h
o
t
I
t
s
o
a
only r I seek n me.
t
fo
o sen
just,
h
w
im
lf, my
but h
e
s
y
m
about rue.
y
f
i
t
t
tes
31 If I
s not
i
y
in
n
o
tifies
s
e
testim
t
r who that his
e
h
t
o
an
ow
re is , and I kn s true.
32 The
me i
vour
a
t
f
u
o
y
b
m
ony a
m
i
t
s
e
t
23

The Defence: eyewitness evidence

You have sent to John and he
has
testified to the truth.

33

Not that I accept human testim

ony; but
I mention it that you may be sav
ed.

34 

John was a lamp that burned

and gave
light, and you chose for a time
to enjoy
his light.

35

I have testimony weightier th

an that
of John. For the works that th
e Father
has given me to finish the ve
ry works
that I am doing testify that th
e Father
has sent me.

36

And the Father who sent me ha

s
himself testified concerning me
.
You have never heard his voice
nor
seen his form,

37

What are the words that appear

more than any others here?

Testimony/testify.
courtroom Jesus
In this section, we are in the
about Himself.
asks us to come to a verdict
evidence so far.
Jesus walks us through the
In Jewish law, if evidence was to be
accepted it was necessary to have
at least two male witnesses. Jesus
explains that He does not simply
speak on His own authority. vs 31,32
Jesus sets a higher standard than
just human testimony. v 34
What evidence does Jesus offer for
who He is and what He is doing?

There are three major points of

evidence to support His case
and they are all hugely impressive!

So what are they?

24

25

The Evidence

1) The witness of John

the

Baptist

John the Baptist wa

s accepted as
an established prophet se
nt by God.
So John the Baptist s te
stimony is
pretty impressive... v 35

But Jesus says His test
imony is even
better than that! v 36
2) Not just Jesus word
s but His
miraculous works too v 36
3) Gods word in support

26

of Jesus

v 37a

The evidence for Jesus th

erefore, is like
a three-legged stool

We have:

The Word of God (The Ol

d Testament)

The witness of John th

The word and works of

e Baptist

Jesus

sus?
What does God say about Je
ophets, about the
God speaks, through His pr
in the Old Testament.
Messiah hundreds of times
hns Gospel, we see how
As we turn the pages of Jo
time and time again.
Jesus fulfils these promises,

27

From Defence to Prosecution

Did you spot the dramatic shift?
37

s
And the Father who sent me ha
.
himself testified concerning me
You have never heard his voice
nor seen his form,

38

Its massive Jesus is damning.

He puts the Jews in the dock
because they dont know God!

for
nor does his word dwell in you,
t.
you do not believe the one he sen

39

ntly
You study the Scriptures dilige
you
because you think that in them
very
have eternal life. These are the
,
Scriptures that testify about me

40

This is serious! This courtroom

scene is taking
place in the Temple, with the
very people who
are plotting to kill Him (reme
mber v 18).
What is Jesus evidence against them?

yet you refuse to come to me to

have life.

41

Jesus now turns from their

examination of Him to His
examination of them!

Never heard his voice

I do not accept glory from huma

beings

Not seen his form

v 37b

v 37b

His word does not dwell in you

v 38

You do not believe the one he

sent

You study the Scriptures

yet you refuse to come to me
vs 39,40

28

Even though they are in the Temple,

they dont know God!
29

but I know you. I know that

you do not
have the love of God in your
hearts.

42

I have come in my Fathers

name, and
you do not accept me; but if
someone
else comes in his own name,
you will
accept him.

43

How can you believe since

you accept
glory from one another but
do not seek
the glory that comes from th
e only God?

44

But do not think I will accu

se you
before the Father. Your accu
ser is
Moses, on whom your hope
s are set.

45

If you believed Moses, you

would
believe me, for he wrote ab
out me.

46

But since you do not believe

what he
wrote, how are you going to
believe
what I say?

47

30

ry
In summa

en to God!
t
s
li
t
n
o
d
They
elieve God!
b
t
n
o
d
y
e
Th
love God!
t
n
o
d
y
e
h
T
ds praise!
o
G
t
n
a
w
They dont

So whats the big problem?

They dont love God.

v 42

They love the glory that comes

from each other, instead of
looking for Gods glory! vs 43,44
Forgetting God, they prefer their
own importance.
Jesus concludes His courtroom
evidence with a sucker punch:
The Jews claim to be keeping the
law for their hope of salvation.
However, Moses, who gave them
Gods law and is their hero, is now
the one who puts them in the dock.

31

Conclusion
set by Jesus.
Lets sum up the case as
We have:
nce for Jesus
a) vs 3037a: The evide
se against the Jews
b) vs 37b47: Jesus ca
the evidence. Instead,
ing
or
ign
e
ar
ws
Je
e
th
t
Bu
looking good in front
t
ou
ab
d
ne
er
nc
co
re
mo
theyre
of each other.
Him, the evidence
s says that if we reject

Jesu
convicts us:
We dont love God

This is sobering.

But what do you make

of the evidence?

And what does this

evidence say about ou
r
relationship with God
?

aise of people
Rather, we love the pr

32

33

John 5 vs 30 47
judge only as I hear,
By myself I can do nothing; I
seek not to please myself
and my judgment is just, for I
31
testify about myself, my
but him who sent me. If I
32
is another who testifies
testimony is not true. There
his testimony about me
in my favour, and I know that
n and he has testified to
is true. 33 You have sent to Joh
ny; but I
34
Not that I accept human testimo
the truth.
ed. 35 John was a lamp
mention it that you may be sav
you chose for a time to
that burned and gave light, and
36
ny weightier than that
enjoy his light. I have testimo
Father has given me to
of John. For the works that the
doing testify that the
finish the very works that I am
37
Father who sent me has
Father has sent me. And the
You have never heard
himself testified concerning me.
38
does his word dwell in
his voice nor seen his form, nor
39
one he sent. You study
you, for you do not believe the
e you think that in them
the Scriptures diligently becaus
the very Scriptures that
you have eternal life. These are
40
se to come to me to have
testify about me, yet you refu
42
human beings, but
life. 41 I do not accept glory from
not have the love of God
I know you. I know that you do
43
my Fathers name, and
in your hearts. I have come in
eone else comes in his
you do not accept me; but if som
44
. How can you believe
own name, you will accept him
another but do not seek
since you accept glory from one
45
only God? But do not
the glory that comes from the
the Father. Your accuser
think I will accuse you before

30

34

46
ieved
hopes are set. If you bel
is Moses, on whom your
ut me.
e me, for he wrote abo
Moses, you would believ
e what he wrote, how are
47 But since you do not believ
I say?
you going to believe what

What comes
next?
Only Jesus ca
n bring true
satisfaction

35

13
Exodus chapter 16 vs 4-8

n
o
i
t
c
a
f
s
i
t
Sa
40

John 6 vs 1-

ck
look ba
k
c
i
u
q
a
t
After
tamen
s
e
T
d
Ol
at the
o hear
t
g
n
i
o
g
e
we are
ides th
v
o
r
p
esus
how J
eed.
eally n
r
e
w
food

Setting the

scene

l out in the
e
ra
s
I
f
o
le
p
h the peo
very
Moses is wit
to escape sla
le
b
a
n
ee
b
g
!
avin
wilderness, h
rescued them
d
a
h
d
o
G
.
t
Egyp
in the land of

36

Then the Lord said to Moses, I will

rain
down bread from heaven for you. Th
e people
are to go out each day and gather
enough
for that day. In this way I will tes
t
them and see whether they will foll
ow my
instructions. On the sixth day they
are to
prepare what they bring in, and th
at is to
be twice as much as they gather
on the
other days. So Moses and Aaron sai
d to
all the Israelites, In the evening
you will
know that it was the Lord who bro
ught
you out of Egypt, and in the morni
ng you
will see the glory of the Lord, becaus
e he
has heard your grumbling against
him. Who
are we, that you should grumble ag
ainst
us? Moses also said, You will know
that
it was the Lord when he gives
you meat to eat in the evening
and all the bread you want in the
morning, because he has heard you
r
grumbling against him. Who are
we? You are not grumbling against
us, but against the Lord.
37

Let s look at the parallels between

Exodus 16 and
what we are about to see in John
6:

1. They are both at Passover tim

e and

and sat down with his disciples

in the desert.

2. In both, God miraculously feeds

His people. In the
desert, God fed His people so th
at they could
make it to the Promised Land. In
John, Jesus
gives them bread that lasts for ete
rnity!
3. They both are set up as a test
. In the desert
God tested His people to see if th
ey would depend
on God to bring them to the Promis
ed Land. In
John, Jesus tells Philip that this
is a test.
4. They both involve Gods people
grumbling lots!
Chapter 6

ed
and a great crowd of people follow
had
him because they saw the signs he
re ill.
performed by healing those who we

38

Then Jesus went up on a mountainsi

was near.
The Jewish Passover Festival
a great
When Jesus looked up and saw
said to
crowd coming towards him, he
for
Philip, Where shall we buy bread
these people to eat?

, for he
He asked this only to test him
s going
already had in mind what he wa
to do.

d to
Some time after this, Jesus crosse
at
the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (th
is, the Sea of Tiberias),

de

take
Philip answered him, It would
to buy
more than half a years wages
ve a bite!
enough bread for each one to ha

ew, Simon
Another of his disciples, Andr
Peters brother, spoke up,
barley
Here is a boy with five small
w far
loaves and two small fish, but ho
will they go among so many?

39

Thousands of hungry people fed

10

11

12

13

40

Jesus said, Make the peop

le sit
down. There was plenty of
grass in
that place, and they sat down
(about
five thousand men were ther
e).

Jesus then took the loaves,

gave
thanks, and distributed to th
ose who
were seated as much as they
wanted.
He did the same with the fis
h.

When they had all had enou

gh to eat,
he said to his disciples, Gat
her the
pieces that are left over. Le
t nothing
be wasted.

So they gathered them and

filled
twelve baskets with the pie
ces of the
five barley loaves left over
by those
who had eaten.

What is Jesus doing here?

He miraculously feeds the people.

Why is this important?

It shows Jesus as Gods rescuer.

Gods people were waiting for a
Prophet like Moses promised in
the Old Testament.

When is this taking place?

At Passover time.

is when
Passover time
totally
the Jews are
focused on:
ed
a) Being rescu
with God
b) Being right
them
c) God feeding

v4

Would the disciples

trust Jesus to feed them
with the food they really
needed? Or would they
grumble and walk away
because He didnt give
them what they wanted?

41

What did the people say

after seeing the miracle?

They think He must be the prophet

(like Moses) whom God promised.
14

15

sus
After the people saw the sign Je
performed, they began to say,
Surely this is the Prophet who
is to come into the world.
ded
Jesus, knowing that they inten
to come and make him king
by force, withdrew again to a
mountain by himself.

But what does Jesus do?

Jesus withdraws.
Why?

Because the people were planning

a revolution. They wanted a
political leader who would sort out
their immediate needs.
But what would this achieve?

Jesus hadnt come to oust the

Romans He had come for
something much bigger

42

43

Jesus proves Himself

to the disciples!
16

17

18

19

When evening came, his dis

ciples
went down to the lake,
where they got into a boat
and set
off across the lake for Cape
rnaum.
By now it was dark, and Je
sus had
not yet joined them.

A strong wind was blowing

and the
waters grew rough.
When they had rowed abou
t three
or four miles, they saw Jesu
s
approaching the boat, walk
ing on
the water; and they were fri
ghtened.

But he said to them, It is I;

dont be
afraid.

What things are surprising

in this story?

Dont be afraid! What a statement

from a man walking on water!
They arrive on the other side
immediately in spite of the wind
and the waves.

What does Jesus say to them?

It is I This is the name God uses

for Himself in the Old Testament.
v 20

20

21

44

Then they were willing to ta

ke him
into the boat, and immediat
ely the
boat reached the shore wher
e they
were heading.

Why does this all happen?

This miracle is for the disciples

benefit. Jesus is Lord over all His
creation. Only He walks on water!
Only He can rescue.

45

Jesus is the bread of life

d stayed on
The next day the crowd that ha
lised that
the opposite shore of the lake rea
d that
only one boat had been there, an
disciples,
Jesus had not entered it with his
ne.
but that they had gone away alo
landed
23
Then some boats from Tiberias
had eaten
near the place where the people
en thanks.
the bread after the Lord had giv
ither Jesus
24
Once the crowd realised that ne
ey got
nor his disciples were there, th
rnaum in
into the boats and went to Cape
search of Jesus.
er side of
25
When they found him on the oth
i, when did
the lake, they asked him, Rabb
you get here?
l you, you
26
Jesus answered, Very truly I tel
you saw
are looking for me, not because
se you ate
the signs I performed but becau
the loaves and had your fill.
s, but for
27
Do not work for food that spoil
, which the
food that endures to eternal life
him God
Son of Man will give you. For on
approval.
the Father has placed his seal of

22

46

Jesus spells out what He has

and has not come to do!
What were the people looking for?

Food!

vs 26,27

But Jesus hadnt come to fill their

stomachs, just as He hadnt come
to solve political problems. v 15
What was Jesus concerned about?

Eternity.
Their bread will go mouldy His
bread lasts to eternal life.

Remember, back then people were employed by

the day,
and bought food with that days wages. They
havent
eaten since Jesus fed them the day before
so now
they are back for more.

Lets stop for a moment and

compare Jesus priority with our
usual daily prayers for physical
health, a job, money and success...?
47

What question do the people ask?

They want to know what they must

do.

Then they asked him, Wha

t must
we do to do the works God re
quires?

28

Jesus answered, The work

of God
is this: to believe in the one
he has
sent.

29

But how does Jesus reply?

Believe in the one God has sent.

Jesus has not come to make
people religious by doing things.
Instead He tells us to believe.
What do the crowd want?

They want to work their way to God.

v 28

We see this in all other religions.

But Jesus is not interested in our
religious works for Him.
What does it mean to
do the work of God?

There is only one answer - believe

in Jesus. v 29

48

49

What do the crowd want to see?

30

then
So they asked him, What sign
and
will you give that we may see it
believe you? What will you do?
the
Our ancestors ate the manna in
e gave
wilderness; as it is written: H

them bread from heaven to eat.

31

32

Having just seen Him feed 5,000

men they arent satisfied. They
want more.
But how does Jesus respond?

He hasnt come to be a circus pony

I tell
Jesus said to them, Very truly
en
you, it is not Moses who has giv
t it is
you the bread from heaven, bu
e
my Father who gives you the tru
bread from heaven.

33

So weve seen that Jesus hasnt

come

As a political leader to sort out

our political problems

Or a material provider to meet

the needs people feel they have

that
For the bread of God is the bread
es
comes down from heaven and giv
life to the world.

34 Sir, they said, always give us this


bread.
35

50

They want to see Him perform signs.

Then Jesus declared, I am the

me
bread of life. Whoever comes to
ver
will never go hungry, and whoe
irsty.
believes in me will never be th

Or with a religious programme

to make us religious

Or as a party trick magician

from God
So why has Jesus come?

Jesus deals with something much

bigger than the here and now
Hes concerned about eternity.
Jesus has come to give us an
absolutely satisfying, and eternally
rewarding relationship with God
that lasts forever!

51

How does Jesus

provide this
relationship?

36

37

38

39

But as I told you, you have

seen me
and still you do not believe.
All those the Father gives m
e will
come to me, and whoever co
mes to
me I will never drive away.

For I have come down from

heaven
not to do my will but to do th
e will of
him who sent me.

52

Jesus has come down from

heaven as bread from God to give
us life.
v 33

So what is the will of God?

Its to give eternal life to everyone

who believes in Jesus!
How can we sum up what weve just read?

Jesus is on earth to do Gods will

God is calling everyone to

And this is the will of him wh

o sent
me, that I shall lose none of
all those
he has given me, but raise
them up
at the last day.

For my Fathers will is that

everyone who looks to the So
n and
believes in him shall have et
ernal
life, and I will raise them up
at the
last day.

40

The Jews honoured Moses

because they thought Moses was
the one who had provided bread for
them in the desert. Jesus corrects
them: God was always the provider.
v 32

believe in Him

Jesus is not here just to give a

quick meal

Conclusion

Jesus has come to give

something that lasts forever.

Jesus work is not to...

Give us all the material things we demand
Give us religious duties that earn His favour
Sort out our political problems
Perform signs and miracles on demand
Gods will is that we believe in Jesus and be
satisfied in and with Him forever!
53

John 6 vs 1 40
Some time after this, Jesus cro
ssed to the far shore of the Sea
of
Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberia
s), 2 and a great crowd of people
followed him because they saw
the signs he had performed by
healing those who were ill. 3 The
n Jesus went up on a mountainside
and sat down with his disciple 4
s. The Jewish Passover Festiva
l
was near. 5 When Jesus looked
up and saw a great crowd com
ing
towards him, he said to Philip,
Where shall we buy bread for the
se
people to eat? 6 He asked this
only to test him, for he already
had in mind what he was goin
g to do. 7 Philip answered him
, It
would take more than half a
years wages to buy enough bre
ad
for each one to have a bite! 8
Another of his disciples, Andrew
,
Simon Peters brother, spoke
up, 9 Here is a boy with five sma
ll
barley loaves and two small fish
, but how far will they go among
so
many? 10 Jesus said, Make the
people sit down. There was plen
ty
of grass in that place, and the
y sat down (about five thousa
nd
men were there). 11 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, Ga
ther the pieces that are left ove
r.
Let nothing be wasted. 13 So the
y gathered them and filled twe
lve
baskets with the pieces of the five
barley loaves left over by those
14
who had eaten. After the peo
ple saw the sign Jesus perform
ed,
they began to say, Surely this
is the Prophet who is to come into
the world. 15 Jesus, knowing tha
t they intended to come and ma
ke
him king by force, withdrew
again to a mountain by himself 16
.
When evening came, his disciple
s went down to the lake, 17 whe
re
they got into a boat and set off
across the lake for Capernaum
.
By
now it was dark, and Jesus had
not yet joined them. 18 A strong
wind was blowing and the wat
ers grew rough. 19 When they
had
rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus approaching the
boat, walking on the water; and
they were frightened. 20 But he
said to them, It is I; dont be
afraid. 21 Then they were willing
to take him into the boat, and
immediately the boat reached
the
shore where they were headin 22
g. The next day the crowd tha
t
had stayed on the opposite sho
re of the lake realised that only
one
boat had been there, and that
Jesus had not entered it with
his
1

54

disciples, but that they had gon

e away alone. 23 Then some boa
ts
from Tiberias landed near the
place where the people had eat
en
the bread after the Lord had
given thanks. 24 Once the cro
wd
realised that neither Jesus nor
his disciples were there, they got
into the boats and went to Capern
aum in search of Jesus. 25 When
they found him on the other
side of the lake, they asked him
,
Rabbi, when did you get here? 26
Jesus answered, Very truly I
tell you, you are looking for me,
not because you saw the signs
I performed but because you ate
the loaves and had your fill. 27
Do not work for food that spo
ils, but for food that endures
to
eternal life, which the Son of Ma
n will give you. For on him God
the Father has placed his seal
of approval. 28 Then they ask
ed
him, What must we do to do the
works God requires? 29 Jesus
answered, The work of God is
this: to believe in the one he has
sent. 30 So they asked him, Wh
at sign then will you give that
we
may see it and believe you? Wh
at will you do? 31 Our ancestors
ate the manna in the wildernes
s; as it is written: He gave the
m
bread from heaven to eat. 32 Jes
us said to them, Very truly I tell
you, it is not Moses who has giv
en you the bread from heaven
,
but it is my Father who gives you
the true bread from heaven. 33
For the bread of God is the bre
ad that comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world. 34 Sir
, they said, always give us this
bread. 35 Then Jesus declared,
I am the bread of life. Whoever
comes to me will never go hun
gry, and whoever believes in me
will never be thirsty. 36 But as
I told you, you have seen me and
still you do not believe. 37 All tho
se the Father gives me will com
e
to me, and whoever comes to me
I will never drive away. 38 For
I
have come down from heaven not
to do my will but to do the will
of him who sent me. 39 And this
is the will of him who sent me,
that I shall lose none of all those
he has given me, but raise them
up at the last day. 40 For my Fat
hers will is that everyone who
looks to the Son and believes in
him shall have eternal life, and
I
will raise them up at the last day
.

Coming next

study is so offensive
What Jesus says in the next
from Him
that thousands turn away

14
Life!

John 6 vs 4

1-71

Recap

As we learnt
at the start
of chapter 6,
these events
are happening
at Passover
The time w
hen a perfect
lamb was
sacrificed and
shared
When Gods
people remem
bered that
they had bee
n rescued by G
od from their
enemies and H
is judgement
Jesus has jus
t fed 5,000 m
en (and their
families). He
was showing
that He is th
one who bring
e
s eternal life,
satisfying our
needs forever
, not just for
one meal.
Jesus was th
e one they we
re waiting fo
r!

56

to
the large crowd
om
fr
ed
ov
m
s
a
h
rs,
Jesus
the Jewish leade
h
it
w
e
u
og
g
the syna
in Capernaum.
he
ile teaching in t
h
w
is
h
t
id
sa
e
v 59 H
pernaum.
synagogue in Ca

57

We are going to look at two big

questions:
41

grumble
At this the Jews there began to
the
about him because he said, I am
aven.
bread that came down from he

42

e son
They said, Is this not Jesus, th
ther
of Joseph, whose father and mo
,I came
we know? How can he now say
down from heaven?

43 Stop grumbling among yourselves,


Jesus answered.
44

the
No one can come to me unless
, and I
Father who sent me draws them
y.
will raise them up at the last da

45

hey will
It is written in the Prophets: T
e who has
all be taught by God. Everyon
m him
heard the Father and learned fro
comes to me.

46

58

cept the
No one has seen the Father ex
s seen
one who is from God; only he ha
the Father.

Q1: His identity

What were the religiously educated
They were grumbling about who
Jews unhappy about?
Jesus said He was.
How does Jesus respond?

Stop grumbling!
Who does Jesus say He is?

He has come from heaven.

This is just as
aiah
promised in Is
13,
chapter 54 v
re:
700 years befo
en
All your childr
will be taught
nd
by the Lord, a
heir
great will be t
peace.

v 41

The Father has sent Him (and

Jesus will raise them up at the last
day). v 44
He is the Teacher sent by God.
vs 45,46

Jesus is claiming to have come

from God as God to teach His
people about God!

As Hes done before, how does Jesus

question their relationship with God?

As you cant recognize me you

cant be close to God. v 44

59

Eternal life from God comes

through believing in Him.
Belief in what?

Very truly I tell you, the on

e who
believes has eternal life.

47

I am the bread of life.

Jesus the bread of life.

v 48

48

Your ancestors ate the man

na in
the wilderness, yet they die
d.

49

But here is the bread that

comes
down from heaven, which an
yone
may eat and not die.

50

I am the living bread that ca

me
down from heaven. Whoeve
r eats
this bread will live for ever
. This
bread is my flesh, which I wi
ll
give for the life of the world
.

51

come to bring life.

Jesus is very clear. He has
to provide Manna in
The Israelites relied on God
orary. In contrast,
the desert, but it was temp
a life of eternity,
Jesus is the bread of life
right with God.

So what was Jesus claim?

vs 42-46
I am God! If you cant see
Im God, the problem is with
you. You are not one of Gods
people, or else youd recognize
youre being taught by God!

vs 47-51
I am God! I bring eternal life...
and the cost is my life. This is my
mission.

60

61

Q2: His mission

What are Jews are unhappy about?
52

sharply
Then the Jews began to argue
is man
among themselves, How can th
give us his flesh to eat?

53

I tell
Jesus said to them, Very truly
the Son
you, unless you eat the flesh of
u have
of Man and drink his blood, yo
no life in you.

54

inks my
Whoever eats my flesh and dr
raise
blood has eternal life, and I will
them up at the last day.

55

od

blo
For my flesh is real food and my
is real drink.

56

inks my
Whoever eats my flesh and dr
em.
blood remains in me, and I in th

They are taking Jesus words

literally and seem to think He wants
them to eat Him!
What does Jesus actually mean?

Remember John 6v35:

Then Jesus declared, I am the bre

ad of life.
Whoever comes to me will never go
hungry, and
whoever believes in me will never be
thirsty.
In this verse when Jesus speaks of
Himself as the bread of life, He is
using picture language and does
not expect us to eat Him literally!
In fact eats my flesh vs 54-56
is comes to me v 35 .
And drinks my blood vs 54-56
...is believes in me v 35 .

So then when Jesus sp

eaks of eating and drink
ing
He is using picture lang
uage to speak about Hi
s
death on the cross. He
wants us to: believe in
Him
v 35 come to Him v 35
and look to Him v 40
62

63

This all about Jesus!

What is He claiming?

Through His death He is the

Just as the living Father se

nt me
and I live because of the Fa
ther, so
the one who feeds on me wi
ll live
because of me.

57

This is the bread that came

down
from heaven. Your ancestors
ate
manna and died, but whoeve
r feeds
on this bread will live for ev
er.

eternal Passover Lamb

His death will make full and final

payment for our sin

He will carry all Gods judgement

and righteous anger at sin

58

He said this while teaching

in the
synagogue in Capernaum.

Jesus is explaining to the religious

Jews in the synagogue that:

This is the key to eternal life v 54

Those who believe, He will take
up to heaven
What does He offer?

59

How can we have this?

v 54

Real fulfilment true life, with God,

that lasts forever! vs 55,57,58
Remember v 56 Jesus is talking
in picture language about His
death to come. Its all through His
death on the cross.
Through the cross, we are eternally
secure in Jesus, as we live in Jesus
and He in us.

Where has this been hinted at before?

John the Baptist said in chapter

64

1v29: Look, the lamb of God,

who takes away the sin of the
world! Well see this spelt out
even more in chapter 19.

65

Before we move to vs 60-71 we

need to deal with a
knotty issue!

Do I choose God or does

God choose me?

There is no doubt from what Je

sus says that we
have to believe, feed, come an
d drink
But, there is also no doubt th
at we cannot believe,
or come unless the He first ena
bles us to do so!
In other words God has pre
pared me by all the
events leading up to the time
when I have put my
trust in Jesus.
Perhaps it is worth asking wh
at would it be like
if all this really did depend on us
?
We would be:
Full of pride we could boast
at how clever weve
been!
Full of insecurity as we wave
r some days we will
follow some days we wont

66

However uncomfortable we migh

t find it becoming
a child in Gods family is down to
God and His
promise:
John 6v44: No one can come
to me unless the
Father who sent me draws th
em, and I will raise
them up at the last day.
John 5v24: Very truly I tell
you, whoever
hears my word and believes him
who sent me has
eternal life and will not be jud
ged but has crossed
over from death to life.
Dead people cannot raise them
selves
Condemned people cannot free
themselves
Even so, He still commands us to
come look and
believe.
John 6v47: Very truly I tell
you, the one who
believes has eternal life.

67

Look whos grumbling now!

ciples
60
On hearing it, many of his dis
o
said, This is a hard teaching. Wh
can accept it?
61

Aware that his disciples were

d to
grumbling about this, Jesus sai
them, Does this offend you?

62

Man
 hen what if you see the Son of
T
ascend to where he was before!

63

nts
 he Spirit gives life; the flesh cou
T
for nothing. The words I have
the
spoken to you they are full of
Spirit and life.

64

65

68

do not
 et there are some of you who
Y
from
believe. For Jesus had known
not
the beginning which of them did
.
believe and who would betray him
I
He went on to say,This is why
to me
told you that no one can come
them.
unless the Father has enabled

His own followers.

vs 60-61

How does Jesus respond?

You aint seen nothing yet!

v 62

v63 is key

What does the Spirit give?

Life! We have no life from God

within us we have already seen
that we are spiritually dead.
How does the Spirit bring life?

The words of Jesus.

v 63

The unbelief of some (includin

g Judas) is
no surprise to Jesus.
In v65 Jesus re-emphasise
s the point
that we can only have life if
God the
Father gives it to us.

69

This chapter was set up as

a test v 6
How do some of Jesus
followers react to this teaching?

From this time many of hi

s disciples
turned back and no longer
followed
him.

66

You do not want to leave to

o, do
you? Jesus asked the Twelv
e.

67

Simon Peter answered him

, Lord,
to whom shall we go? You ha
ve the
words of eternal life.

The Jews grumbled to Moses

The followers have grumbled to
Jesus...
and now some turn away.
Jesus is refusing to be the kind of
Saviour they wanted Him to be.

68

We have come to believe an

d to know
that you are the Holy One of
God.

69

Then Jesus replied, Have

I not
chosen you, the Twelve? Ye
t one of
you is a devil!

70

(He meant Judas, the son

of Simon
Iscariot, who, though one of
the
Twelve, was later to betray
him.)

71

70

How do the twelve respond

to Jesus question?

Now Peter has tasted the living

bread, hell never be satisfied with
anything else!
Peter answers for the group: You
are the life-giver!
Have you spotted the fact
that all along there is a plan?

Of course Jesus knew all along

that Judas would betray Him
Jesus is the Son of God.

71

John 6 vs 41 71
to grumble about him
At this the Jews there began
ad that came down from
because he said, I am the bre
not Jesus, the son of
heaven. 42 They said, Is this
r we know? How can he
Joseph, whose father and mothe
ven? 43 Stop grumbling
now say,I came down from hea
ed. 44 No one can come
among yourselves, Jesus answer
t me draws them, and I
to me unless the Father who sen
day. 45 It is written in the
will raise them up at the last
by God. Everyone who
Prophets: They will all be taught
from him comes to me.
has heard the Father and learned
ept the one who is from
46
No one has seen the Father exc
. 47 Very truly I tell you,
God; only he has seen the Father
l life. 48 I am the bread of
the one who believes has eterna
nna in the wilderness, yet
life. 49 Your ancestors ate the ma
ad that comes down from
50
they died. But here is the bre
51
I am the
and not die.
heaven, which anyone may eat
heaven. Whoever eats
living bread that came down from
s bread is my flesh, which
this bread will live for ever. Thi
ld. 52 Then the Jews began
I will give for the life of the wor
lves, How can this man
to argue sharply among themse
53
said to them, Very truly
give us his flesh to eat? Jesus
h of the Son of Man and
I tell you, unless you eat the fles
in you. 54 Whoever eats
drink his blood, you have no life
has eternal life, and I will
my flesh and drinks my blood
55
For my flesh is real food
raise them up at the last day.
56
oever eats my flesh and
and my blood is real drink. Wh
57
and I in them. Just as
drinks my blood remains in me,
live because of the Father,
the living Father sent me and I

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58
live because of me. This is
so the one who feeds on me will
heaven. Your ancestors ate
the bread that came down from
feeds on this bread will live
manna and died, but whoever
teaching in the synagogue
59
for ever. He said this while
60
many of his disciples said,
in Capernaum. On hearing it,
61
can accept it? Aware that
This is a hard teaching. Who
about this, Jesus said to
his disciples were grumbling
62
Then what if you see the Son
them, Does this offend you?
before! 63 The Spirit gives
of Man ascend to where he was
g. The words I have spoken
life; the flesh counts for nothin
64
rit and life. Yet there are
to you they are full of the Spi
. For Jesus had known from
some of you who do not believe
not believe and who would
the beginning which of them did
I told you
65
He went on to say,This is why
betray him.
ess the Father has enabled
that no one can come to me unl
of his disciples turned back
them. 66 From this time many
67
u do not want to leave too,
and no longer followed him. Yo
68
Simon Peter answered
do you? Jesus asked the Twelve.
go? You have the words of
him, Lord, to whom shall we
69
believe and to know that you
eternal life. We have come to
70
n Jesus replied, Have I not
are the Holy One of God. The
71
of you is a devil! (He
chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one
Iscariot, who, though one of
meant Judas, the son of Simon
him.)
the Twelve, was later to betray

Coming next
Confusion matched with cla

rity!

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