Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
v.27 work for food that endures
Not temporary thrills but the long haul.
v.52 They took him completely literally and no longer follow him v.66. The explanation becomes clear only to those who were prepared to hang in there for the long haul.
v.27 work for food that endures
Not temporary thrills but the long haul.
v.52 They took him completely literally and no longer follow him v.66. The explanation becomes clear only to those who were prepared to hang in there for the long haul.
v.68 Lord, to whom shall we go?
Not a very enthusiastic reposnse, though perhaps a very honest one.
v.68 Lord, to whom shall we go?
Not a very enthusiastic reposnse, though perhaps a very honest one.
v.25 The crowd realized only one boat had left yet Jesus didn’t tell them He walked across the lake. Jesus never draws attention to his miralces.
v.25 The crowd realized only one boat had left yet Jesus didn’t tell them He walked across the lake. Jesus never draws attention to his miralces.
That passage caught my eye as well today.
v 26
Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Interesting that this is the WORK of God.
Pretty simple work and every true believer does it with ease.
Kind of changes the way I look at all those who say they are doing the work of God and all the ones who think they aren’t but really are.
That passage caught my eye as well today.
v 26
Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Interesting that this is the WORK of God.
Pretty simple work and every true believer does it with ease.
Kind of changes the way I look at all those who say they are doing the work of God and all the ones who think they aren’t but really are.
I agree Wendy our understanding of “the work of God” needs revamping so it lines up with God’s.
I agree Wendy our understanding of “the work of God” needs revamping so it lines up with God’s.
65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
I find this so interesting. That the Father was the one who ‘gave permission’ to those who would come in to the kingdom.
There are more than one of these kinds of statements in the Bible.
Breeds a lot of questions about fairness. But, I guess if God knows ahead of time, who will love Him and who won’t maybe it is not so mysterious. ????
70Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?”
So there really are devils in the world. Are they controlled by God? Jesus said He CHOSE Judas. Did Judas know he was being set up????
65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
I find this so interesting. That the Father was the one who ‘gave permission’ to those who would come in to the kingdom.
There are more than one of these kinds of statements in the Bible.
Breeds a lot of questions about fairness. But, I guess if God knows ahead of time, who will love Him and who won’t maybe it is not so mysterious. ????
70Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?”
So there really are devils in the world. Are they controlled by God? Jesus said He CHOSE Judas. Did Judas know he was being set up????
It is a good point you make Wendy. Jesus chose Judas which would suggest Jesus chooses people who ultimately reject Him.
I feel if Judas had repented he would have been forgiven. Also I feel if Judas had not betrayed Jesus it would not have thwarted God’s ultimate plan. God has many ways of fulfilling His purposes.
Interestingly enough on the weekend I went to church with my daughter and the pastor there spoke on this chapter! He made some good points. One was that the point of this miracle wasn’t primarily about feeding the needy. V.6 tells us Jesus was testing his disciples. The pastor went on to say that although the church does feed the needy our primary task is to bring people to Jesus.
He also says God blesses what we have (in this case the loaves and fishes) in order that we share it with others. Jesus could have feed the crowd in any way He chose but He chose to use a boy who was prepared to give up what was his.
It is a good point you make Wendy. Jesus chose Judas which would suggest Jesus chooses people who ultimately reject Him.
I feel if Judas had repented he would have been forgiven. Also I feel if Judas had not betrayed Jesus it would not have thwarted God’s ultimate plan. God has many ways of fulfilling His purposes.
Interestingly enough on the weekend I went to church with my daughter and the pastor there spoke on this chapter! He made some good points. One was that the point of this miracle wasn’t primarily about feeding the needy. V.6 tells us Jesus was testing his disciples. The pastor went on to say that although the church does feed the needy our primary task is to bring people to Jesus.
He also says God blesses what we have (in this case the loaves and fishes) in order that we share it with others. Jesus could have feed the crowd in any way He chose but He chose to use a boy who was prepared to give up what was his.
v.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.
Begin with what you have
v.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.
Begin with what you have
v.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.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Because Jesus fed them they made the connection with Moses providing manna in the wilderness. Moses freed them from the Egyptians and now they expected Jesus to free them from the Romans.
v.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.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Because Jesus fed them they made the connection with Moses providing manna in the wilderness. Moses freed them from the Egyptians and now they expected Jesus to free them from the Romans.
V.21… and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Was this another miracle?
V.21… and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Was this another miracle?
V.28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
They thought they would be able to earn their salvation through good works, ignoring Jesus’ statement “which the Son of Man will give you.” They wanted to work for something that Jesus was prepared to give. “
(From Constable’s Commentary) “There is something within the fallen nature of human beings that makes working for eternal life more attractive than receiving it as a gift.”
V.28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
They thought they would be able to earn their salvation through good works, ignoring Jesus’ statement “which the Son of Man will give you.” They wanted to work for something that Jesus was prepared to give. “
(From Constable’s Commentary) “There is something within the fallen nature of human beings that makes working for eternal life more attractive than receiving it as a gift.”
v.34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
Is reminiscent of 4:15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
v.34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
Is reminiscent of 4:15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
v.37-40 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Salvation is both divine initiative and human responsibility and it is difficult to know where one ends and the other begins.
v.37-40 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Salvation is both divine initiative and human responsibility and it is difficult to know where one ends and the other begins.
v.66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
Jesus lost many followers but he did not back down or change his message. They had understood him and decided to leave. Jesus did not chase them.
v.66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
Jesus lost many followers but he did not back down or change his message. They had understood him and decided to leave. Jesus did not chase them.