09-11-23-ENG.

"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life. "

John 6:27 
GOING FOR THE BREAD

Read It: Matthew 14:13; John 6:1-4
 
You may not think we're going to talk about trials and tribulations when you see that we are beginning with one of Jesus' greatest miracles, acles, the only one recorded in all four Gospels: the feeding of the five thousand. But I want to study this incident both for what it teaches us about God's provision and because it served as the prelude to a great trial of the disciples' faith. The reason this miracle is recorded more than any other is that at this point excitement about Jesus Christ had reached a fever pitch. It came two years into His ministry, and His popularity was going through the roof. John 6 records that it happened during the Passover, the celebration of Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The death angel passed over every house covered by the blood (Exodus 11:1-12:36). Now the reason this is important is that John wanted his readers to make the link between Israel under Egypt and Israel under Rome in his day. Israel in the Old Testament wanted deliverance from Egypt. The Jews of Jesus' day wanted deliverance from Rome. The Old Testament prophesied that when Messiah came, He would deliver His people and bring in a new kingdom. They would be under the hand of God. So by now it has become apparent to the Jews that Jesus was a great candidate for this position. He has been healing people and performing many other miracles.

The problem, though, was that the people ple wanted the goodies Jesus was handing out, but they didn't want the message He was preaching. They were saying, "This Brother's bad. The blind see, and the lame walk, and demons are cast out. He's our Man to feed us and lead us out of Roman bondage." In fact, they were so intent on getting the good stuff that Mark 6:33 says they outran Jesus to this location. This is serious popularity. This is superstar treatment. The crowd was big because the people wanted to see what Jesus would do next (John 6:2). As we will learn, however, they wanted Jesus to be their King on their terms, not His. Think About It Are you trying to have Jesus on your terms instead of His? It won't work. He is either Lord of all or not Lord at all.