Mastering “…the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Hilltop Church Men’s Sword Sharpening.

Mastering “…the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

Hilltop ChurchMen’s Sword Sharpening

John, Chapter 6


Recap

• Parallel of Genesis 1• Miracle at the wedding at Cana (red heifer)• Nicodemus’ visit by night– Power, wealth, standing in community

• Woman at the well– Had nothing

• Bethesda pool


John Chapter 6

• Intro Notes–The longest chapter in John (71 verses)–Covers period of about 24 hours–About a year after chapter 5– First “I am” statement–3 major episodes• Feeding of the 5,000 (covered by all 4

Gospels)

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The Feeding of the 5,000V. 1-15

• V.1– “After these things”, meta tauta• Used as a marker / division of thoughts /

milestone• Used 7 times in this gospel (3:22; 5:1; 5:14;

6:1; 7:1; 11:11; 21;1) and in Revelation• Used to organize the book (just as

organized as Revelation, but not as obviously)



• V.2

–“great multitude”•People were following Him because

of the “signs” He was doing…not because of who He was (and still is)•They are following for what they can

get out of Him



• V.4

–“And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.”• Recall that John uses the term “Jews” in

a special way – to refer to the leadership in Jerusalem (adversaries of Jesus)•Misunderstanding this has led to some

anti-Semitic writings in the past



• V.4• The phrase “feast of the Jews”

contrasts the term “feast of the LORD” as stated in Deuteronomy 16:16 (next slide)•We can get more out of our Bible

study by looking for comparisons and contrasts



• V.4–“Three times in a year shall all thy

males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:”



• V.5

–“Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”• Asked of Philip – Why?• Philip was from Cana and knew the area• But…



• V.5–The disciples are listed in four places:

Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13–Philip is always listed fifth (5th)–He may have been the leader of the

second four (breastplate of the High Priest)



• V.7–“Two hundred pennyworth of

bread is not sufficient for them…”–Multiple of 20– Jacob waited 20 years to gain possession of

his wives and property (Gen 31:41); the 21st year it came

A day’s wages



• V.7–In Judges 4:3, Israel waited 20 years for

emancipation from Jabin’s oppression; the 21st year they were delivered–In 1 Sam 7:2, the ark stayed in Kirjath-

Jearim for 20 years; the 21st, God delivered it.



• V.7–Does 20 = insufficiency?–200 is an intensified form–The number 200 always carries an

evil connection (Josh 7:21; Judg 17:4; 1 Sam 30:10; 2 Sam 14:26; Rev 9:16)



• V.8-9–Andrew: Every time he’s

mentioned in Scripture, he’s always bringing someone to Jesus. Only the Gospel of John records the (very small) boy (“a lad”)

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• V.8-9–Barley Loaves•Diet of soldiers being punished for

losing their standard in battle•Good for you, but not necessarily

desired• “Stuff your Mom makes you eat.”



• V.10

–“Make the men sit down.”–God is not the author of confusion• Confusion = the absence of the Holy Spirit

– “Now there was much grass in the place.”•Mark’s account mentions that the grass

was green…



Why?



• V.10

–“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:”

Psalm 237



• V.10–“So the men sat down, in number

about five thousand.”–5,000 excludes women and children?• Probably not that many…it was a feast

time for…

ALL ABLE-BODIED MALES



• V.11–“…and when he had given thanks...”•Given thanks - Deuteronomy 8:10

–“he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down…”•Use of disciples - Hebrews 5:11,13;

Luke 8:18



• V.11–Our modest offerings can be sufficient

if placed in His hands...God uses the little things

He can use you and me!!



• V.12

–“When they were filled…”, Echortasthete•Term used in feeding animals•Glutted, fatted, fed to repletion•“Pig Out!!”



• V.12

–“Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”–Jesus will not lose anything

entrusted to Him–“eternal security”



• V.13– “Therefore they gathered them together,

and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves,...”–Why 12 baskets?• God always provides for His laborers• And ABUNDANTLY!



• V.15–“When Jesus therefore perceived that

they would come and take him by force…”–“Take him by force”, Harpazein, to

seize violently; translated literally means “a revolution in the air (somersault).”



• V.15–“…he departed again into a mountain

himself alone.”• The High Priest always officiates alone…

(Leviticus 16:17)•What did He do in the mountain alone?

Pray!



• V.15–Nowhere in John does Jesus pray except John

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And it’s a prayer of intercession…

The most powerful prayerIn the Bible!


Feast of Jesus

Simple

Surrounded by God’sCreation

Filled Body and Soul

The Fullness of His Ministry

Feast of the JewsElaborate

Surrounded by theTemple

Filled Only the Body

The Emptiness of Jerusalem



The Protection of JesusV. 16-21

• V.16

–“his disciples went down unto the sea,…”• The Matthew account (14:22) tells us

that Jesus “constrained” them to go – He ordered them to go



• V.16–Why did Jesus order them to go?–“They that go down to the sea in ships,

that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.”

Psalm 107:23-24



• V.17– “And it was now dark…”, Skotia•Was it dark because Jesus was not with

them?• Denotes a spiritual darkness• By the way: Kafer Nahum (Capernaum)

means the hometown of the prophet Nahum



• V.19– “So when they had rowed about five and

twenty or thirty furlongs…”• About 3 ½ miles•While they were rowing, Jesus could see

them (they were always under his protection)• They were fatigued! (Mark 6:15)



• Matthew 14:22-33–As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he

was OK. When he took his eyes off Him, Peter sank!



• V.20

–“…It is I; be not afraid.”, Ego eimi•“I am”, YHWH; the covenant name of God


The Bread of LifeV. 22-59

• V.26– “…Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me,

not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”• Four times Jesus says, “Verily, verily” (Jn

6:26,32,47,53); three times in the upper room (Jn 13:16,20,21)

A total of seven times!

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• V.27

–“… for him hath God the Father sealed.”– “Seal of God upon Him.” A seal is an

authentication, a guarantee– It is irreversible– Jesus was sealed as the Son of Man



• V.27– For how long was Jesus incarnate?

Forever!–The Rabbis say the seal of God is truth,

emeth (three letters; Aleph, Mem, Tau = first, middle, last)–We are also sealed (Eph 1:13)



• Ephesians 1:13–We are also sealed:

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,”



• V.28-29– “… What shall we do, that we might work

the works of God?”

“Work of God”:

“…that ye believe on Himwhom He hath sent.”



• V.31-34• “Manna,” (an untranslated word meaning,

“what is this?”)• God used the term “manna” only once, and

was referring to Israel’s willfulness, vs “Bread”, which is what He called it

• The word manna is derogatory• It was despised (Num 11:7)



• Manna vs. ChristGift of God through mediation of Moses

...Jesus given directly by GodGiven temporarily, ceased in Canaan

...Jesus given continuouslyGiven only to Israel

...Jesus given to the whole worldSustained physical life until death

...Jesus sustains spiritual life forever



• V.35

• “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

• “comes”, Erchomenos, a serious commitment; pisteunon, continuing trust after coming

• Both verbs also repeated in John 7:37-38 with the living water


• Seven “I am” Statements

I AM the light of the world (John 8:12)I AM the door (John 10:9)I AM the good shepherd (John 10:11)I AM the resurrection and the life (John 11:35)I AM the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)I AM the true vine (John 15:1)

I AM the bread of life (John 6:35, 48)


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• V.37

• “I will in no wise cast out.”–Definite company mentioned seven times

in John 17; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:19–Peter denied Him with an oath•Was he cast out?



• V.38

• “For I came down from heaven…”– “came down”, Katabainon–Used seven times in this chapter (John

6:33,38,41,42,50,51,58)–He emphasized His heavenly origin and

exposed unbelief in the crowd

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• V.39, 40, 44– Three references to the resurrection:

• 39 – “…raise it up again at the last day.”• 40 – “…and I will raise him up at the

last day.”• 44 – “…and I will raise him up at the

last day.”



• V.44

–“…except the Father which hath sent me draw him…”– “to draw with a moral power”, Helkusei



• V.45• “It is written in the prophets, And they shall

be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”–Biblical authority cited: Isaiah 54:13 (“And”

implies He was holding the scroll of Isaiah and read from the text…also Jeremiah 31:33,34 and Joel 2:28-32



• V.46-59– Jesus continues to explain His plan of

eternal life through eating–V.50-53 – Phagein: a single act of receiving

eternal life (salvation)–V.54-59 – Trogon: continual or habitual

eating (munching)



Man died by “eating”; he is now made alive

by “eating!”


Three Responses to JesusV. 60-71

• V.60-71– Unbelieving majority [vv. 60-66]: Their primary

response was one of unbelief.– Believing minority [vv. 67-69]: “Will ye also go

away?” Peter answered, “To whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

– Professing Apostate [vv. 70-71]: The betrayer, who was identified one year before the act



• V.70

–“…Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

• “Devil”, Diabolos, slanderous; with definite article, “Satan.” Judas



• V.70• Judah; “praise”: He was of the tribe of Judah.

“Iscariot” means “man of Kerioth,” one of the towns settled by the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:25)

• Judas was the only disciple that was not a native of Galilee. He came from Judah, the country most hostile to Jesus

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Mastering “…the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Hilltop Church Men’s Sword Sharpening.

Documents

word of god

term feast

feast of unleavened

john chapter

phrase feast

feast of weeks

feast of tabernacles

term jews