John - Week 16

Kingmakers Evaded 

READ 

John 6:14-15 

14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.  

Notice how people are so drawn to the supernatural. In the days of Jesus it confused them into doing things that He didn’t want them to do. What if an impostor had done a miracle? Would the people have thought he was the Prophet they were expecting? The people in the first century thought a deliverer would come and deliver them from the Roman Empire. The people here wanted to make Jesus king now after seeing Him feed more than 5,000. 

REFLECT 

Jesus slipping away into the hills helps answer why He often told people not to tell anyone when he had healed them. His time hadn’t come for what He had come to do. Does this help you understand why He often forbade this? When He was on the eastern side of the Jordan He didn’t always make the same request because it would not have caused the same attention. 

RESPOND 

Read Deuteronomy 13:1-3. Then answer this question. Does a miracle always indicate something is true? What is more reliable to trust? 

Rough Seas 

READ 

John 6:16-18 

16 That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough.  

When Jesus didn’t come by dark as the disciples expected, they took off looking for Him. 

“Capernaum” literally means “town of Nahum.” It was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was the main city for Jesus and His disciples so understandably they thought He might be there. The Sea of Galilee was subject to many fierce and unexpected storms and this night was no exception. Small boats would not be safe at such a time. 

REFLECT 

The disciples wanted to be in the presence of Jesus. Is that your desire also? They had to go looking for Him, but He now resides in every believer as Colossians 1:27 says. Make it your prayer that others see Christ in you. 

RESPOND 

The mention of a town or city name suggests the need for a Bible dictionary or Bible atlas. Do you have access to either of these? If not, seek out where you can find one. 

Walking on the Water 

READ 

John 6:19-21 

19 They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!  

It was scary enough to be out in a violent storm, but now the disciples saw someone walking on the water. How frightening that would be. Although they at first were terrified, they recognized His voice and were eager to have him come on board. Was it by a miracle they were “immediately” on the other shore? The Bible doesn’t say. Could it also be that in the presence of Jesus who controls the sea it seemed like they were “immediately” there? 

REFLECT 

If you had been in the boat with the disciples, what would have been your thoughts when you saw someone walking on the water and coming toward you? 

RESPOND 

You will find life is more peaceful and bad circumstances seem to go by more quickly as you are in the Scriptures daily and spending time in prayer talking to the Lord. What is your Bible reading plan? 

Where's Jesus 

READ 

John 6:22-23 

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten.  

Although the disciples and Jesus were on the other shore, the crowd continued to look for Him. 

Somehow the disciples knew that Jesus had not gone with the disciples in the only boat. Capernaum, where the disciples headed, was on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Where the feeding of the 5,000 took place was on the northeastern side of the Sea. Tiberias mentioned here was on the southwestern shore but now boats from it had come to the northeastern side.  

REFLECT 

Notice the importance of knowing where some of the points of travel are. When a person tells you about going from one place to another in your area, does your mind not travel from place to place as the person is talking? So also with the Bible places. The more you know about them the more understanding you have of what is occurring.  

RESPOND 

With your disciple, make a rough drawing of where to place Samaria, Judea and Galilee. Do this until you no longer need to look at a map. 

Searching for Jesus 

READ 

John 6:24-25 

24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. 25 They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 

What would be one of the first questions you would have in meeting Jesus face-to-face? Notice what the crowd asked. Their question is an indication that the crowd was more concerned about physical matters than spiritual. The much more important question would be to ask what Jesus could do for them spiritually that would have eternal consequences. Or, at least a better question would have been why, not when, 

REFLECT 

When you witness about your faith to others, do you sometimes ask why, instead of a factual question? If one says he is not ready to trust in Jesus yet, a good question would be why? 

RESPOND 

What if God would ask you why you are not trusting Him when you’re going through difficult circumstances and doubts begin to creep into your mind? How would you answer?