Looking for a King (4 things)

• 1^st – Jesus returned to the Galilee… vs. 1-4
  • After these things…
    • There is a considerable jump in time between the events of John 5 and John 6…
    • Perhaps as much as a year has passed since Jesus healed the lame man at Bethesda…
    • In the interim the disciples had been sent out preaching the Gospel – Luke 9:1-6
    • John the Baptist had been arrested by Herod Antipas – and then beheaded…
    • And now the time for the Passover was coming again – meaning it was early spring
  • Jesus went back at the Sea of Galilee / or the Sea of Tiberias….
    • Matthew and Mark always refer to it as ‘the sea’ or ‘the Sea of Galilee’…
    • Luke always refers to it as ‘the lake’ or ‘the Lake of Gennesaret’…
    • Considering its rather small size – 20 x 11 km – lake is a more accurate description
    • John adds a 3^rd name – Sea of Tiberias – named after Tiberias Caesar a Roman ruler
  • Jesus went up onto a mountain on the eastern shore with His disciples…
    • We are told in Mark 6:30-34 – Jesus took the disciples aside to give them a break…
      • They were exhausted from their preaching tour of the Galilee…
      • So they took a boat to a remote part of the Galilee to get some needed rest…
    • A great multitude followed Jesus because of the miracles they had seen Him perform…

• Jesus left to be alone – but when He saw the people He could not turn them away…
• Coming home from a long day – the last things you want are people waiting for help
• I love that even when Jesus was exhausted and worn out – He still loved the people…
• Never turned them away – never asked them to come back (buas lang)…
• He still does not today – He is always there anytime we need Him!
• 2^nd – The miracle of the loaves and the fish… vs. 6-13
  • One of only two events recorded in all 4 Gospels (Last Week is the other)… vs. 6-9
    • Jesus asked Philip a question – where can we buy meat and bread for all these people…
      • Jesus already knew what He was going to do – He was just testing the disciples…
      • Jesus knew they were in an isolated remote area – there were no stores / market…
      • I imagine a lot of times – God does things just to ‘see what we will do’…
      • Not that He does not already know – it is so that we can see our reaction…
    • Philip answered – P30,000 would not be enough to even give each of them a little!
      • Andrew added – there was a boy who had 5 loaves of barley and two SMALL fish…
      • It was a meager offering that could not possibly help to feed so many people!
      • In all there were about 5000 men plus women and children….
      • Imagine trying to feed over 15,000 people with 5 bowls of rice and 2 small fish!
      • That is more than the population of San Antonio, Calasa, and Lagtipon!
    • When we try to make a decision – only looking at our limited resources…
      • We face a BIG problem – we only have so much time / so much money…
      • Often they are just not enough to take care of the problems that we encounter…
      • God tells us to teach a Bible study – and we say we are not smart enough!
      • God tells us to help out a neighbor who has no food – yet we have nothing ourselves!
      • God asks the impossible of us – because it is only impossible on our own!
  • Jesus made the disciples seat the multitudes…
    • Jesus took the loaves and fish – gave thanks – and gave them to the disciples…
      • What started as 5 loaves and 2 small fish – became enough to feed thousands!
      • The disciples gave the little they had – Jesus gave abundantly in return…
      • So much so everyone was full – and there were 12 full baskets left over!
    • The problem is when we get so focused on ourselves – we miss what Jesus can do…
      • God is not broke – He owns the cattle on 1000 hills – Psalm 50:10
      • God does not too small – He holds the oceans in His hands – Isaiah 40:12
      • He has no limits – and He wants to blow our mind with what He can do!
      • Ephesians 3:20 – “Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…”
      • We can choose to depend on ourselves – and we will never have enough…
      • Or we can give what little we have to the Lord – and stand back and be amazed…
      • As He multiplies our time / talent / or money to meet every need…
      • So much so – where at fist we did not have enough – in the end there will be extra!

• 3^rd – Walking on water… vs. 14-21

Or by faith receive from God the most amazing gift we will ever get – salvation!

The multitudes wanted to make Jesus King…

All the men who had been fed proclaimed – ‘Jesus is truly THE prophet!’

Talking about Deuteronomy 18:15 – they thought Jesus might be the Messiah!

Even the disciples seemed to be caught up in the excitement of the moment…

People get elected today just because they paint a basketball court…

Imagine if someone was able to feed 15,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish…

It is no wonder the people were ready to take Jesus and make Him king!

But there was a problem – they did not want Him as king for the right reasons…

The people only wanted food – they were not looking for salvation…

There are many who are looking for what they can get from Jesus…

They think if they attend church – God will give them riches / blessing…

But Jesus did not come to give us a better life here on earth…

In fact following Jesus means you will likely face more challenges in life…

John 16:33 – “In the world you will have tribulation…”

Because God knows it is in the trials of life that we cry out to Jesus!

God is far more concerned about our eternity – than the 70+ years we have here…

Following Jesus is about receiving a far greater reward – eternal life!

Then Jesus went up a mountain to pray…

Remember why Jesus was here in the first place – to get some rest / perspective…

Perhaps with a heavy heart knowing that the crucifixion was fast approaching…

The reaction of the crowd only further weighing on His heart…

The people who He came to give eternal life – only wanted bread and fish

Jesus went to the only place He could find comfort and strength – prayer

It is not a question of if we will have problems in life – but when…

When things are not going well –where do we go – what do we do…

Do we rely and depend on others – do we rely on ourselves…

Or do we take the time to get alone with Jesus – seek Him for the answers

Night came – and Jesus had not yet returned…

So the disciples got into the boat and headed back towards Capernaum (western side)…

The other Gospels tell us Jesus had commanded them to go – Mark 6:45

But apparently they were SLOW to obey the command – and waited around…

Perhaps they were still looking – along with the crowd – to make Jesus King…

One of the greatest challenges in life to following Jesus – is our ideas…

We are so determined to follow OUR plans – we miss out on Jesus’ plan for us!

When they finally set out – they encountered a strong wind…

If they had left when Jesus told them – perhaps there would not have been wind…

It made the rowing slow – and took them hours to only get half way across…

They were trying their best – but it was not enough – they were stuck in the wind…

When the Lord tells us to do something – better to listen and obey…

When we hesitate to follow the Word of God – we find life gets hard!

Because now we are trying to get around on our own effort…

Jesus came walking out on water near the Disciples – and they were afraid…

Immediately Jesus spoke, ‘I AM – do not be afraid.’

Side note – John does not record Peter walking on the water – then sinking…

Jesus went up into the boat and immediately the boat was at the other side…

When we follow Jesus plan – when He is ‘in the boat’ – there is no effort…

We will find we end up right where He wanted us to be!

4^th – Looking for a King… vs. 22-29

The next day the multitudes did not have any boats… vs. 22-25

When Jesus originally took the disciples to ‘get away’ – they had departed by boat…

But they multitudes followed them on foot – running along the shore…

Now the disciples had taken the only boat – leaving Jesus on the mountain…

The crowd did not know Jesus had also crossed over at night walking on the Sea…

So the crowds had no way of following after the Disciples – finding Jesus!

In the morning more people came over from Tiberias – on the western side – in boats…

News of the feeding of the 5000 had made it back to the city…

When the new boats arrived – the multitudes who had been fed by Jesus loaded in…

They all set out for Capernaum to find our where Jesus and the Disciples had gone!

When they found Jesus near Capernaum – they asked – ‘How did You get here’…

People have a lot of questions for God – but usually they are the wrongs ones…

What does God look like – how do you spell His real name….

Why did God not give me a taller nose – why did God not make me taller…

If God can do anything – can he make a rock so big he cannot lift it…

But the only question we should be asking God – how can we get to heaven!

The ‘work’ God wants… vs. 26-39

Jesus – ‘I tell you the truth – you are not looking for Me because you saw miracles’…

The only reason the crowds were so determined to find Jesus – He filled their belly!

Do not strive to get food that does not last – that will only satisfy for a moment…

Jesus had fed the crowd the night before – and already they were hungry again…

They chased Jesus all over the Galilee for something that only lasted a few hours!

People waste their entire lives trying to get things that do not last…

People work for years in order to afford toys / laptops / cell phones…

Things that only last for a few months – then break and are useless…

Or people will work 7 days a week – from dawn till dusk – just to buy a drink…

When it is all said and done – they end up with nothing to show for all their work!

Instead chase after the eternal food God offers…

Jesus was ready to give them ‘meat’ that would never go bad – eternal…

Matthew 6:19-20 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”

What we need to chase after – spend our lives pursing – is Jesus!

How much better to use our time ‘earning’ rewards that never fade away…

Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…”

Because wherever we decide to invest all our time – is what we will love most in life!

Jesus had been given this ‘eternal food’ from the Father – because He was ‘approved’…

The people asked – what must we do so that we also can ‘be approved’…

They were still trying to figure out how to get more ‘bread’ from Jesus…

But Jesus was not talking about bread – He was talking about eternal life…

Jesus told them – believe in the One God sent – they would receive by faith!

Ephesians 2:8 – “By grace you have been saved through faith, it is the gift of God.”

Our part/work in receiving God’s ‘eternal gift’ is to believe by faith in Jesus…

God does not want anyone to perish – but He gives all men the choice…

He offers everyone the gift – and then lets any and all choose how to respond…

We can ignore it – choose instead to waste our life on the things that perish…