Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk John 20:31 So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk John’s Gospel We have been looking at John’s Gospel in order to see who Jesus is. We have been using John 1 as a description of Jesus, which is then expanded in the rest of the Gospel. Chapters 2-11 Jesus’ Ministry 7 signs 7+ “I AM” statements Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk Walking with Jesus Context Jesus is back in Galilee Passover is near (setting people free, The last Supper) A large crowd had followed him Jesus goes up a mountain and sits down lots of significant things happen up mountains it should grab our attention Start to think the Exodus, Passover, Red Sea, Manna, 10 commandments Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk Feeding the 5000 - vv 5-15 5 loaves & 2 fishes, sometimes used to show what Jesus can do with the little we have This is a deliberate act by Jesus Jesus takes the ordinary and transforms it (Ch2 water into wine), here bread into living bread Having given thanks (vv 11 & 23) - What for? more than saying grace Lots left over more than the immediate need Jesus sacrifice more effective than Passover Food in the wilderness (Manna) Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk Walking on water - vv 16-21 It is dark, there is brooding water (see Gen 1) all things came into being through Him (John 1:3) The Lake is being stirred up He comes walking on the water walking, going about His life ruling and shaping creation It is I = I, I am and the Word was God (John 1:1) They received Him, do we want Jesus in our boat? when in dark chaotic waters our confidence is in the I AM The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend (receive) it. (1:5) Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk Seeing the Sign - vv 2, 14, 26, 30 Distracted by the sign (v14) easy to miss the point they went for the quick and easy and then asked for a sign (v30) The signs needs to be considered we need to chew them over They saw the signs but not what they were pointing to The signs point to who Jesus is Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk The Bread of Life - vv 26-58 Compare the Passover, the Last Supper crossing the Red Sea, walking on the water the Manna in the wilderness, feeding 5000 (vv49-50) Moses, Jesus The bread (6:35) & the water at the well (ch 4) I have food that you do not know about (4:32) my food is to do the will of my Father (4:34, 6:38) “let go of your own will, and do the will of the Father who sent me” (vv38-40) Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk The Bread of Life - continued I AM the bread of life v35 The Bread (Jesus) has come down to raise us up. (6:51,54) True food, true drink - Jesus is full of grace and truth (1:14,17) Jesus is asking them to stretch their understanding, to look deeper than the surface He challenges their world view We need the Holy Spirit (6:63) if we are to begin to understand Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk Grumbling - vv 41, 43, 61 grumbling, muttering, murmuring, whispering Just like in the Exodus Grumbling is about our personal preferences Following Jesus is about doing the will of the Father (vv38-40) even when it contravenes everything we think and want “This is a difficult statement, who can listen to it?” Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk Not walking with Him anymore? - vv66-69 v2 A large crowd followed Him not anymore Literally, “they went backwards, and did not walk with Him anymore” Walking with someone to accompany, go where they go, supprt, be a disciple/follower, share lives together Have I/we/you gone backwards? - a difficult saying Andrew & Philip (1:37) followed Jesus, and still do vv68-69 (see 11:27 Martha) What keeps us, is that we have come to know who Jesus is Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk