Category Archives: John

John

To Stone or Not To Stone? John 8:1-11

1 Comment

Some of your bibles will have this chapter of John in parenthesis and that’s because our oldest known copies of this gospel are missing this chapter. This has left some some people in doubt as to it’s validity. Some of the bible’s critics will say that this chapter doesn’t belong and we know that because Jesus was an unlearned peasant and couldn’t possibly know how to write. Of course for this theory to work you would have to discount Luke’s account (which they do) not to mention the last chapter. One of the things they seem to overlook is that while it is true that most of the population was illiterate, that didn’t mean everybody. This is one of the reasons why God set up a Leviticus priesthood whose job it was to read and teach the scriptures. Of course if they had, then there wouldn’t have been so much confusion about the coming Messiah. Why is this important? Because Mary came from a family of priests (We know this because Elisabeth was her cousin and Zacharias was a practicing Levitical priest) so it isn’t a stretch to think that Jesus had received some lessons in reading. Especially since He was constantly telling others to search the scriptures. Why would He say such a thing if He hadn’t done so himself?

All that is well and good, but what does that have to do with this chapter? Aside from Christ writing on the ground probably not much, but it does bring us to the exciting stuff and the reason we know for a fact that this chapter belongs right here and in this spot. Let’s start and I’ll explain.

John 8:1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

Ok in the last chapter we talked about how it was an overlay of the tribulation and how the completion of the Feast of Tabernacles marks the end of this age. Well folks the Feast of Tabernacles is complete and what marks the return of our Savior? Him touching the Mount of Olives. From here on we are going to see some things that will help you better understand the millennium.

John 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

During the millennium, Christ is in and stays in the temple until the great white throne judgment.

This marks the beginning of the millennium so note how everyone is coming to Him and compare it to:

Isaiah 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

You might be thinking to yourself that this isn’t bowing a knee and I won’t argue the point, but I will have you consider this before we move on:

Romans 14:10-13 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (13) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, (8:4) They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

Before Christ returns 2 Thessalonians 2 tells us that there will be a great falling away meaning many will fall away from God and turn toward Satan. Turning from God is called idolatry and many times, Hosea in particular, God has used adultery as a physical example of idolatry.

John 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (8:6) This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

They are trying to trip Christ up. How? If this woman is married, the law in question is given in Deuteronomy 22 (The law listed in Numbers 5 doesn’t apply because they were caught, “in the very act”) so let’s go there.

Deuteronomy 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

Alright so this woman needs to die right? She was found, so let’s start chucking rocks right? Not so fast. Where is this guy? The laws say both of them are to be put to death, so if she was caught in the act why didn’t they bring the man also? Shouldn’t he have some stones with his name on it? Seems the Pharisees are being a bit selective with their punishments.

Ok, what about if she is a virgin and only betrothed?

Deuteronomy 22:23-24 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; (24) Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

It doesn’t say to stone her alone so again where is Mr. Happy Pants? Makes you wonder if he’s one of the town’s big shots.

So with this in mind we know that if Christ were to say stone her, He isn’t following the law in it’s entirety and if He were to say let her go then He is again violating the law. We will find out in a moment how He handles this, but first let’s think a moment about what He wrote.

Many have speculated over the years as to what exactly He writes here and we simply cannot know for certain, but it is probable that He wrote this law, but let’s not forget this is a symbol for the millennium.

Revelation 10 tells us that right after Jesus returns there are seven thunders (thunder is what you hear after the lightning has already done it’s thing) that John was about to write when he is told that they are sealed up and to not write them. I feel that because we are not told what Jesus wrote it links these two events together. Don’t worry if you don’t see that.

John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Think about these accusers for a moment, Christ is writing, but they don’t care and these are the scribes so they can read, but they are demanding action. Does this remind you of anyone?

Revelation 12:9-11 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

This is what Satan does. Day and night, the second you make a mistake he is there just like he was in Job.

But remember that when you are standing before God, it’s only going to be you and Him so you don’t need to worry about a crowd of people hurrying up to God trying to tell Him what you did, because He already knows and He is going to deal with you on a one to one basis no matter what the holy rollers want to say about it.

John 8:8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (8:9) And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Here I imagine He is writing down their sins, which when the beam in your eye is pointed out, most people find it hard to face.

Why does it begin with the eldest? Because judgment starts at the pulpit and the elders should know better.

John 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?(11) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Christ isn’t saying she didn’t do it because He said, “sin no more,” meaning she did it He just isn’t going to enforce it and He isn’t breaking the law because He wasn’t the one that caught her in the act, thus the Pharisees trap didn’t work.

Symbolically she is the bride of Christ so who is it that ultimately has the right to forgive her? The betrothed husband, meaning Christ. Let’s go back to Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 22:13-14 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, (14) And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:

I kind of hate to stop there on a colon, but you can go and read the rest of the thought yourself with lays out the whole process on how to deal with a non-virgin wife, but I want to call to attention the first part where it says IF he hates her. That is a condition and Christ’s love is unconditional meaning He wont hate her even if she has gone astray and by the end of the millennium they will have the opportunity to reunite with their true husband.

The reason He can do this is because God blinds them making them ultimately innocent of what they are doing. If you don’t understand the how, who or why God has blinded some I say for now just lay it aside for now because it’s a topic in and of itself. For now the important thing is to know at the beginning whether it be in the flesh age or in the millennium at the beginning the woman stands accused, but by the end even though she did the deed she is not condemned, but to get to that point there is a process. This process is the millennium.

John

Will you walk away from Christ when the Feast is done? John 7:37-53

We have talked about how the Feast of Tabernacles is the only feast that isn’t complete. We have talked about after feeding the five thousand, Jesus sent the disciples over the Sea of Galilee or the Jordan River. We have talked about how Jesus and Joshua are the same name. How it was Joshua that lead us from the wilderness to the promised land or this world and how it is Jesus that will lead us to the promised land of the next.

Perhaps we should have brought out more how after the crossing of the Jordan there is the Battle of Jericho. The battle where God tells them to march around the city and to blow trumpets. The battle where the mighty walls of Jericho fell. The battle where Rahab places the scarlet thread out her window and she and her family were spared and brought into the house of Israel. The scarlet thread that symbolized the blood of the Lamb. That Blood that can save you even if you are in the midst of a mighty battle and even if you started out on the wrong side. Rahab had heard of the might works of our Father and she believed.

Do you believe? Today we pick it up on that last day before the battle.

John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

This is it. This is what it all comes down to. Will you go to him or will you follow the false one? Will you be one of those that think the walls of Jericho will keep you safe or do you know that the only thing that will never pass away is the Word of the Lord?

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

If you have the Word of the living God inside of you, it cannot be contained. If that water inside of you has grown stagnant then you need to reconnect with your Father. He doesn’t want a once a year relationship with you. He wasn’t an everyday relationship with you.

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

When Christ said this we hadn’t received the Holy Spirit yet, that was given on Pentecost and we have It today.

John 7:40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

When that Holy Spirit flows and it touches someone they will know it. Even the demons know that touch. It is only because God has blinded some, as Paul tells us in Romans 11, that they cannot see His power, His love and hear His word. But we don’t need to worry, God has a plan. He has a plan for each and every one of his children. He is a Father and knows that each of His children are different. Some are hardheaded and some weak but He loves them all the same. It is God’s will that all come to repentance.

John 7:41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? (42) Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

We know where Christ was born.

John 7:43 So there was a division among the people because of him.

This is what Christ came to do remember? Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

John 7:44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.

Note this in your mind well because the same applies to you. If you’re doing a job for God, no one may touch you or take you until that job is finished.

John 7:45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?

Why indeed. Remember you are a child of God as well and NO ONE brings you where HE doesn’t want you to go if you are following Him.

John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

These men, even the chief priests men, hadn’t heard what a true man or woman of God sounds like. The word of God has power and Christ has described it like living water. That is moving water. Have you ever tried to stand in a fast moving river? The power of moving water is an awesome thing and if you try to stand against it, it will knock you over no matter how big you think you are.

John 7:47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?

The Pharisees are the ones that added a bunch of garbage to the word and they don’t like it when a wave comes to erode away their junk. People, it isn’t any different today. If you take the pure Word of God and use it to blow away the traditions that many churches today have hung on the people like heavy blankets that stifle the Light of God they wont like it.

John 7:48 Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?

They are no doubt worried that if this Jesus guy has gotten to clergy then they are going to have a hard time getting the people covered in their crap again when Jesus leaves town. Also I don’t want you to forget, this is what is going to be happening right before the end and Satan is playing big daddy in God’s seat and those that have stayed true to the Father, those who have stayed IN the field working like He commanded, are winning over the hearts and minds of those Satan and his entourage has taken will be saying and doing at that time.

John 7:49 But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.

Whose law? God’s law or Satan’s. God’s law that says love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself or their law which says to murder anyone who stands in their way?

John 7:50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)

Remember Nicodemus went to Jesus and Christ explained how you had to be born from above.

John 7:51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

Notice he said “our” law, not God’s law or even the law of Moses, but “our law.”

John 7:52 They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.

Oh really? They should take their own advice and search, for both Jonah and Hosea came from Galilee which is interesting because Jonah is the very sign that Christ said would be the only one this generation will see, which is what? That Jonah was an Israelite prophet who was sent to a gentile nation to preach a way for salvation, but didn’t get there until after he had been in the fish’s belly for three days. Hosea is another interesting one because as you will see in the next chapter he too is a sign. God told him to marry a prostitute, which is an example of God’s children that go astray. He wanted to show us his emotions when we stray, but again remember this is the last day and the last call and all those that don’t answer that call will be caught with child when Christ returns meaning they had not stayed chased virgins by waiting for Him to return.

John 7:53 And every man went unto his own house.

What house are you in? God’s or Satan’s? That’s the only choice you have. I’m sorry, but your either doing God’s work or your doing Satan’s.

“But I don’t believe their is a God,” says the atheist.
“That’s exactly the confusion I want,” says Satan.

John

Christ divides and the Pharisees get Upset John 7:31-36

1 Comment

This seventh chapter of John is telling us about the last Feast of Tabernacles of Jesus’s life and it is telling us about a lot more than He slipped into Jerusalem unannounced and started teaching in the temple. If you have been following these posts you will know that Christ is showing us how things will play out during the tribulation. We are past the middle now which is marked by Christ speaking in the temple and we left off in verse 30 which reads: John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

Last time I mentioned how we can compare this to the two witnesses and how no one will lay hands on them until their testimony is finished. This time let’s read that with this next verse.

John 7:31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

Clearly we have two groups of people which should call to mind:

Malachi 4:4-6 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. (5) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: (6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Christ taught and called out the Pharisees about the law of Moses and what happened? The crowd split. Do you notice how in verse 6 the word father is plural. Do you know why? Because you are either a child of the living God or your of the seed of Satan. That is what the word of God does people. It is a two-edged sword, a sword that divides the sheep from the goats. Do you think that I am making this up about a seed of Satan? When we get to the eight chapter we will cover this in more detail, but this is the words of Christ: John 8:44Ye are ofyourfather the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.

I want to bring a couple more thoughts to mind before we move on. Take a look at the group that believed on him, what did they say? “When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?” This is not like the disciples. Peter loved Jesus. This group appears to only believe because He sounds like He should be the Messiah. It sounds to me more like a group of people that don’t want to get caught out in the rain. Do you think a group like that is going to last? If they had then Christ certainly wouldn’t have been crucified.

There is nothing new under the sun, so ask yourself what is it going to take for the children of God to follow after someone? It’s sad to say, but all it is going to take is someone who sounds like a Messiah and sadly my friends that is exactly what Satan is coming here to do.

John 7:32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.

Same thing happens today friends. You stand up and people will listen because they want to hear truth. There are many good pastors out there, but I’ll have to be honest with you there are a lot of dry churches out there and when a flock starts to hear the sound of the living water you better believe that the Pharisees will come out and start looking for places to put a dam.

John 7:33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, andthenI go unto him that sent me.(34)Ye shall seek me, and shall not findme:and where I am,thitherye cannot come.

We all know that on the surface Christ is telling us that He is going to be crucified, but remember He is also showing us an over lay of the tribulation. What does he say in Matthew 24?

Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, hereisChrist, or there; believeitnot.

Why? Because if you are not working in the field when He returns

Those that go seeking Christ are not going to find him. Your supposed to stay in the field working. Think about the ten virgins in the very next chapter:

Matthew 25:6-12 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.(7)Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.(8)And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.(9)But the wise answered, saying,Not so;lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.(10)And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.(11)Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.(12)But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

They were not ready and had to go out. They were not in place when the bridegroom came and they couldn’t come to the wedding.

Stop and think about that for a moment. Why else is it you cannot seek to find Jesus? Because the kingdom of God should be within you and if it isn’t nothing on this earth is going to put it there. Not your friends, your job, your family or even a super preacher. Because if you want to have Jesus in your life you need to go to Him and He is sitting on the right hand of the Father. So you have to go to Him.

“Well how do I do that?” you ask. You talk to Him. You get into His word and when something seems to difficult you speak to Him about it. Sure you can speak to others about things and get their input, but ultimately what God wants is a relationship with Him.

John 7:35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

Who are these dispersed they are talking about? The ten northern tribes of Israel that were taken by Assyria and had been dispersed.

John 7:36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?

Flesh, flesh, flesh, that is all they can think about, but do you notice how none of these guys are asking Him? They are just murmuring amongst themselves. They are not seeking Him out, even to try and understand the truth. At least Nicodemus spoke to Him directly.

The question is will you seek Him out and wait for Him or will you go to where the first person who says that Christ is here or there says to?

 

John

Christ speaks, but few Understand 7:16-30

1 Comment

Chapter 7 started out with Christ saying He was not going to the Feast of Tabernacles, but then shows up there in secret and teaches in the temple. We spoke last time about how the Feast of Tabernacles is the only Sabbath that isn’t complete and how it corresponds with the seven year tribulation and we ended in the middle of the feast with Christ standing up in the temple and people marveling over his ability to use letters having never learned.

Those of you who have studied the tribulation will know that Christ shortened it, (See Matthew 24:22) but seven years or not, shortened or not, the script on how it plays out hasn’t changed. So we pick it up with him still speaking in the “midst of the feast.”

John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

Christ is showing us the way. You know when you speak the words of God, it isn’t your doctrine. It isn’t Paul’s, Peter’s or the Pope’s. It is God’s doctrine. It is the words of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and when you share it you are His emissary. Holy means set apart and His words are holy royal decrees that ought to be treated with the respect they deserve.

 

John 7:17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, orwhetherI speak of myself.

In this day and age you don’t need to go very far to hear some pretty peculiar things about God’s word. If you google anything from the bible you will get a million plus hits with the same number of interpretations, but that needn’t worry you for John 10 tells us:

John 10:1-4Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.(2)But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.(3)To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.(4)And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

If you are a child of God you will know His voice when you hear it. If you hear something that distresses you, go to His word and seek out the answers. Pray about it. God wont let you down, but he also might not answer right away. If God doesn’t give you an answer right away just put it in the back of your mind and chew on it. Take it out from time to time, talk about it. God’s word is simple so please do not misunderstand, but usually the more precious a truth is the harder it is for us in the flesh to see it.

On a different level this is speaking of the time when the elect speak. About how they will not speak of themselves or have their own doctrine. It will be the voice of the Ancient of Days coming out and when those that He has blinded (See Romans 11) are suddenly given sight.

John 7:18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Christ didn’t come preaching a bunch of new stuff. He simply showed us the way and explained the Old Testament. Here He is reading. Reading what? There wasn’t a new testament at this time. He simply used stories and parables to explain what we should have already known and when the elect speak, it isn’t going to be some new thing either. It will be new to some, but there is nothing new under the sun.

John 7:19Did not Moses give you the law, andyetnone of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

Remember the beginning of the chapter? They want to kill him. Not only is that breaking the sixth commandment it’s breaking the first because He is God.

For the deeper level, think about the two witnesses and what they did to them as soon as their testimony is finished.

Revelation 11:7-8 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (8) And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

John 7:20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?

Who indeed. We will find out a little bit more about who precisely it is that wants to kill him.

John 7:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

What work is he talking about? Remember chapter 5 when He went to Jerusalem and healed the man who had been lame for 38 years? Christ is bringing this up for a reason, He wants to call it back to your mind. Who did the man represent? Israel in the wilderness. What did Christ take him away from? The angel at the well, who we discussed earlier was a symbol of Satan or Antichrist. And where are we now in this chapter? Christ just spoke in the temple as an example of when the Holy Spirit speaks through the elect half way through the tribulation.

John 7:22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.

The circumcision wasn’t Moses, it was God’s and Moses wasn’t even the first one to do it. Abraham was.

John 7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? (24)Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Circumcision was a work that was more important to be done on the eight day than to postpone it till after the sabbath. Why? It was the physical example of our covenant with God and it was done on the eighth day because eight is new beginnings biblical numerics. Christ is saying that healing a person is of far greater importance than observing sabbath; physically as well as spiritually because when you spiritually heal a person you bring them back into covenant with God, thus circumcising their heart, which is all God cares about in the first place.

John 7:25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?

Back in verse 20 they didn’t know who wanted to kill him, but no doubt his healing on the sabbath day has gotten around town and they knew the story.

John 7:26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?

Do they know He is The Anointed One? Do they know He is Messiah?

Relate this to after the elect speak. Isn’t one of the main reasons God has the elect speak is to make the people question the lies and deceptions that are flooding the land?

John 7:27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.

They were expecting Messiah to come from Bethlehem (imagine that) and the He would be hid (again, imagine that).

John 7:28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

Jesus wasn’t hiding and He is doing the works and speaking the words of God. Had they been His sheep they would have listened.

John 7:29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.

John 7:30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

It wasn’t time, nor will they take the elect until it’s time and only when their testimony is finished will they lay hands on the two witnesses.

There’s nothing new under the sun and Christ is showing us exactly what is going to happen at the end if you have the eyes to see it.

Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

John

The Holy Spirit Speaks John 7:1-16

2 Comments

The seventh chapter of John brings us to the Feast of Tabernacles. Most Christians today haven’t even heard of the Feast of Tabernacles, which is quite sad. Deuteronomy 16 tell us that the Feast of Tabernacles is one of the three high Sabbaths of the year with Passover and The Feast of Weeks being the other two. (If you want a complete list of the Sabbaths you can read Leviticus 23). But isn’t that just some old Jewish stuff?

God said in Leviticus 23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

Remember God doesn’t change. He didn’t suddenly say, “I’ll give you my son and we can forget everything that came before.” No and neither did Christ. Christ tells us in Matthew 5:17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

When Christ died on the cross He became our Passover lamb. His blood is the blood that causes the Angel of Death to passover us. It is the firstborn that are protected by his blood because only the firstborn that are born in the spirit here. The feast of weeks is 7 weeks and a day after Passover. 7 x 7 is 49 and a day makes 50. Fifty is the biblical number for the Holy Spirit and it is fifty days after the crucifixion (Passover) that we received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day. Thus, the feast of weeks was complete, but what about the Feast of Tabernacles? And why is it a high Sabbath?

The Feast of Tabernacles was a seven day feast to remind us of the time Israel wandered in the desert. Does that mean anything to us today? To answer that let’s back up to Passover.

We become Christian by accepting the Savior, we put His blood on the door post and just as we are told in Exodus, “that selfsame day the children of Israel left Egypt,” we too leave the bondage of sin and the bondage of this world. What Christians seldom realize is they don’t want to let you go and they will come after you when you leave.

Once we are born from above and receive the Holy Spirit, the kingdom of God is within us, but we still have to wait to go into the promised land. Our promised land is the kingdom of God on earth. That is the Lord’s prayer after all and the Children of Israel didn’t get to go to the promised land until Joshua came and took them over the river Jordan. So too then we cannot get to that promised land until Jesus returns. Remember Jesus and Joshua are the same name in Hebrew.

Thus, on one level, if you are a Christian you are, spiritually speaking, wandering in the wilderness waiting to go into the promised land. That is why Passover is in the first month and the Feast of Tabernacles is in the seventh. You begin your journey in the first month and it doesn’t end until the seventh, which is spiritual completeness. That seventh month also shows us the feast points specifically to the time right before Christ returns or more specifically, the seven year tribulation. Perhaps the deepest level, and one we are not going to deal with much here, is that it points to the millennium.

So with all that in mind let’s dig in:

John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

“Jewry” is the southern portion of the nation in and around Jerusalem. Remember Galilee is in the north past Samaria.

After what things? After He fed the five thousand and the people sought Him out, but after finding Him, left. They wanted Christ, meaning they proclaimed his name, but their problem was they didn’t put him in their boat, ie heart so before the end they fall away, just like Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. You have to have the Holy Spirit inside of you else you wont make it. Look at the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25.

John 7:2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.

Again this pointing to that period of time right before the end.

John 7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

This is His actual family saying this, James being among them. For his disciples to see His works is only part of it. The other part is Deuteronomy 16:16 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:

 

John 7:4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. (7:5) For neither did his brethren believe in him.

Remember Luke 2:19, Mary kept a lot of what she knew to herself and it is hard for a family to see you as one of God’s chosen. Remember back in chapter 4 verse 44: For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

But why isn’t he showing himself to the world? Because as He said it wasn’t time. Christ will show himself to the world when He rides into Jerusalem riding an ass and again when He returns to establish His kingdom here.

John 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

Just as we can, they could can accept Christ at any time.

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 are the chapters that lay out the tribulation. This Feast of Tabernacles here is, in a sense, going to follow the same format.

Matthew 24:9, we will be hated because of HIS name’s sake.

John 7:8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.

As the law commanded.

John 7:9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. (7:10) But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

Though He said He wasn’t going to go He still followed the law. A person recently mentioned to me that he didn’t think Christ was secretive. Well here is another example of that, but the question we should be asking is why didn’t he let them know he was going? Because it wasn’t time yet.

John 7:11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? (12) And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.

Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: (12) And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

This showing what what it will be like at the end. Look at people today. Some say He didn’t exist, some say He isn’t God, but a good example to follow and others say He was just a prophet. This shouldn’t be a surprise and it is going to get worse.

Do you think the truth was being taught in the temple at that time? The Romans appointed the head priests and they gave it to the highest bidder. Do you think they cared about giving out truth? He turned over their money tables and said it was to be a house of prayer, but they only held murder in their hearts.

It’s going to happen again. It’s happening now. Before even if someone didn’t believe in God they said that Christians and the like were at least moral. Now they call us bigots and haters.

John 7:13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

Remember Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

John 7:14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.

We are half way through this seven day feast. Thats three and half days.

Christ is in the temple. Remember: 1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Here is our physical example of Mark 13:10-11And the gospel must first be published among all nations.(11)But when they shall leadyou,and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

John 7:15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

Acts chapter 2 lays out how it will be when the Holy Spirit speaks through us and the people responded in much the same way there as they do here.

Acts 2:11-19 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. (12) And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? (13) Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. (14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: (15) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. (16) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (18) And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (19) And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. (17)If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, orwhetherI speak of myself.

The same as when the elect speak. It will not be them, but the Holy Spirit that speaks.

You might not have the scripture memorized, but if you have the Spirit of the Living God inside of you, you will know if what is being presented to you is in sync with God’s Spirit.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Why does God do it this way? Because many believed after Peter and company spoke.

Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Call on HIS name. Put the Father’s word inside of you and not just on your lips. Be a temple of God and not a temple of hot air.

We will pause here for today. Thus far we have the falling away (chapter 6), and the Holy Spirit speaking. When we pick this up we will how things will continue before He touches the Mount of Olives in chapter 8 because when he touches the Mount of Olives, it’s all over friends. 

John

Many Stop Following Christ John 6:60-70

We pick up today in John after Jesus had just explained that he is the manna from heaven and we are to eat his flesh and many are not going to understand it. In some ways I feel for them. Can you imagine a guy telling you that you have to eat his flesh? What do you say to that? Thanks I’ve always wanted to join the Donner Party? Yesterday you gave us fish, but if your on the menu today fine, hand over that leg, just let me wash it first.

John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

This is, almost certainly, not the twelve that said and asked this because you will see him turn to them specifically in verse 67. But the question is interesting because emphasis is on the word hard. This word word hard in the Greek means dry. Yes it can be used figuratively to mean harsh or hard, but it is this word dry that is interesting, because if you don’t have the living water it will be too dry and hard for you to understand.

 

John 6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

The word offend here doesn’t really carry the thought so let’s go to the Greek: G4624, σκανδαλίζω, skandalizō, skan-dal-id’-zo: To “scandalize”; from G4625; to entrap, that is, trip up (figuratively stumble [transitively] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure): – (make to) offend.

So He is asking: Does this trip you up? So I ask does it trip you up? We of course have the luxury of hindsight and can understand He meant His word, but is there anything that trips you up? Do you have something you read in the bible that makes you say, “oh man this can’t be really from God?” Is there something you read in the old testament that makes you go, “God wouldn’t do that?” Do you read the writings of Paul and say, ”This can’t be right” or “This makes God a bigot?” I know for a fact there are many places where that is the case. What do you do when you come to those places? Do you stop following him? Do you just ignore those spots and hope nobody finds out? Or do you go to Him and ask Him? I will tell you a secret, if you find a place where a saying is hard, just add Water.

John 6:62Whatand if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

Christ came from Heaven. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

They believed the manna that Moses gave because they knew it came from heaven. They don’t understand that Christ is the same, so He is asking if they would believe if they saw him return back to heaven. Would they eat of His flesh then?

John 6:63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you,theyare spirit, andtheyare life.

Here He is trying to explain to them that he isn’t talking about the meat attached to his Spirit.

John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (65) And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

You can’t fake belief with God. You can pretend if you want and many will, but we are coming to the end of this whole scene that started with him feeding the 5000 and only those that endure to the end will be saved.

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Go back to that Greek word we pulled up earlier. Do you see the word apostasy there? That is the great falling away. Paul tells us about it in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. It is the great falling away before the return of Christ. Does anyone else find it interesting that this verse is 6:66?

John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Will you leave him because of some hard words? Will you stop believing in him because someone dug something up from the ground they say is truth? Do you seek to save your life with the dry words found from the earth? God protects his Word and it is his Word that will endure forever.

John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Will you be a Peter that will step out of the boat and walk upon the sea? Yes, He started to sink, we all do, at times, but if we keep out eyes on him the waters of this world will not overcome us and we keep our eyes on him by staying in His word.

John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

How sure are you? Was Jesus just an apocalyptic Jewish teacher from the 1st century or was He the Son of the Living God, who was crucified and rejected by this world and who is going to return to gather up his flock? That is for you to answer. Nobody can do it for you. Come judgment, it will be just you and the Father. I pray it isnt’ the first time you talk to him because He loves you and He wants to speak to you today and because the body of the Son given the veil is rent and you can come to him.

John 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (71) He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

A lot has and can be said about Judas, but I don’t want to do it here. I will say more when we get to the 14th Chapter and I may even do a post just about him.

The next chapter brings us to the Feast of Tabernacles which is the last of the high Sabbaths that God ordered us to follow and the only one that has yet to be fulfilled. 

John

Moses Didn’t give Manna from Heaven John 6:30-57

We left off with Christ speaking to the group that crossed over the river Jordan without him. Now they want to know what they can do work the works of God. I have no doubt they wanted to know how they can have a couple of fish and keep eating. No doubt they had Elijah in mind and how God made sure that their oil and meal never ran out. Let’s back up to verse 30 to help pick up the thought.

John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? (31) Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

I think we all know this story.

John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (33)For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Jesus is the light of the world, it’s life. He is the Word and it is that word which is that bread. Remember what Paul told us? (1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come). That wasn’t just he things he mentioned in that chapter. It is the entire bible. That manna was a picture God showed us so that we could understand the larger spiritual truth.

John 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Sure this sounds good. It was nice when all they had to do was go out and gather the manna.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Notice how you have to go to him. Just as you had to go out and gather the manna.

John 6:36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

Eyes to see and ears to hear, but again they did not come to seek him. They came for the free lunch.

John 6:37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38)For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

This is the example that Christ gave us and that is simply to do the will of God. And how do you know what God’s will is? You eat the bread and put it inside of you. And what is the bread? The Word of God.

John 6:39And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

He’s coming back.

John 6:40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

They key is to believe upon him, but that doesn’t mean you just believe that he exists. The demons he cast out knew who he was and believed he was the Son of God. This word believeth here is G4100

Πιστεύω, pisteuō, pist-yoo’-o From G4102; to havefaith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): – believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

It takes faith that He is who he says he is and not just a magician running around performing tricks. This G4102 that the word comes from is persuasion or moral conviction. Are you completely convicted in your faith?

John 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. (42) And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

See He was good enough to follow for a free lunch, but that is all they cared about. Be careful you are not the same. It is easy to just use Christ for your own gain or to make yourself seem something you are not. Look to your heart and see if you have the complete moral conviction it takes. If you don’t then you might as well leave because playing Christian doesn’t cut it. God knows your heart and he will not give you to Christ if your heart is not right.

John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

You would think at the very least they could confront him about these issues. If they weren’t sure. What a bunch of wet noodles.

John 6:44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (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.

This is one of those verses where you will have guys running around saying they don’t need to read the bible because God will teach them. Yes, God will teach you through the Holy Spirit, but he uses the Word to do it and you use the Word to correct you if what you think He taught you didn’t come from Him.

Let’s take a moment and look at what God has to say about this, since this topic comes up from time to time and some of you meet knuckleheads that think they don’t need to read or study the bible to know what God would want. What is ironic is they start off by quoting scripture to prove their point. Let’s look:

John 14:26But the Comforter,which isthe Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Taking this one verse they say since we have the Holy Spirit now we don’t need to do anything else, right? Heck by this reasoning we shouldn’t bother going to school because the Holy Spirit will teach us math, science, language. The first problem is they don’t read the whole chapter. Let’s back up some. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Keep Christ’s words? Well golly, where might those words be? Are they not written in the Bible?

John 14:24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Wow seems to be that you could be in a look of trouble if you don’t keep His words. “But wait, I have a hard time reading and understanding and God knows this so he doesn’t make me have to read it. He does things differently with me, you just wouldn’t understand.” Really? That’s odd because for most of human history a majority of people couldn’t read which is why in the beginning God said this:

Deuteronomy 31:10-11 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, (11) When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

Every seven years thou shalt read this law. Do you have trouble reading? No problem, find yourself a good teacher. Cannot find a teacher? Guess what we have audiobooks in this day and age. But, perhaps your difficulty in understanding is a lack of desire to seek him out.

This isn’t a new thing and it isn’t a thing that God takes lightly because it is mentioned many times in the bible.

Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. (10) For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Notice how we again are to hear it all and take it step by step? Look at Ezra and Nehemiah:

Nehemiah 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Does your preacher cause you to understand the reading or does he just talk about french fries?

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Have you studied? Study what? I think you know. I have beaten this to death I know, but look at this: Matthew 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

Do you know Christ asked the question ten times, Have you not read. Do you want him to ask you that when He returns? I pray He wont need to because you will have His stamp of approval in your forehead. His seal.

John 6:46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. (47)Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (48)I am that bread of life. (49)Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

That whole generation in the wilderness died because for forty years they complained and wanted to go back to Egypt. So God let them die. Today the world is Egypt and when you turn your heart to God and accept Christ into your life you leave the bondage of Egypt. Remember Lot’s wife and do not look at on it, for there is death. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones of that generation that were allowed to go to the promised land. Think about that. Many are called and few are chosen.

John 6:50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

Do you want eternal life? Listen up.

John 6:51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

We do communion in remembrance of Him and his sacrifice, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Christ is the Word and it is in the Word that you will find that bread and yes the Holy Spirit will teach you all things if you stick to His word and seek him out. Many wont. This bunch of knuckleheads wont as we will see. They followed him for the bread. You could even say they became Christian until they learned what that entailed.

John 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (53) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.(54)Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (55)For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

It is time to put the milk aside and become men and women of God. Are you a Christian or not? Are you only interested in cute pictures on Facebook that say funny things or are you ready to be a soldier for God?

John 6:56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

Is Christ in you or are you just too busy to get the DAILY bread?

John 6:57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (58)This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (59) These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

We will stop here today and I want you to ask yourself if you really want the manna from heaven or are you only interested in the bread of the flesh. Following God doesn’t mean this world is going to be easy. How easy was Christ’s trip through the flesh? Are you better than He was?

John

The Faithless Seek Christ John 6:22-30

The account of Christ feeding the five thousand and subsequently leaving the disciples before meeting up with them in the middle of the Sea of Galilee is one of the few stories told in all four of the gospels. That should tell us that this event is particularly important. What is equally important is to look at how the four accounts differ. I feel the differences are there to force us to “search the scriptures” to really understand what is going on or so we can see a truth God wants us to look at and other to emphasize one specific aspect of the event. John’s account is the only one that tells us what happened to the people after He fed them, but we need Mark to tell us where they were and where they were is the key to understanding the deeper lesson here. Mark tells us:

Mark 6:44-45 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. (45) And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

And then later: Mark 6:53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

Christ fed the five thousand at Bethsaida and they landed at the land of Gennesaret. So why is that important? The Sea of Galilee is part of the river Jordan. What is so important about that? The river Jordan is what the children of Israel crossed over to get into the promised land. Bethsaida is on the east side of the river Jordan and the land of Gennesaret is on the other. Remember that Jesus is the same name as Joshua and just as Joshua led the children of Israel into the promised land so will Jesus lead us into the promised land.

One more thing to note before we move on: the children of Israel were not allowed to into the promised land until all the Egypt generation was dead so the only people able to go over were the ones born in the wilderness. And how does that relate to this story you ask? Well, most, if not all, of the disciples were born or from Bethsaida or you could say the wilderness side and they have now crossed over and John is going to tell us about the people who didn’t cross over with Christ in their boat. I think I will to a larger and more specific study on this crossing the Jordan at a later date if anyone has an interest, but for now let’s get back to the topic at hand.

John 6:22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone; (23) (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) (24) When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

That believe it or not is one sentence so let’s try to break it down.

First I want to point out that Christ had given thanks for the bounty of bread, and He had done it before He received the bounty, which shows a supreme level of faith. One could look for days on that alone. Can you imagine having the faith to give thanks for the surplus of food holding but a few loaves? To be truly thankful for something you don’t have or cannot see, but knowing without a doubt that God will give it. I wonder how many people today go unhealed because most, if not all of us, cannot muster that level of faith.

Anyway, the people saw that disciples left by themselves so they took some boats and found him in Capernaum. On the map you will see Gennesaret as a spot different from Capernaum. This isn’t a problem with our text as the land of Gennesaret is what they called a fertile crescent of land on the west side of the Sea of Galilee and included Capernaum.

Tiberias was my in large a gentile city and the capital of Herod Anipas’s Tetrarchy and while there was a Hebrew temple there the gospels never tell us that Christ ever visited the city. To some this may be a bit of a reach, but note that Tiberias is on the west side of the sea so the ships came from the west side and went east, which should bring to mind all those children of Israel that kept whining to Moses how things were better in Egypt and wanted to go back.

John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

These people sought after Jesus. They took shipping and searched for him. One could say they have done everything that God wants. Doesn’t God want us to follow and seek after him?

John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, 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.

Be careful he doesn’t say the same of you. How many times do we run about doing the “Christian” thing only we never stop to ask God what He wants? We run from bible study to bible study, sit in church on Sunday and sings songs of praise and move into Monday hardly thinking of him at all. Doing Christian isn’t what God wants. He wants your heart.

John 6:27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Does this mean we should stop farming and only study the bible? No, but when was the last time you labored in the word of God? “Give us this day our daily bread.” God will give it, but you still have to go to Him to get it. The manna that fell from heaven when the children of Israel were in the wilderness didn’t fall into their bowls. They had to go out and gather it. Then what? Well you have to eat it right? You have to actually stop and put the food inside of you. I know it sounds silly, but stop and think. It takes times to divide up what you’re eating. It takes time to chew it and it takes time to digest it and all those things have to happen before it can become a part of you.

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? (29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Asked and answered.

John 6:30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

Apparently feeding the five thousand wasn’t enough for these jokers. Do you see the difference between these people and Jesus? Jesus showed faith before He had bread and these people want a sign before they will believe.

We will stop here for today, because I don’t want this to get too long and the Christ is going to get into explaining manna from heaven, which is going to lead to many people to stop following him. Pray that you don’t become one of them.

John

Christ comes to the Disciples at Night John 6:16 to 6:21

Welcome back. Here we are Christ has just fed the 5000 then slipped away when they tried to make him king. Let’s dig in.

 

John 6:16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, (17) And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

Do you remember a couple of posts ago I mentioned this whole thing should remind you of the millennium? If it didn’t before maybe this will make it a little clearer and if nothing else, I hope you can see how this is an overlay of Christ’s return.

We know that the return of Christ will be like the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37, Luke 17:27). We also know that God shut him in (Genesis 7:16) or sealed if you will.

So we have the disciples entering a ship without Christ and it’s DARK. This darkness should call a few things to mind. Let’s start with:

John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. (36)While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

Do you see the parallel? How about this one:

Matthew 25:1-12Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.(2)And five of them were wise, and fivewerefoolish.(3)They thatwerefoolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:(4)But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.(5)While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.(6)And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.(7)Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.(8)And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.(9)But the wise answered, saying,Not so;lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.(10)And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.(11)Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.(12)But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

We will cover more about when the Lord says, “I know you not” in the next post, for today notice how it is midnight and they need their light because it is DARK.

John 6:18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

Let’s pull up this word wind here in the Greek: G417 (ἄνεμος anemos an’-em-os), From the base of G109; wind; (plural) by implication (the four) quarters (of the earth): – wind. Does this four quarters of the earth ring any bells as it pertains to the end?

Revelation 7:1-3 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. (2) And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, (3) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Did you know these verses come right after the seals are listed in chapter 6? Do you see why I brought up Noah and how he was sealed by God?

John 6:19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. (20) But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

I think that if I was on a ship in the dark and getting tossed about then see a man walking on water, I’d be afraid too, but when we have Christ in our ship we don’t need to be afraid. This world belongs to Satan, but he isn’t going to last long. He might be able to cast out his flood of lies from his mouth (Revelation 12:15) and cause some waves to toss us about and we may even get a little seasick, but he CANNOT sink the boat if we WILLINGLY accept Christ into our boat as the disciples do in the next verse.

The numbers here are interesting twenty five is a bit harder to explain quickly so I’ll just tell you that it means forgiveness of sins. Thirty means the blood of Christ as it was the amount of silver paid to Judas.

One more thing I would like to mention is that twenty-five to thirty furlongs is about half the distance of the sea of Galilee and it is interesting to note that Christ appeared to them halfway.

John 6:21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

Christ comes like a thief in the night and he comes quickly and when he does Satan’s game is over. We will pick this up in the next post and we will see what Christ says to those who didn’t have him in their boat.

John

We will have Jesus as our King 6:14-15

Last time we spent our time together digging deep into the meanings behind what was being said and true to form I’d like to take you back there, but first we are going to look at things from a more historical perspective. To begin with, you have to understand that the Israelites did not have a unified belief just as Christians. Even though we all believe that God is God and almost all believe that Christ is God that does not mean that Baptist, Catholics and Pentecostals all believe the same thing. For example, the Pharisees held to an Oral Law that they used to further explain the Torah, where as the Sadducees believed that you only needed the Torah and they put great stock in the temple all the while the Essenes rejected the temple and instead moved to wilderness. Scholars say that for the most part Israel was looking for not one, but two Messiahs. For Christians today this may seem odd because the Messiah is God right? No. Messiah simply means anointed one. David was a messiah, as he was anointed, as should be every priest. Exodus 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Who then were these two messiahs that Israel was looking for? First they were looking for a priest like unto Ezra and second a king like unto Nehemiah (who, though it cannot be confirmed, was believed to be of the tribe of Judah). I could post a lot of scripture, but I’ll just give you these to compare on your own, Deuteronomy 18:18 (priest) and Isaiah 7:14 (king from the house of David).

Jesus was not the messiah Israel was looking for. They wanted a king to rise up and free them from the Romans and retake the land that God had given them.

John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

These are the five thousand that Jesus just fed and they are excited. Their bellies are full and they are ready to take back the promised land.

John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

You could say that these people are not looking for two messiahs. They see the prophet and the king as one man, but remember David was a prophet and certainly no priest.

Putting all of that aside, why didn’t Jesus let them make him king? He is the king after all, isn’t he? I am sure most of you reading this know that Christ’s kingdom was not of this flesh world, but even knowing that isn’t this what God is after? Doesn’t He want the people to accept him as king? Yes, but you noticed they were going to FORCE Him? Next time you try and force God to do anything let me know how that works out for you.

There is also another point that the Gospel is trying to point us to. Do you remember the first time Israel forced someone to be king? Do you remember Saul? Whose name means desired. Saul was the man king Israel wanted and Christ is showing us that he is the exact opposite of Saul. You can, and I encourage you to, read how Saul became king beginning in I Samuel 9. Here we are just going to pull up the first few verses: 1 Samuel 9:2-3 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. (3) And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

Saul seemed like a good guy and he was taller than everyone else. Wouldn’t be make for a nice king? But compare him to David. David was a shepherd and defended his flock against lions and bears. Saul, on the other hand, lost his asses and had to go on a mission to find them. Saul was the flesh king that Israel wanted, even after God warned them that a king would take their sons to be warriors and their daughters to be dancers and cooks. Even after God said they would take their fields, they wanted a king. Christ was not going to be that kind of king. Not then and not now.