Category Archives: John

John

Why did Christ feed 5000? John 6:1-13

March 27, 2014 Lightdancer

The Gospel of John is considered by historians to be the last of the canonical gospels to be written. Because of this and how is differs from the other three gospels many of them dismiss the book entirely. I am often amazed why they dismiss it. Have you ever noticed how these same “historians” will quote Josephus one minute and the next they will say how he is wrong about this and that. Some historians are of course better than others, but what most of them lack is one of the best tools God has given us to identify His fingerprint and it is that fingerprint we are going to look at today so let’s get started.

John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

Galilee again means circuit.

John 6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

Note why they are following him.

John 6:3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

Mountain’s always symbolize a nation or place of power.

John 6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

Notice how John explains what Passover is? There are some so called scholars that claim the gospels were written in Aramaic and later translated into Greek. It is true that Aramaic was the language of the Jews at that time and was the language that Christ himself spoke, but there wasn’t a single Jew living at the time that didn’t know what Passover was. If his audience was the Aramaic speaking Jews, then he wouldn’t have had to tell us what Passover is. It would be like having to explain Christmas.

John 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? (6:6) And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Obviously, this is a rhetorical question, but there is more to it than you would at first think. This is the first part of that fingerprint I told you about. Bread is symbolic of the manna from heaven, the Word of God, the body of Christ. So ask yourself, “Do you buy the word of God?”

John 6:7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

Remember Christ asked this question to prove Philip, but it’s also to prove you and to prove to us that His finger is upon this scripture. So let’s prove ourselves and take a look at this two hundred number.

In Joshua, right after the battle of Jericho, God told Israel not to take anything from the city (Joshua 6:18-19) but not everyone listened.

Joshua 7:20-21 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: (21) When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

We have our two hundred number here along with the number fifty and a Babylonish garment. This garment was one of their priests garments. So what does that tell us about what he really took? What does God really want us to glean from this? That Achan was putting on the clothes (or wanting to) of a false religion (idolatry) and the numbers here drill the point home. Fifty is the number for the Holy Spirit, but in this case it is the number for the false spirit or you could go so far as to say Antichrist. Two hundred shows us the same thing that it does in John, namely that it is not sufficent. The garmets and spirit and bread or a false religion, if you will, are not sufficient to save you.

We see this same idea again with Absalom (David’s son that tried to take the throne). 2 Samuel 14:26 tells us how his hair was beautiful and weighed two hundred shekels and later in 2 Samuel 18 it is this same hair that got caught in a tree, ultimately causing his death. This is another example pointing us to this number two hundred not only being insufficient to save you, but also it is a hindrance to God.

I’ll give you one more example before we move on. Prior to David slaying Goliath, Saul said that anyone who slayed the giant may have his daughter’s hand in marriage. After David did, Saul said he wanted to have the foreskins of one hundred Philistines before he would give her to David. David went out to do just that, but he didn’t stop at one hundred. He gathered two hundred, but guess what? He got the daughter…but despite saving Israel from Goliath and despite gathering the two hundred foreskins it wasn’t sufficient to win over Saul.

It is easy for scholars to know what the number seven means, but two hundred? Scholars don’t look at those numbers the way we do and back before we had computers and databases to pull up and cross reference scriptures I daresay few, if any, in the ancient world knew the meaning of the word or even thought about it. God did and He put this number in here for us to know that despite what the world says about the scriptures we can have faith in Him and his word.

John 6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, (6:9) There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Don’t over look who has the bread here. It was the lad. Remember Christ said? Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

See all the money in the world isn’t going to be enough if you look to the world for your bread, (read Matthew 25 and compare the foolish virgins that went to buy their oil) but if you go to Christ for your bread it will always be enough.

Now let’s look at the numbers here, as they are so important to understand the deeper meanings of the scriptures. Adding the number five and the number two (from verse 6:9) together give you seven which is the number for spiritual completion, but also we are given the element involved in that completion. Five means grace and two can means either division or union. What does this tell us? First, that without Christ’s sacrifice you cannot receive grace. But that is only a small faction of what he is showing us here. It’s also showing us a symbol of the bread and meat. Similar to the way God feed the tribes of Israel in the desert after they left Egypt. God feed them with manna and quail. Also, do you remember in verse four it said this is Passover? Do you remember what they were to do on Passover? They ate of the unleavened bread (barley loaves) and ate of the sacrificial lamb (fishes). Remember: 1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Christ is our Passover and we are to pray for our DAILY bread. This can be a study in and of itself so for the sake of brevity I will just give you this to chew on: Exodus 16:12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.

John 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

Numbers, numbers everywhere today. Five thousand again drives home the point that Christ has been trying to show us right from the beginning. One thousand is divine completeness and five again is grace, so we see ultimately for the masses, that are only interested in Christ’s miracles, this is pointing to the day of the Lord or the millennium.

John 6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

Notice how it is the disciples that distributed the food and not Christ, this is true today, but again should remind you of the millennium. If it doesn’t then keep in His Word.

John 6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

In the other gospels it tells us why they were to gather up these fragments. It symbolizes the extra crap that gets spread around by would be teachers and gossip hounds. In the desert, when Israel was fed with manna and the quail, they also did not keep leftovers but looked to God to provide their daily Bread.

John 6:13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Twelve, points to governmental order and the twelve tribes. In the millennium the elect will do their job and keep the crap at bay.

I pray I didn’t overload your boat today and if I did just remember that everyone gathers the manna from heaven according to their eating. God Bless

John

Christ explains His Credentials John 5:37-47

March 26, 2014 Lightdancer

Today we are going to finish up John chapter 5. Have you liked the smaller posts? I think writing them is a bit easier to fit into my schedule. Anyway, Christ continues.

John 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. (38) And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

They were not seeking Christ. They were not excited for the Messiah. They were worried that Christ was going to upset their way of doing things. Let’s say they were really concerned that Christ was not sent from God. Did God give them anything to go on so that they could check his credentials? Yes He did.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Did Christ ever tell anyone to worship a golden calf or speak to other Gods? Of course not.

Deuteronomy 18:21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

God does not leave us hanging. If you study his word he has the answer there.

Deuteronomy 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Did the things that Christ said come to pass? Did he say rise up and walk and the man walked? Yes. So what on earth was the problem with these priests? It’s just as Christ said, “ye have not hs word abiding in you.” The people at this time were not like today. They knew the word. This is why so many of the people followed him. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to get this guys. It takes God. If you have him with you then you will not be led into darkness.

Let’s now back up to the verses just prior to to these and see if the scriptures speak of Christ.

Deuteronomy 18:15-19 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; (16) According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. (17) And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. (18) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (19) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

This verse chapter was written to the levities. They should have known this. Christ was born from their seed line. “But wait, I thought he was from the tribe of Judah,” yes he was, but he was also half levite on Mary’s side.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

We just did that, but that isn’t the only place where we are told of Christ coming. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Again they don’t care about Christ or what he has to day. They just want to kill him for messing up their little priest show. The people knew they didn’t have anything to say except, “This pharisee said this, but this pharisee said that.” Christ was giving them meat and he wasn’t extorting them at the money tables to do it either.

John 5:41 I receive not honour from men.

Christ didn’t seek to receive honor among men. Do you? Who is it more important for you to receive honor from?

John 5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

This is where the rubber meets the road. Do you love God or not? Is the first commandment really your first commandment? Does it even have to be a command? It shouldn’t because even if loving someone is hard it shouldn’t take a command to do it.

John 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

“You see this church I made? Isn’t it great? Just send me more of your cash because we borrowed to build it.”

John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

God’s honor is the only thing that matters friends.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Nothing you can receive from men will last. Only the love of our Father and his word lasts.

John 5:45-47 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. (46) For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

(47) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

And we coved that Deuteronomy 18:19. If you don’t hear Christ’s words God is going to require your head. That is what Christ prayed would pass in the garden of Gethsemane. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be crucified. He didn’t want to have to have to pour out the cup of wrath written of in the book of Revelation.

It all comes down to a simple choice. Do you love God? Do you believe his words and accept them as a child? Or do you just want to fight with them and spend your days trying to prove them wrong. God will accommodate you either way. The choice is up to you.

John

Does Jesus need to prove who He Is? John 5:30-35

March 20, 2014 Lightdancer

We return with Christ still speaking to the pharisees. Let’s dig in.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

How are you with your judgments? Are you quick to judge? Do your judgments align with our Father’s? Can you be sure what God’s judgments are?

John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

This is a very old principal that we see used everyday. If someone comes in and says they are great and they can do or have done all these things, what is your first reaction? We reject that person or we wish they would stop blowing their own horn, however if someone else introduces that same person and that person does not have to go on about themselves we are much more likely to listen.

John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. (33) Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

This was John the Baptist’s whole mission and he did it spectacularly. How easy would it have been for John to start to take pride in himself? John was Christ’s cousin. How easy would it have been to forget who Christ was, especially before His ministry began? The people flocked to him wandering out to the river Jordan to be baptized and hear him speak. How many people in the world would be able to not begin to think of themselves as great? Is it no wonder then that Christ said in Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Stop and think about that for moment. There are a lot of big names to consider, Elijah, David, MOSES and Christ just placed John the Baptist on the top.

John 5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

God does not want to see his children parish and he wasn’t born of woman and crucified on the cross just for kicks. He did it for us. He came here to show us the way for US. For you and for me. His words are important and if you have the desire to be saved I suggest you listen to what he has to say.

John 5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. (36) But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

As great as John was, Christ works were greater. Christ didn’t need John to prove who he was. He could make the dead rise, heal the sick and produce endless supplies of food. Even though he could do all these things, this generation rejected him. They beat him, mocked him and cast lots for his clothes. When they took him in the night and Peter smote the ear of one of the guards, he healed it. He healed it. He knew what was coming, yet he stopped enough to heal the man’s ear. Why didn’t that man stop and wonder at His greatness? Wouldn’t you think the man would suddenly turn and fight to defend the life of this innocent man? Are we so much different? How hard is it to stop in the face of a mob and say, “This isn’t right?”

I digress. We will pick this up on the next post and finish this 5th chapter of John. God Bless.

John

They try to Kill Christ, but it wasn’t time John 5:24-29

March 18, 2014 Lightdancer 1 Comment

Today we continue with Christ speaking to a bunch of people that want to kill him. Is he worried? Is he running for the hills? No.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Satan believes in God. The demons that Christ exorcised out of the wild man knew who he was:

Luke 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

So what does this verse mean then? Let’s pull up this word believeth in the Greek:

G4100 – Πιστεύω – pisteuō – pist-yoo’-o

From G4102; to have faith (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.

To have faith in. Do you see how believeth just doesn’t really cut it here. So let’s look at it again

He that heareth my word, and has faith in him that sent me, hath everlasting life

We could even put Trust in there because that is what it takes. Like I said, Satan believes in God and has spoken to him many times, but he does not have faith in him or does he put his trust in him. Satan puts his trust in himself and that is the philosophy that his spirit has put into play today. Be careful that you don’t put all your faith in yourself or into the government. Put your faith in God. God will never let you down. Can you say that about government? Can you even say that about yourself?

John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Christ went to hell after his death and spent three days there (1 Peter 3:19). He quickened those souls, but this is before his death. So what is this, “now is?” Remember the man he healed at the well? Remember how it symbolized Israel? Remember how Israel was cut off? In a few verses he is going to mention John the Baptist. What was John’s mission? To pave the way for the Lord. To make the path strait. He gathered those that desired God. Those that that no longer wanted to be without God.

John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

Without God you’re dead. Your flesh may still walk around, but your spirit is void of life.

John 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Judge not because you will likewise be judged. Most of us are quick to judge others. We see faults and jump all over them, but are quick to justify or ignore our own. Christ doesn’t have this problem. He knows our hearts and his judgments are true.

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

Again Christ went down into hell and preached to the prisoners there.

John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

This word damnation is really judgment. So what it really says is: resurrection of judgment. Judgment can mean rewards. We will all be judged and those that have believed on, had faith in, our Lord Jesus Christ will be stamped clean at that judgment.

Remember that you can hear his words today. You can experience the quickening of the spirit today. Our Father wants to have an everyday relationship with you. He will accept you exactly where you are today. And TODAY you can be washed in His blood and be resurrected unto life.

John

God said you can’t heal on the Sabbath? John 5:17-23

March 13, 2014 Lightdancer

Here we are, Christ not only just healed a man that had been lame for thirty eight years. He did it to show Israel that through him there is a hope to be reunited with God, but they don’t care. They just want to stone someone, anyone. First they were angry with a guy for walking with his bed on the sabbath and let’s face it, this wasn’t a Sealy Posturepedic. The man was destitute. He had a small roll of rags that you or I would have tossed away a long time ago and they want to kill him for walking home with it. Then when he said he was only following orders OF THE MAN WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE they want to kill him. So here is Christ’s response.

John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

When does a priest work? Should be they work on the sabbath. If they didn’t nobody would be taught. The sabbath was made for man, not for God. God doesn’t say, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow because it’s the sabbath” and you shouldn’t either. If someone needs help you don’t say, “I’m sorry son that you cracked your head and your bleeding, but it’s the sabbath so your going to have to lay there until tomorrow.”

Even if they wanted to be hard nosed about the sabbath and said that the guy had been there for thirty eight years, what’s one more day? They should’ve stopped to wonder how the man was healed. If God didn’t want the man healed on the sabbath then he wouldn’t have been healed. I mean if God didn’t do it, who did?

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

These men don’t want to learn. They don’t want to even ask questions. They just want to get all worked up and kill him. But are people any different today? How many people just get upset if someone says something they don’t think is in the bible or that the bible says something they don’t believe? Nearly everyone gets worked up faster than a nest of bees that has been knocked out of the tree. Careful you don’t. We are to be as clay in the potter’s hand, wet and pliable. Not a dried pot. Paul tells us to check all things out in the Word. If someone says something, ask them for where it says that in the bible and pray about it. Meditate on it. Even if someone shows you something wrong you could still learn something by it and maybe you could correct them and help your brother or sister in Christ by taking the time to go over the topic.

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Why? Because they are one. Immanuel, God with us.

John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

What greater works? Christ is going to rise from the grave.

John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

Christ will call Lazarus forth, yes, but he isn’t talking about the physical anymore. God divorced Israel hence, they were cut off. They were dead, just as many today are spiritually dead. They were in bondage to sin and Christ said, “take up thy bed and walk.” Stand up and be counted. You are no longer dead.

John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

How does God judge? He looks at your sin and if your covered in the blood of Christ that means Christ has marked you clean.

John 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Again because they are one.

We are going to stop here today, but Christ doesn’t. We will pick up with that on the next post.

John

Don’t Carry your Bed on the Sabbath John 5: 10-16

March 11, 2014 Lightdancer

We left off with Christ healing a man that had been lame for thirty eight years and telling him to take up his bed and walk.

John 5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

Is this a violation of the sabbath? Well you weren’t supposed to burden yourself, but was this a burden? The man has gone thirty eight years wanting to be healed, wanting to be able to just get to the pool of water and suddenly can motor around on your own power. I’d say being able to move this bed wasn’t a burden it was a joy.

John 5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

Violation of the sabbath meant he was to be stoned to death so I am sure you can imagine this guy has just gone from feeling free to worry for his life. So I ask you who is the one putting a burden on who?

John 5:12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

These men don’t care that he was healed. They all knew this man. The man was a local fixture by the pool for thirty eight years. The priests couldn’t do anything for him. They didn’t have any power to help him, but they don’t care about that. They only want to know where they can start chucking rocks.

John 5:13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

I want you to make note of this. This man didn’t ask Christ for a healing nor after was he healed even know who he was or even thanked him for his service. It could be the man was shocked and Jesus took off before he could even register what was going on. I know I would be, but what does this tell us about the type Christ has laid out for us? The thirty eight years links this to Israel waiting in the wilderness. The end of bondage and the entering into that promise that is Jesus Christ.

God had divorced the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Jeremiah 3:8) and they were crippled and withering off the vine. That time for that to change was here whether Israel knew it or not and Christ was going to be crucified. He was going to be the lamb slain which is the reason he is doing this at the sheep gate to begin with.

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Note he is IN the temple how. Just as after you are washed clean by the blood of the lamb you too can enter the temple. On another note, and this just came to me so I am sorry if it is a bit redundant, but when you first accept Christ you don’t know who he is. You might know of him, but until you “temple” with him you don’t know who he truly is.

What is this worse thing that could befall him? It isn’t what can happen to his body.

Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. (44) Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

John 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

This could be that he ran to tell them because they had asked beforehand, but I think it is more that bursting desire a true believer has to tell others about the joy they have found in Jesus.

John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

Sadly, this is what happens then you tell people about Jesus. Most people wont care just as these people didn’t care about the miracle he had done on the sabbath they only wanted to stone him. Next we will see how Jesus handles these turkeys. Remember if this has helped you in anyway share.

John

Who gets upset over a Healing? John 5:10-16

March 6, 2014 Lightdancer