Mick Jagger brought the words to life: "I can't get no satisfaction!" He shouted it, but millions have felt it. They seek to find a way to fulfill the empty place in their hearts, and are sorely disappointed when fortune, fame, power and pleasure let them down and leave the wanting. Jesus offered six truths that fill the whole, because He made us and knows us. The truth is, fulfillment starts with Him.
Jesus was a master teacher. He used a variety of settings to teach the disciples. John 6 offers a record of two kinds of learning. The first is found in two “laboratory learning” situations. Jesus put the disciples in learning situations that pointed out areas of weakness that each disciple needed to recognize and face change in. The first was on a hillside, where the disciples learned while serving crowds. The second lab was in the dark and on the sea – together, but without Jesus. The second kind of learning was “lecture learning” as Jesus taught first before the crowds and then intimately to His disciples.
Sandwiched in the lab settings were some critical lessons regarding COLLABORATION with Jesus. In the hillside lecture of Jesus, He explained fulfillment to the crowd, and then offered private keys to understanding to His close disciples.
Key Principle: Jesus holds the key to real and lasting fulfillment. He has always been willing to share the secret to those who would listen and take Him seriously.
The “Hillside” Laboratory Test: Public Test for the Disciples (6:1-15)
The Set Up (6:1-9)
1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”
* The test was to see if the Disciples could grasp that with Jesus, every need could be met.
* Philip saw the limited resources (purse) of the disciples and concluded it was not possible.
* Andrew saw the limited resources (lunch box) of the crowd and concluded it was not possible.
* Neither disciple factored in Jesus and how He could fulfill the needs.
* Jesus’ question that set the test up included HIM, but it was easy for the disciples to set aside Jesus and not include Him.
Inclusion Principle: Jesus cooperates with us, but never leaves us to care for the needs without Him. It is the tendency of the disciples to LEAVE HIM OUT, not His desire to be excluded. Without Him we can do nothing; through Him we can do all things.
The Example (6:10-15)
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.
* Jesus told the disciples to organize the people to receive from Him.
* Jesus took what the crowd gave to Him, and multiplied it to care for the need.
* Jesus gave sufficient to fill all that were gathered there.
* Jesus gave enough to care for the needs of the disciples
* Jesus taught His disciples through the reaction of the crowd in front of them – the problem provided the solution!
Obedience Principle: Jesus needed no plan on the part of His disciples to do His work – only sufficient belief to produce obedience to His commands. When they DID what He asked, He DID what only He could do!
The “Boat in Darkness” Laboratory Test: Private Test for the Disciples (6:16-24)
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. 22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
* The boat test was to underscore the hillside test – you cannot do this without Me. (Alone we are “down and dark” – 6:16-17).
* Troubles collide into our lives in the alone time (6:18).
* Any answer that we don’t understand initially frightens us (we want what we can understand – 6:19).
* Jesus wants His presence to be enough to settle us (6:20).
* When we are prepared to receive Him, we will experience His power (6:21).
* People that don’t see His power will not understand what changes us (6:22-24).
Request Principle: Jesus sees our troubles and both can and will work, but only when we see that we cannot do it without Him, and when we invite Him to work. “We have not because we ask not!”
The Follow Up Lecture (One): Public Lesson Before the Crowds (6:25-59) – “Six Truths About Fulfillment”
25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
Principle #1: Fulfillment is received and not attained. Only God can fill the hole in your heart, and He will only do so if you come on His terms.
28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Principle #2: Fulfillment comes from believing Me! Belief is the only thing that opens the door. (Hebrews 11:6 says: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (i.e. exists in the form He claims to) and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”). 6:47 repeats this idea.
30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
Principle #3: Fulfillment that comes from the Father is in a different form than ever before! (and possibly a different form than you are looking for!) Note that the people “missed the point” of Jesus’ coming (they wanted more physical bread for now, not commitment to Him for the future!)
Principle #4: Fulfillment is accepting Me now, for a future blessing!
41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
Principle #5: Fulfillment comes to those who obey the drawing call of the Father!
46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 “I am the bread of life. 49 “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 “This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” 52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 “This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
Principle #6: Your permanent fulfillment comes at a price I will pay for you! The picture of intimacy and transformation from within was graphically offered, but not easily understood. Here is where the title comes from – “Eating is Believing” because that is His point.
Follow Up Q & A: Personal Lesson to the Disciples (6:60-65) – “Four Keys to Fulfillment”
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 “What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
* Disciples must see Jesus in His place – Who is Jesus?
* Disciples must understand where real life is – Where does Jesus fulfill us?
* Disciples must understand that only believers will get it – What does Jesus require of us?
* Disciples must understand that God enables the process – How does a believer find the truth?
Principle: Until we understand the place of Jesus, and recognize that reality is primarily in the spiritual realm (the physical is a reflection) we are not prepared to believe. When those truths are accepted and we change our lives to conform with the truth, God opens new doors to us.
Three Responses to Jesus (6:66-71)
66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.
* Some left to seek fulfillment elsewhere (6:66).
* Some remained and understood He had the truth (6:67-69).
* Some stayed but weren’t real (6:70)
“Tares” Principle: Not all that leave are lost forever (some will return). Not all that stay are truly “with the program” – as in the wheat and tares story.
Jesus holds the key to real and lasting fulfillment. He has always been willing to share the secret to those who would listen and take Him seriously.
Jesus was a master teacher. He used a variety of settings to teach the disciples. John 6 offers a record of two kinds of learning. The first is found in two “laboratory learning” situations. Jesus put the disciples in learning situations that pointed out areas of weakness that each disciple needed to recognize and face change in. The first was on a hillside, where the disciples learned while serving crowds. The second lab was in the dark and on the sea – together, but without Jesus. The second kind of learning was “lecture learning” as Jesus taught first before the crowds and then intimately to His disciples.
Sandwiched in the lab settings were some critical lessons regarding COLLABORATION with Jesus. In the hillside lecture of Jesus, He explained fulfillment to the crowd, and then offered private keys to understanding to His close disciples.
Key Principle: Jesus holds the key to real and lasting fulfillment. He has always been willing to share the secret to those who would listen and take Him seriously.
The “Hillside” Laboratory Test: Public Test for the Disciples (6:1-15)
The Set Up (6:1-9)
1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”
* The test was to see if the Disciples could grasp that with Jesus, every need could be met.
* Philip saw the limited resources (purse) of the disciples and concluded it was not possible.
* Andrew saw the limited resources (lunch box) of the crowd and concluded it was not possible.
* Neither disciple factored in Jesus and how He could fulfill the needs.
* Jesus’ question that set the test up included HIM, but it was easy for the disciples to set aside Jesus and not include Him.
Inclusion Principle: Jesus cooperates with us, but never leaves us to care for the needs without Him. It is the tendency of the disciples to LEAVE HIM OUT, not His desire to be excluded. Without Him we can do nothing; through Him we can do all things.
The Example (6:10-15)
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.
* Jesus told the disciples to organize the people to receive from Him.
* Jesus took what the crowd gave to Him, and multiplied it to care for the need.
* Jesus gave sufficient to fill all that were gathered there.
* Jesus gave enough to care for the needs of the disciples
* Jesus taught His disciples through the reaction of the crowd in front of them – the problem provided the solution!
Obedience Principle: Jesus needed no plan on the part of His disciples to do His work – only sufficient belief to produce obedience to His commands. When they DID what He asked, He DID what only He could do!
The “Boat in Darkness” Laboratory Test: Private Test for the Disciples (6:16-24)
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. 22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there, except one, and that Jesus had not entered with His disciples into the boat, but that His disciples had gone away alone. 23 There came other small boats from Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus.
* The boat test was to underscore the hillside test – you cannot do this without Me. (Alone we are “down and dark” – 6:16-17).
* Troubles collide into our lives in the alone time (6:18).
* Any answer that we don’t understand initially frightens us (we want what we can understand – 6:19).
* Jesus wants His presence to be enough to settle us (6:20).
* When we are prepared to receive Him, we will experience His power (6:21).
* People that don’t see His power will not understand what changes us (6:22-24).
Request Principle: Jesus sees our troubles and both can and will work, but only when we see that we cannot do it without Him, and when we invite Him to work. “We have not because we ask not!”
The Follow Up Lecture (One): Public Lesson Before the Crowds (6:25-59) – “Six Truths About Fulfillment”
25 When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
Principle #1: Fulfillment is received and not attained. Only God can fill the hole in your heart, and He will only do so if you come on His terms.
28 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Principle #2: Fulfillment comes from believing Me! Belief is the only thing that opens the door. (Hebrews 11:6 says: “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is (i.e. exists in the form He claims to) and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”). 6:47 repeats this idea.
30 So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31 “Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
Principle #3: Fulfillment that comes from the Father is in a different form than ever before! (and possibly a different form than you are looking for!) Note that the people “missed the point” of Jesus’ coming (they wanted more physical bread for now, not commitment to Him for the future!)
- In 2003, a popular Christian professor and an aide wrote a book as a critique of contemporary American Christianity. The title was “Adventures In Missing The Point”! The book is an examination of how the church in modern America is living out the Christian faith in this new millennium. The question concerns whether modern disciples are “getting it”.
- There are still people who are only interested in the loaves and the fishes. Christian missionaries in 19th-century India used to describe those who came to the mission stations simply for food as "rice Christians" - so long you give them free rice, they’ll be back.
- A Pastor friend of mine wrote recently: "Today, across America some churches are finding that new people are coming in. Things are exciting! We’re getting lively music, neat sound equipment, cool spotlights, quality dramas, need-oriented preaching, and magnificent musicals. Morale is up. Attendance is up. Excitement is up! But is godliness up? Commitment? Jack Hayford said at one point not long ago ’they come for the show, but refuse to grow.’ One such Pastor lamented: “Our people are converted in every way except their mind-set, life-style, and values.” Exactly. We must be careful now. We are often willing to listen as long as what they hear is positive, helpful, and non offensive - like talk about sin and repentance or any of that negative or painful stuff. We will be a shallow bunch but a happy lot signing up for classes on CPR or ’How to make your child mind without losing yours.’ But when it comes to committed discipleship, no thanks, they will pass. If we are not careful we too can be guilty of wanting what Christ gives and not Christ Himself. We will effectively miss the point."
Principle #4: Fulfillment is accepting Me now, for a future blessing!
41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
Principle #5: Fulfillment comes to those who obey the drawing call of the Father!
46 “Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 “I am the bread of life. 49 “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 “This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” 52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 “For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 “This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
Principle #6: Your permanent fulfillment comes at a price I will pay for you! The picture of intimacy and transformation from within was graphically offered, but not easily understood. Here is where the title comes from – “Eating is Believing” because that is His point.
Follow Up Q & A: Personal Lesson to the Disciples (6:60-65) – “Four Keys to Fulfillment”
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 “What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
* Disciples must see Jesus in His place – Who is Jesus?
* Disciples must understand where real life is – Where does Jesus fulfill us?
* Disciples must understand that only believers will get it – What does Jesus require of us?
* Disciples must understand that God enables the process – How does a believer find the truth?
Principle: Until we understand the place of Jesus, and recognize that reality is primarily in the spiritual realm (the physical is a reflection) we are not prepared to believe. When those truths are accepted and we change our lives to conform with the truth, God opens new doors to us.
Three Responses to Jesus (6:66-71)
66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.
* Some left to seek fulfillment elsewhere (6:66).
* Some remained and understood He had the truth (6:67-69).
* Some stayed but weren’t real (6:70)
“Tares” Principle: Not all that leave are lost forever (some will return). Not all that stay are truly “with the program” – as in the wheat and tares story.
Jesus holds the key to real and lasting fulfillment. He has always been willing to share the secret to those who would listen and take Him seriously.
Quite inspiring,
I really want a cheeseburger that burger...
Thanks for bringing this up
Posted by: Web Development Surrey | 15 January 2010 at 05:01 AM