John 7- The Living Water

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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. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (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.) John 7:37-39

We remember a few chapters ago, Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman that if she drank from the water he was offering, she would never thirst again. Of course Jesus was referencing the Living Water, and the Samaritan Woman was receptive to receiving this. Here Jesus goes into further teaching about the Living Water

The scripture reveals here that the Living Water that Jesus is referring to is the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit we can’t be saved, we can’t be reborn from a dead sinful state. But notice at this point the Holy Spirit was not yet give because Christ was not yet glorified

Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? John 7:40-42

A great debate then started among the people, is this guy Jesus the Messiah? If he is the Messiah , isn’t this guy from Nazareth? These people didn’t realize Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem, maybe Christmas knowledge is important after all? These people didnt have the further revelation that we have today, however they were starting to realize, something was special about Jesus

So there was a division among the people because of him. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. John 7:43-46

The presence of Jesus was causing great division among the people, some were starting to believe him while others just wanted to kill him. The Romans wanted the religious leaders to get rid of him, while the religious leaders wanted the Romans to get rid of him. Everyones heart was stirred because God in the flesh was standing among them. The officers answered “Noone has ever spoken like this man” because Jesus spoke the words of God, the way, the truth , and the life

Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. John 7:50-52

Then we see Nicodemus from Chapter 3 show up on the scene again “ Does the Torah condemn someone before hearing them” , Nicodemus knows that you need 2 or 3 witnesses according to the Torah to convict someone. Now the question arises, did Nicodemus become Born Again and convert to Christianity? Or was Nicodemus still searching?

The religious leaders came back with a response , but was also inaccurate. They said “No prophet has come from Galilee”, well this is actually an incorrect statement. Jonah, Nahum, Hosea, Elijah, and Elisha were all well known prophets from Galilee. So this statement by the Pharisees was wrong, they clearly didnt know the scriptures as well as they thought

Just as God provided the water in the wilderness to the Israleites, Jesus is providing the Holy Spirit, to all who thirst for God Amen!

John 7- True Worship

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And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He 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. John 7:15-18

The Jews were amazed by the knowledge of Jesus, “How can this man have such knowledge of God and not be a Pharisee? The people didn’t understand who Jesus is, the Christ, the Son of God, standing right before them. Yet they challenged everything he said, why? Because every word pierced their heart as the word of God does, the conscience was shaken

Jesus said “If any of you are actually doing the will of God, you would know that he was speaking truth” These people were hypocrites, they didn’t know God, they didnt know his word or his will. They were religious zealots, white washed tombs , trying to play the part.

Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? John 7:19-20

These people claim they are keeping the Torah of God, yet they want to kill the Messiah. Are these people this deceived into believing their religious works will save them? Their hearts are hard as stone, to kill not only an innocent man, but the Son of God, shows you their depravity!

Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 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. 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? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgmentJohn 7:21-24

Jesus again brings up the Sabbath, the Jews wanted to kill Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath! Jesus is revealing the hypocrisy of the Jews, they believe they are righteous for “keeping the Sabbath” yet they want to kill the Messiah for healing a man on the Sabbath

What has happened to these people? Their hearts are far from God, the Sabbath has become an Idol for Israel. Jesus revealed He is “Lord of the Sabbath” , listen to Him, follow him, He is the only Way to God Amen!

John 6- Communion

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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. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. John 6:53-55

One of the more “difficult” teachings of Jesus was about partaking in his flesh and blood. Now having the revelation we have today, we know that Jesus was foretelling about the practice of Communion. We know his body and blood were broken and shed for our sins on the cross. Anyone who rejects this can’t have atonement for their sin

Whoever receives Christ’s sacrifice He will resurrect in the last day. We know this is a foundational teaching of the gospel of Christ. Without the cross you can’t have the resurrection. Until we are reborn from being dead in our sins, we can’t be reconciled back to God

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 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. John 6:56-58

This is why I think Communion is an essential practice in Christianity. Jesus said “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22)Is Jesus referring to us eating his physical body and drinking his blood? No, and the reason I believe is because Jesus taught this to the disciples while he was still alive and physically with them.

At the Lords Supper, when Jesus told them the bread was his body and the wine was his blood, he meant it symbolically. The disciples couldn’t eat Jesus body and and drink his blood when he was physically alive and sitting there with them, it’s not logical

These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? John 6:59-61

Many of Jesus followers didnt understand his teaching and left him. “What kind of teaching is this”? The problem is they didnt understand what Christ was about to do for the world. This didn’t have the further revelation that we have today.

What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 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. John 6:62-64

Not everyone will become saved, many have and will reject Christ. This was evident back then and this is still evident today. Jesus already knows his Sheep and calls them by name. Those who abide in Christ , he will abide in them

Communion is an essential doctrine and practice of Christians, anyone who wont partake in the body and blood of Christ, can have no part in Him! Abide in Jesus , Amen!

John 6- Bread of Life

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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. Labour 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. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? John 6:26-28

I think it’s very fitting that Jesus reveals that He is the “Bread of Life” right after he broke the bread and fed the 5,000. Jesus is about to give his disciples a further revelation into who He is. “Don’t labor for the food that perishes, but labor for the food that provides everlasting life”

What does Jesus mean by this? We’ll what do you spend most of your time laboring over? Maybe you work a job or stay busy volunteering ect, this is all good but it’s all temporary. Don’t forget to labor for the Kingdom of God which is eternal. Don’t waste all your time on temporary things, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 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. John 6:29-32

First the disciples ask “Ok what kind of work should we be doing”?  Jesus responds He is the work, believe in Christ, because the works have been completed at the cross. Next the disciples want a sign that Jesus is truly the Messiah

Jesus responds that He is the sign, Jesus is the miracle you’re looking for. God provided Moses and the Israelites the Manna from Heaven, the Manna from Heaven has become flesh in Jesus Christ. Jesus is The Bread of Life, the One sent by our Father to bring salvation to the world

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 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. John 6:33-35

The disciples said to Jesus , give us this bread from Heaven! They still didn’t understand that Jesus is the Bread from Heaven. So Jesus made it clear he said “ I AM The Bread of Life” Notice Jesus uses another I AM statement , referencing the Great I AM revealed to Moses

Believe in Christ and never hunger or thirst again! What? Jesus isnt’ talking about physical food, he’s talking about your soul. He’s talking about bringing you back from spiritual death , to live forevermore Amen!

John 6- Feeding The Multitude

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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? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. John 6:5-7

When we look at the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000, at first glance it just appears to be another miracle performed by Christ. However when we look deeper into this miracle we see the foreshadows of the New Covenant that Jesus is bringing to the world

First Jesus was testing the faith of his disciples, he asked them to get enough bread to feed 5,000 people, knowing that the disciples could never provide this quantity. The disciples were perplexed by Christ’s request, “this would cost a year’s salary to feed all these people” they responded. But with God all things are possible

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 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. John 6:8-10

Jesus asks the disciples, what do you got? Andrew responds “There is a little boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish” , most of us would have laughed at such a solution but Jesus commanded them “Have everyone sit down” 

Jesus was going to display his power and authority, also demonstrate that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains or feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish!

Also consider the setting all this is happening at, the crowd was in the wilderness just like the Israelites. It’s a replaying of God providing the Manna from Heaven, but Jesus is our Manna from Heaven!

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. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. John 6:11-12

Now notice what Jesus does here, he thanks our Heavenly Father and breaks the bread to distribute it. What does this remind you of? Communion, this is a foreshadow of Christ going to the cross. His broken body became a ransom for our sin!

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. 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. John 6:13-14

Could the gathering of the bread fragments be symbolic of the gathering of the lost sheep, the gathering of the elect. Regardless when the great multitude witnessed this miracle, they understood that Jesus was the Christ! Amen!