Week 7

Thamk you Julie, Tammy, April and April for your posts.  What amazing things God showed you through your reading - thanks for sharing and for teaching us. 

I love your comments about Philip's instinct to try to solve the problem without including Jesus - I can relate!  I also love the comments about the signifcance of the leftovers - but leftovers that were not "waste."  I love how Jesus takes something insignificant (a few loaves and fishes) from an insignificant boy and turns it into more than sufficient. 

It seems the disciples are really starting to trust Jesus.  First of all they obey Him without question when He tells them to go out on the boat.  Then when the storm comes it doesn’t mention their fear.   They don’t give up working or expect Jesus just to fix it yet they seem to have some faith that Jesus is aware and is in control somehow.  I think this is a great example.  True faith trusts in the person of Jesus despite the circumstances.  I was reading about how since God is omnipotent with infinite wisdom and love, His timing is always right – He doesn’t have to hurry and He can’t be late. In this story, Jesus lets the disciples work and struggle for awhile.  Then He shows up and the struggle is over immediately.  Sure, Jesus could have come at the beginning of the storm or yelled words of instruction to them throughout the storm.  Jesus knew the outcome would be the same either way because He was in control but the journey would produce character while developing and displaying faith.  It is hard to trust the outcome and endure the journey at the same time but easier when we remember the nature of Jesus – loving and sovereign. 

This week we will do the end of chapter 6.  This first half of chapter 6 describes two miracles but what are miracles by themselves?  Miracles show us the power of Christ but they don’t explain the purpose or plan of Christ.  Miracles are physical but their purpose is spiritual.  So, John doesn’t just tell us about the miracle – He follows with the direct words of Christ.  We start by seeing the crowds searching and finding Jesus. 

What was the real reason the crowds were seeking Jesus?  Did they really find Him?  What was Jesus’ response?  Reflect on the ways and reasons we seek Jesus. 

Think about verse 27 and apply it to your life. 

What do you think about the fact that the crowd demanded another miracle so that they might “believe.”

Think about Jesus’ claim to be “the bread of life.”