John 6: 14
” After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’”
John 6 begins with some general information. We are told it is Springtime. (The Passover is near) We are told that the scene is the “far shore of the Sea of Galilee.” John also mentions that Jesus has been healing people and as a result thousands of people have followed him to this remote area. Then John describes the feeding of the five thousand, how Jesus transforms a little tiny bit of food into a feast for everyone who was there.
“The Prophet who is to come into the world,” is clearly someone the people were expecting God to send. Moses mentions such a person in Deuteronomy 18: 15, 18. In the Jewish culture, everyone understood that the old stories of Moses were true although not everyone agreed on what they meant. The idea of The Prophet who would come must have been generally accepted.
Q: How would you react to seeing someone do what Jesus did?
Today I’d react with skepticism and doubt because I know that Jesus is The Messiah, The Prophet…. If I were alive back then I am not sure if it would be doubt and skepticism or if I would be convinced he was The Messiah
While I would hope that I would react by saying He is my Savior and God, I fear that I may too be susceptible to the skepticism of the religious elite. Yet, look at what He could do. This was obviously no average person. Even the religious leaders acknowledged this but said what He did was through the work of the evil one. But His works were good. Lord, may I see your good works and deeds today and not be skeptical of who you are and what you are providing.
Great question: I would have eaten my fill, packed a bag for later and left. As a non believer I was fascinated by David Copperfield, and changed the channel on Billie Graham. I lived in the flesh having no use for magic or Christ.
Christ’s ministry did produce fruit during His time on earth, however God’s plan appears to call for the Holy Trinity to be involved in the continuing salvation, and retention of the lost.
See, John 16:8, Acts 1:7, 2.
People often say I have the Gift of evangelism. I don’t think so. I simply have a desire to serve God, and do so by giving a priority to study and application of His Living Word.
He has convinced me of the following:
1. God has predestined every person to have an opportunity to exercise their free will. He has arranged for every contact we have with other individuals. What we do with this is our choice.
2. The Holy Spirit is convicting all people, of all generations, of their sinful condition and the consequences of refusing repentance. John 16:8.
3. My calling is to conform to the image of Christ, allow Christ in me ( the 3rd person of the trinity ) to express His love toward all those God brings to me, and let the conversation simply take its course.
All of God, the Holy Trinity is involved, I simply enjoy the experience of serving and observing the power of God at work.
He has spoken through me to save a Transvestite who in anger stormed out of Sunday School, God said to me “go see him.” A 1st Lieutenant in the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army who spoke perfect English and placed by God in a seat beside me on a 3 you flight from Beijing To Nanning. As well as many, many others who asked me ” Why are yu different? ”
I firmly believe, we are to focus on being Good stewards of all God has given us, application of things revealed, spiritual gifts, life, family, physical things, and let Him work through us.
3 hour flight.
I probably wouldn’t believe it, but still go back for seconds on fish.
So Rob
Who are you going to believe in that case,
Your eyes or your stomach?
🙂
Good point Jeff…but it’s kind of hard to swallow 🤓
Lol that’s punny