ALL SIGNS POINT TO JESUS – Bible Study Series
Bible Study Lesson
Session 1
“THE SIGN OF HIS GLORY”
The Point
Jesus’s work in our lives is for His glory.
INTRODUCTION
Recently our family went on vacation. We were excited about the opportunity to go to a local tubing company and float down the river. On the way to the launch, we came across a sign that read: “Bridge Out.” While we had never been down this road before, the directions on the GPS were telling us with certainty to continue down the path. So, we continued, while keeping in the back of our minds what the sign had just shown us. Soon, however, we reached the point where we could go no further. The sign had been true! It turns out the GPS hadn’t updated to show that the bridge was out. We could see the launch point across the river, but we had to get back in the car and find another way to get there.
Signs are important. Over the next several sessions, we’re going to explore eight signs that point to the truth of who Jesus is. Our hope is that you will see how the evidence is clear that Jesus is the Son of God, so that you can grow in your trust of Him. Whether you’re a seeker of truth, a new believer, or a seasoned follower of Christ, this study in the Gospel of John will point you in the right direction to the person, nature, power, and identity of Jesus Christ.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
At the end of a big game, we’ll often see a reporter interviewing the coach or star player for the team on the field, and the interviewer will ask a question like: “How did it feel to win the big game?” Then we’ll hear a response that is similar to: “I want to give all glory to God for this win tonight.” For a moment, we join in celebrating the recognition of God on a national platform in a heavily watched moment. Then, typically, the interviewer goes on to ask about that player’s personal performance or the coach’s critical decisions—to which the person will begin to take full credit for those moments!
If we aren’t careful, glorifying God can seem so routine to us that we just assume we’re doing it. Especially in the moments when everything is going the way we think it should. “Well, God’s involvement is a given; that’s understood.” Except it’s not really.
This week, we’re going to see a time when a powerful miracle occurred at a wedding, but many of the people didn’t recognize how it happened. In the moment, Jesus didn’t use this event as a platform to put the spotlight on the results of the miracle. Rather, it was an opportunity to reveal His power and glory. This miracle would begin Jesus’s public ministry.
Question 1: What’s an accomplishment in your family’s life that you are proud of?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
John 2:1-4
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
Have you ever been to a wedding where something went wrong publicly? Maybe it was a flower-girl who did something embarrassing, maybe someone almost passed out, or maybe someone even forgot to bring the rings. There could even be issues happening behind the scenes in private, that thankfully no one knew about, to keep the day going as smoothly as possible. What we see in the text today is certainly an example of that.
At the beginning of Jesus’s public ministry, He took His disciples to a wedding where His mother was in attendance. Weddings during Jesus’s time weren’t just an event that happened over one or two days. These were week-long celebrations that family and friends would attend. The families hosting the weddings made sure to have plenty of food and refreshments available for those who attended. A part of the celebrations meant the availability of wine. It’s important to consider that wine during this time was consumed in celebrations more as a natural drink and not with the intention to bring about drunkenness, since that was forbidden.
In the passage, we quickly learn of a problem at the wedding. The family hosting the wedding had run out of wine (v. 3). This problem had major societal implications, for if a wedding host ran out of wine or food, public shame or at least embarrassment could fall upon the family. The perception might be that the family was unable to provide for those who attended. The issue was further complicated by the fact that wine wasn’t something that was readily available. You couldn’t just quickly send someone down to the corner market.
While we don’t know the family who was hosting the wedding, there did seem to be a personal connection with Mary and Jesus. Therefore, when Mary learned of the problem, she immediately went to Jesus. Why would she turn to Jesus? Whatever the reason in Mary’s heart, God used her prompting to bring about a miracle and begin Jesus’s public ministry. Mary is a great example for us: We can learn a great lesson in that knowing who to go to is just as important as knowing what to do. And we can trust God with the results.
When we hear Jesus’s response to His mother calling her “woman” (v. 4), we might be tempted to be critical of Jesus: “How dare He talk to His mother that way?” It’s important to know that in this culture, though, Jesus’s reference to His mother as “woman” was a term of endearment and not meant to be harsh in tone, but one used to plead the importance of the situation. It was as if Jesus was asking Mary, “Is this really what you want me to do?” Jesus was demonstrating to His mother and His disciples that the purpose of miracles is not to use them as something performed on-demand. Miracles are intended to point to a greater truth about the Lord and for His glory. So, there’s an important clarification made when Jesus gave us a loaded statement filled with purpose, “My hour has not yet come” (v. 4).
In our lives, we can have both healthy and unhealthy hopes and expectations. Unfortunately, we can even have an unhealthy expectation for Jesus. We can see Jesus as someone who should simply fix all our problems—public or private. We can see Jesus as someone we should be able to access for our own self-centered purposes. Yet, when “answers” to prayer don’t happen the way we expect, or we don’t get the results we desire, questions and doubts can arise about whether Jesus truly is who He says He is. But healthy expectations are grounded in truth. So, we must see Jesus for who He is: the One who came to earth with a far greater purpose in mind that points to His ultimate authority. Even though we may not understand how God is working in a situation, we learn to trust in His plans and in His timing.
Question 2: How can we value God’s timing above our own sense of urgency?
John 2:5-8
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so,
Notice Mary didn’t nag or complain about Jesus’s response; she knew that the matter was going to be out of her hands one way or another with Jesus being present. And whether He decided in that moment to perform a miracle or not, whatever He did would still be to the glory of God. She trusted Jesus!
When we consider the order of events at the wedding, we can see that the problem had been identified, the issue was no longer in Mary’s hands, and the focus was placed rightly upon Jesus. He understood the public implications of embarrassment that not having enough wine would cause for this family. This is an early example in the gospels of Jesus’s compassion. Jesus also understood the solution was one that could be handled in private to ensure the proper focus of His ministry continued. He was going to seek the Father’s will on this one, and as always, make sure God received the glory.
As the passage continues, Mary turned to the servants and said, “Do whatever he tells you” (v. 5). The servants were a group of people who were called to obey the commands of Jesus from this point forward. They were given a front row seat to the power of Jesus that was sure to leave an impression on their lives. What a God-appointed opportunity for them to see Jesus’s first miracle! It’s here that we can begin to see ourselves in the story. We too are simply called to be servants who obey what Jesus calls us to do, even if it’s simply filling jars with water.
Jesus called the servants to fill the six stone jars to the brim (v. 6). The jars would have been large and able to hold twenty to thirty gallons of water each. The water inside them likely wasn’t drinking water, rather it was to be used for ceremonies that included washing the hands or bodies. When Jesus told the servants to fill the jars to the brim with water, it would mean there was going to be no mistake that a foreign substance could have been used to deceive the people drinking the wine. The Scriptures are clear—this was water.
Again, we see the servants’ obedience on display. When Jesus ordered them to draw liquid from the stone jars, the servants immediately responded and took some to the headwaiter. In this culture, the headwaiter served as an overseer of the meals, as well as a master of ceremonies to ensure that all the wedding celebrations went as planned. While he wasn’t in charge of providing the food, the headwaiter knew the times to ask for certain foods and drinks to be provided to the guests.
Consider for a moment what we see of the servants in this passage:
• The servants didn’t waver when asked to simply obey whatever Jesus told them to do.
• The servants didn’t question how the miracle was going to happen, especially when the solution seemed beyond logic to achieve.
• The servants didn’t complain when they were given a big task to complete.
• The servants took on a certain level of risk by taking this substance to their boss because they trusted Jesus.
So many times, we waver in obedience when Jesus calls us to trust in Him. Then we’ll question the way in which Jesus calls us to do something when we don’t see a logical solution. Or rather than obey, we’ll just complain about what we are being asked to do. Finally, we may waver when we consider the possible outcomes of our obedience. The more we see ourselves as servants, however, the more we’ll lean upon our faith and respond in obedience (Galatians 2:20).
Question 3: Why is it hard sometimes to do what Jesus tells us to do?
Question 4: How have you discovered that the rewards of obeying Jesus far outweigh the risks?
John 2:9-11
9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
When the wine was taken to the headwaiter to be served, he had a moment that caused some confusion. There was now a new, abundant supply of wine. It hadn’t been tasted before, as he was completely surprised about its origin. It wasn’t diluted with water with the intention of being served later in the feast. It was the best that could be offered! The confusion brought about questions for the headwaiter:
• He questioned the source (v. 9). He was perplexed as to where the wine came from. Interestingly, we previously read that the servants knew the water was turned to wine because of Jesus’s action.
• He questioned the wrong people (v. 9). Rather than asking the servants about their experience, the headwaiter went to the bridegroom to gain information (who would have had no idea how it happened).
• He questioned the purpose (v. 10). He saw that this wine was counter to the traditional practice of diluting wine and questioned why it was just now being offered.
We see in the headwaiter’s questions a picture of what happens when we go searching for answers without seeing things from a kingdom perspective. Often, we can struggle to see answers to our questions. Consider these three areas when it comes to trials we face:
• We often question the source of our challenge. Is God upset with us? Did we do something wrong? Why me?
• We may get advice from the wrong people. We may even go to those who haven’t seen God’s work in their own lives.
• We question the purpose of the trial. As a result, we can miss seeing the opportunity to let God work through us.
An important purpose of the sign of the wedding was to inaugurate Jesus’s earthly ministry. Note how John didn’t refer to the water changing to wine as only a miracle, rather he called it a sign (v. 11). It’s a sign that points to Jesus being the Messiah. It also shows Jesus can supply our needs. Of course, the ultimate display of Jesus’s grace can be seen at the cross.
Question 5: What are some lessons we can learn from this first sign from Jesus?
LIVE IT OUT
Jesus’s work in our lives is for His glory. Choose one of the following applications:
• Worship. Write down recent decisions, motivations, and actions taken in your life. Evaluate how you are using these things to glorify the Lord and point people to Jesus. Praise God for His work in your life.
• Obey. Write down two or three things that God may be calling you to obey Him in doing and pray about how you can begin to act upon those things. Draw up an action plan.
• Share. Take some time to meet with another group member and ask questions about what this person is celebrating and how he or she is handling struggles in his or her life. What are some needs this individual has that only Jesus can supply?
Friendship Baptist Church
Bible Study
Session 2
“THE SIGN OF HIS GRACE”
The Point
Jesus works on behalf of all who come to Him.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
We’ve all seen people who are just too hard-headed or prideful to ask for help. How desperate do you have to get before asking for help? In our culture, we celebrate independence, especially when it comes to receiving help. But it’s sad to see when someone maintains their independence to the point where they’re willing to experience pain before asking for help. Pride then is on full display to maintain the perception of being independent. The situation may change, though, when someone else is involved, like a spouse, child, parent, or friend. In those moments, we’re willing to get whatever help we can to see someone we love receive the help and care they need.
In this session, we’ll read about a moment when someone was willing to break down his personal pride to receive help for his child. In this particular time period and culture, it would have been unexpected for this person to come to Jesus for help. Yet, the news had begun to spread about Jesus and His ability to help those in need, even to this official. It’s good to know that Jesus stands ready to help us also!
Question 1: In what situations are you most likely to ask for help?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
John 4:46-47
46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
Similar to what happened in previous encounters with Jesus in John’s gospel, someone brought a problem to Jesus. This time, the issue was with a royal official’s ill son (v. 46). The royal official in this passage was someone appointed by Rome to serve as an overseer in the city. This appointment often meant that the officials carried a level of prestige and respect with them, even among the Jewish people. If nothing else, they were feared, as going against them could be perceived as dishonoring Rome. However, this royal official was desperate to take action for his son. His need was so great that he was willing to overlook societal barriers to receive care for his son. So, when the royal official came to Jesus, we can read his desperation as he “begged [Jesus] to come and heal his son, who was close to death” (v. 47).
In this interaction, a couple of things reveal the nature of Jesus and how His grace is shown.
• First, there was the question of grace. How would Jesus respond to this person of Gentile nationality? In the Jewish mindset, since the royal official wasn’t Jewish but a Gentile by nationality, they were viewed as undeserving of any blessing to be provided, even in the most desperate of circumstances. Yet, just as Jesus had earlier shared the gospel with both Jews and Gentiles alike (see the stories of Nicodemus in John 3, and the Samaritan woman in John 4), Jesus again showed how anyone can bring their needs to Him, no matter their background, nationality, race, gender, or status. Jesus’s grace is for all people.
• Second, there was the question of power. Could Jesus heal someone who wasn’t even physically present? In the Old Testament, there are examples of miracles that were done without the immediate presence of a prophet. The healing would later be confirmed by other people’s accounts. Similarly, in this case, Jesus would demonstrate His power over sickness without being immediately in the person’s presence. This act would require a power that those around Him had not explicitly seen before.
• Finally, there was the question of faith. Was Jesus going to accept the faith of a royal official the same as that of a person of Jewish nationality? Up to this time, people performed religious ceremonies and rituals as a means to demonstrate their faith in God. Yet, here was an individual who put his faith in the person of Jesus Christ.
We wrestle with the same questions in our own lives. Who deserves grace? Is God’s power sufficient? And where (or with whom) is my faith resting today? These questions cause us to struggle. When it comes to grace, we can sometimes become skeptical of those who bring requests for needs to the church. We look at their appearances, inquire about their lifestyle choices, and quickly surmise that Jesus should only be about meeting the needs of those who deserve it—those like us. Yet, Jesus’s grace isn’t dependent on us, nor is it defined by us. He came to meet all our needs, as well as give grace to all (Mark 2:17). Regarding power, we sometimes live as though God’s power is sufficient only for salvation, and that we must figure other things out on our own apart from the Lord. Then, when it comes to faith, we find it easier at times to just take matters into our own hands rather than trust in God’s provision. Still, God stands ready and able to meet our needs.
Question 2: What is it about Jesus that motivates you to take your needs to Him?
John 4:48-50
48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
Jesus seemed to use a similar tone with the royal official that He used with His mother in John 2. This time His answer was in response to the request from an official to heal his dying son (John 4:48). Instead of immediately providing healing to the child, Jesus used this opportunity to clarify the purpose of miracles further. For the royal official, Jesus’s response challenged his beliefs, that perhaps would have been based on the practices of Roman pagan practices. In Roman culture, the act of healing was tied to the healer’s presence. Furthermore, the understanding of miracles was heavily given to signs in more of a magical sense than a religious significance. So, Jesus’s response showed that just because a miracle was performed, it wasn’t the only reason to demonstrate belief.
When it comes to expectations for miracles, some have had experiences that stunted their faith because they viewed the purpose of miracles wrongly. First, there have been people who desired for a miracle to occur, but when it didn’t happen the way they hoped or expected, their faith was rocked, even to the point of disbelief in the power of God. There have also been people who have prayed for a miracle and were able to see the supernatural work of God. Yet, when they got what they wanted, they returned to being apathetic to the ways of God. Both situations reveal a lack of faith and understanding in the ways of God.
The gravity of this particular situation was evident, however, in the tone of the royal official (v. 49), as death was imminent for the young boy. Therefore, when Jesus heard the pleading of the royal official for Him to do something that only Jesus could do, He carried out an amazing miracle not by physical touch, but by His own words: “‘Go,’ … ‘your son will live’” (v. 50). The foreshadowing of the cross and resurrection can’t be missed here. The One who stands over the path that gives life is Jesus Christ. After all, He gave His own life. And He took it up again (John 10:18).
The royal official heard what he needed to hear, and he believed; he displayed total faith in the words and works of Jesus at that moment. There was nothing else to debate, plead, or discuss. He took Jesus at his word and went on his way. What an amazing picture of faith and trust in the person of Jesus Christ! Whereas the official came pleading to Jesus, he was able to leave in assurance that his son was going to live.
Notice that Jesus didn’t tell the royal official that he would only heal the boy if they started to attend church. He didn’t make the official offer a sacrifice or promise to do something for Jesus concerning the mission. It was truly God’s grace on full display in this moment. It was grace that brought about life, not death!
It’s amazing to see how Jesus calls us to show the same type of faith today. We aren’t called to prove our worth to receive His blessing. We aren’t called to believe only when we get what we want. We are simply called to be desperate for Jesus and to come with open hands of surrender—and lives that respond with faith in the One who gives all good things.
Question 3: How might our lives be different if we took Jesus at His word?
John 4:51-54
51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.
In session one, we read about Jesus changing water into wine. We didn’t read the miracle’s spiritual effect on those present; however, in this passage, we see a glimpse into the impact made both to the son and the royal official.
For the son, he was a recipient of the grace and mercy of God in being healed at the words of Jesus Christ! With the lack of medicine offered at this time, the change in his condition would have been evident among those who cared for him. The complete healing was so distinguishable to those around him, that they were able to remember the time when the events occurred.
Question 4: How can taking Jesus at His word lead to an even deeper faith in Him?
This miracle was a transformational experience for the official, impacting his faith and his family’s. The only One who could provide the answers for them was Jesus.
• The trip home to see his son (v. 51). The trip from Cana to Capernaum would have been between eighteen to twenty-two miles on foot over various hills. However, he truly trusted Jesus and understood that Jesus wasn’t limited by location. The official moved with great confidence to see his son.
• The notification of good news (v. 51). This miracle was significant because it happened just as Jesus said. While the official’s faith in Jesus and the healing of his son started the moment of being physically present with Jesus, his faith strengthened by the news of the power of God working in the child’s life.
• The realization of the timing (vv. 52-53). After he discussed when the healing occurred, the royal official realized it happened when Jesus said his son would live from the day before. This truth further strengthened the official’s faith and shows how Jesus does everything according to His timeline. He’s not limited in any way to demonstrate His grace and power to us also.
The result was the affirmation of the royal official’s faith and the declaration of the power and grace of God to his entire household. This confirmed again how the miracle was a sign of the person and work of Jesus Christ (v. 54).
The official’s life provides us with a picture of what it means to have transformational faith. First, we see how we all can have the faith to take Jesus at His word. Accepting Jesus at His word doesn’t mean we won’t ask questions or express our doubts sometimes. Yet, if we claim to know Jesus as Lord, we will obey His Word.
Also, our faith can be transformed by the supernatural work of the Lord. This faith should be founded upon the person of Jesus. We don’t look at the results of miracles but keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ, no matter the results. As Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say often: “Believe in miracles, but trust in Jesus.”
Finally, our faith is strengthened by realizing we aren’t in control but know the One who is. We’re simply called to declare His truth and rest in His power and presence.
Question 5: What are some lessons we can learn from this second sign from Jesus?
LIVE IT OUT
Jesus works on behalf of all who come to Him. Choose one of the following applications:
• Respond. If you haven’t placed your faith in Christ, there’s no better time than right now to begin your journey with Christ and let Him give you victory in your life! Talk to a pastor or group leader about next steps.
• Reflect. Write down how your faith is similar or different from the royal servant’s faith and how it has experienced transformation. Identify steps you can take that will help you grow in your walk with God.
• Share. Take a moment to share with someone in your group or church how you have seen your faith grow in both answered and unanswered prayer. Ask that person about his or her own journey with the Lord.
Friendship Baptist Church
Bible Study Lesson
Session 3
“THE SIGN OF HIS AUTHORITY”
The Point
Jesus works in a way that goes beyond our expectations.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
When we watch TV, especially religious channels, we often come across infomercials. Some infomercials now boast about using an object to receive a “miracle” from God. The infomercials are filled with testimonials of people receiving healing or money using miracle objects. Then the focus at the end of the infomercial is that if you send in a monetary gift, you’ll receive a miracle object, as well as begin to receive the blessings that will surely follow.
It’s sad to see how many people (even some Christians) fall for these gimmicks to gain some temporary “blessing” while missing the greater truth: God calls us to have faith in Him alone. In today’s passage, we’ll read about a man who believed in the gimmick of a pool of water, and how people thought it to be a source of healing. Yet, when he met Jesus, his life was truly changed forever. This man’s healing became one of the signs used to demonstrate the nature of Jesus’s relationship with God the Father.
Question 1: What gimmick or sales pitch did you buy into but later regret?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
John 5:1-7
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
While in Jerusalem attending a festival, we find Jesus walking by the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. This area would have contained two pools of water with large, decorative colonnades (v. 2). Interestingly, in this beautiful place, the people around the pool were considered the outcasts of society. They were blind, lame, and paralyzed (v. 3a). [NOTE: vv. 3b-4 are omitted in most translations because they’re not in the earliest Greek manuscripts.] Why were people drawn to this particular pool for healing?
• The pool’s name carried significance, as Bethesda means “house of mercy.” If there was a place for the people to experience the mercy of God, they believed it would happen at these waters.
• They believed the waters contained healing powers. In some books and translations, we see a reference to a traditional belief among the people that the waters had been touched by an angel and healing power was available when the waters moved (v. 7).
• When the waters would move, people sought to enter. The example of others crawling or being carried to the pool would have certainly been a strong pull for those who needed hope.
Not only is the setting for this passage significant, but we are also introduced to a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years sitting by the pool (v. 5). At some point in his life, he heard about the pool and its “healing powers,” and he was brought to the pool to get an opportunity to be healed. However, the ability to get into the pool was stifled by his disability, and it seems no one would help him get into the waters. The mindset of those at the pool was first-come, first-serve, because it only “worked” if the person could get into the pool while the waters moved.
The man was desperate to enter the pool for at least thirty-eight years, and then Jesus walked by him. The Scripture says that Jesus “saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time” (v. 6). There must have been something different about this man in Jesus’s eyes. I’m sure that Jesus saw the desperation in his countenance and had compassion for him. While others walked by the pool and left without helping the outcasts, Jesus sees the hearts of people.
The question Jesus asked is one that we are all presented with when it comes to our own lives: “Do you want to get well?” (v. 6). Like the man at Bethesda, we can easily miss the point of the question. The man initially thought that Jesus’s question was a matter of helping him get into the waters (v. 7), but Jesus was there to show so much more. He was willing to do what no one else would be able to do. He was ready to step into the man’s life and provide him with true healing! Jesus was prepared to show this man that the healing power was not in the waters but in Jesus Himself, who stood before him at that moment.
In our own lives, we sometimes do the same thing as this man. When we are struggling through a situation that doesn’t seem to have an immediate answer, we can think that Jesus doesn’t see us. Therefore, we begin to search for everything else in our lives to make us well. When presented with opportunities that we think will make us better—the next job, the next relationship, or the next possession—we put our faith in those things instead. However, we soon find ourselves in a place of paralysis because we are unwilling to look to the One who can save us—Jesus.
Question 2: Where do desperate people go today hoping for a miracle to happen?
John 5:8-11
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”
With this man’s blinded view of the power of God in being able to heal him, we would think when Jesus calls for him to stand, he would’ve been skeptical. However, when Jesus called the man to action (v. 8), it was a call to healing and purpose. The call to “get up” (v. 8) pointed to Jesus’s power, and for the man to “pick up your mat and walk” (v. 8) would’ve been beyond expectation. After all, his mat gave him purpose.
The man didn’t sit there and mull over what people would think if he stood. The Bible says: “At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (v. 9). He no longer had to worry about getting into the water. He also didn’t have to worry about what people would say because he had a testimony to declare. Now he no longer needed his mat. He truly was healed and transformed!
When we think about the power of God, we too can have the tendency to become skeptical. We may hear about someone being healed, and we ask about what procedure they had, what doctor they saw, or what medicine they took. Or if we see someone suddenly healed, we have more questions than actually giving God the credit He deserves. It’s our skepticism that can lead us to become paralyzed in our faith. However, Jesus isn’t concerned about our paralysis; He wants us to live in His power and purpose that He provides for us every day.
In verse 9, we’re told that the day this miracle occurred was on the Sabbath. In verse 10, there’s almost a pause and shift in the focus and tone of the writing. We’re reminded again it was the Sabbath and the implications that came with that. When it came to the Sabbath, especially around a festival celebration, extra regulations were required for what Jewish people could or couldn’t do during these days. As shown in verse 10, carrying your mat was strictly forbidden, as it was seen to be work, which was considered contrary to the principle of the Sabbath that commanded people to rest.
Have you ever been around a Debbie Downer or Negative Nathan type of personality? You could have the best moment happening and they’re going to find something to criticize, which alters your celebration. The man simply did what Jesus told him to do, and this brought about his immediate, public rebuke for breaking the law. The religious leaders had completely missed that the man was healed! At that moment, the celebration of what had happened was dampened by the leaders’ legalism.
When confronted about it, the man simply stated he was following Jesus’s commands. The message was clear, though, that Jesus had indeed healed on the Sabbath, which was considered a radical action which ought to be punished (v. 16). Little did they understand that Jesus’s radical actions were going to make their path to heaven possible!
Question 3: When has Jesus met your needs in a surprising way?
John 5:17-20
17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
When the Jews began persecuting Jesus, He shared a message with the crowd that communicated His purpose in healing: He was simply doing the work of the Father (v. 17). The nature of this statement would have been radical for the Jews to hear, as was seeing Jesus heal on the Sabbath. It would also have been considered contradictory to God’s statement regarding rest on the Sabbath. However, what they missed about the Sabbath was that it was to be a day of worship, reflection, and dependence on the Lord. What better way to celebrate that moment than to see people express worship of their Messiah as never before!
Question 4: What does Jesus’s life show us about the character of God?
Once again, rather than celebrating the work of God happening among the people, the focus was placed on the words that Jesus used and how He equated Himself to God the Father (v. 18). This miracle became a sign for believers because it was used as a way to reveal the nature of Jesus Christ to people, and Jesus’s response to the questions opened the door further to see who He truly is.
Jesus demonstrated His authenticity by explaining His relationship to God’s authority. Just as a son in this time period wouldn’t do anything without the father’s direction, so also, Jesus, as the Son of God, wasn’t doing anything outside of the purpose and plan of God. Furthermore, the healing done by Jesus could be equated to the Father’s work because of their relationship.
This relationship isn’t just based on a legal standing but on a standing of love (v. 20). And the purpose of this love is to reveal even greater works that were to come through Jesus. The love God has for His Son is the same love that Jesus has for all of us, which is shown at the cross. So, the focus of God’s love goes beyond the Sabbath regulations that man tried to enforce, and instead points to His standard of love and mercy.
Ultimately, Jesus’s statements are summed up in His authority. As the Son of God and the second Person in the Trinity, Jesus has full authority of heaven and earth. He has the authority to heal, show His power, and complete His works at any time without our approval. The authority of Jesus calls us to believe in Him and submit to His authority. We also get to live under His authority, as we help others understand His power and purpose (Matthew 28:18-20).
Rather than seeing healing as something to be skeptical about, this passage calls us to see it as an act of God’s compassion and mercy shown to His people. And while we may not understand God’s ways in healing one and not another physically, the greater truth is to see the power and purpose of God that was shown ultimately in our healing of the sickness of sin. We can rest in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and have victory today as we share in the life we have in Jesus’s resurrection!
Question 5: What are some lessons we can learn from this third sign from Jesus?
LIVE IT OUT
Jesus works in a way that goes beyond our expectations. Choose one of the following applications:
• Submit to authority. Reflect upon areas of your life where you have not submitted to God’s authority and consider the difference it would make if you did so today. Write those things down and surrender them to Him.
• Share gratitude. Gratitude helps with moments of skepticism. Share with your group or a friend the things you are grateful for in your life. Be sure to direct the thanks to God.
• Celebrate with others. Find a way to celebrate with someone in your group or family something that the Lord has done recently in his or her life. Spend time worshiping God for His faithfulness.
Friendship Baptist Church
Bible Study
Session 4
“THE SIGN OF HIS PROVISION”
The Point
Jesus meets the needs in our lives.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
Craig Randall drove a garbage truck in Peabody, Massachusetts. One day, he noticed a Wendy’s soft drink cup in a garbage container bearing a contest sticker. Having won a chicken sandwich the week before, Randall checked it, hoping for some French fries or a soft drink. Instead, he peeled a sticker worth $200,000 toward the construction of a new home.
Craig Randall wasn’t looking to receive $200,000 when he peeled back the sticker, but he received far more than he could have hoped. The same is true for us when it comes to bringing our needs to Jesus. He may not give us what we think we want, but we can be sure Jesus will provide us with exactly what we need when we seek Him in our lives.
In this session, we’ll see yet another miracle recorded in the gospel accounts. The significance of this miracle became a formative moment for those who followed Jesus, especially those closest to Him. It’s a significant lesson for understanding how Jesus meets our needs. Let’s sit down on the hillside with Jesus to see what we can learn.
Question 1: What is a book or movie that has inspired you with the characters’ resiliency or bravery?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
John 6:1-5
1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”
Aside from the resurrection, the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. Obviously, the gospel writers considered this a significant sign, and God thought it was so important that He had each of them recount the event from their own perspective.
In John’s account, we see that even though Jesus had crossed over the Sea of Galilee (v. 1), the crowd followed Him. Why? Because of the physical healing that Jesus had provided to the people in the Galilean area (v. 2). Of course, who wouldn’t want to seek out the healing possibly offered, or at least come to see it done? Word had clearly spread, and it was worth the journey to many.
The crowd that had followed Jesus was described as huge (v. 2). John notes that the time of the Passover was near, so the crowd size was understandable (v. 4). But this situation presented a problem: There were many tired, hungry people in an isolated location. Jesus knew that sending the people away could do more harm than good. As was often the case, Jesus then looked upon the crowd with compassion before providing a solution. The setting for this sign demonstrates a few notable things about Jesus’s actions.
• Jesus sat down (v. 3). By this simple action, Jesus demonstrated His authority as a teacher. In the synagogues, a seat was reserved for a rabbi to sit down and discuss the teachings with the people.
• Jesus sat on a mountainside to teach (v. 3). Mountains were significant in the history of Israel. It was on a mountain that Abraham was led to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). It was on a mountain that God revealed Himself to Moses (Exodus 3). It was on a mountain that God confronted the prophets of Baal through Elijah (1 Kings 18).
• Jesus chose the Passover festival time for this sign (v. 4). Soon a lamb would be slain to commemorate the saving of God’s people from the angel of death in Egypt. John would later show how Jesus had come to save God’s people from eternal death.
• Jesus planned to feed the people who came to listen to Him (v. 5). Jesus also wanted to involve His disciples in what He was about to do. So, He asked Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” (v. 5).
Jesus has often asked such questions to grow His people’s faith. George Müller was an evangelist who operated several orphanages in England in the 19th century. Early one morning, Müller led a young lady named Abigail into the dining room set for breakfast but there was no food. He prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.” There was a knock at the door, and it was the baker, unable to sleep because he was sure God wanted him to bake bread for Müller. Müller said to the children, “Children, we not only have bread, but fresh bread.” Almost immediately they heard a second knock. This time it was the milkman. As it turned out, the milk cart had broken down outside the orphanage, and he offered the milk to the children, completing their meal. This wasn’t the first nor the last time Müller knew that God saw his need and was able to meet it. The God who would feed the five thousand, and who took care of Müller’s children, will provide for us as well!
Not only does Jesus desire to meet our physical needs, whether through food or healing, but Jesus would use the physical need to show His nature as the only Son of God. He is the One who can meet all our needs. Our greatest need, of course, is salvation. Jesus came first and foremost to save us from our sins, reconciling us to God.
Question 2: When have you felt noticed by Jesus?
John 6:6-11
6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
Why might Jesus have turned to Philip with His question of where they could buy bread to feed those in attendance? First, Philip was from Bethsaida, which would not have been that far from where they were, which meant he would have been familiar with the resources available to them. Naturally, Philip reverted to the financial concern he had when confronted with the problem. Like the other disciples, Philip’s faith was obviously still maturing. He probably quickly calculated the total to dissuade Jesus from going down this road: “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (v. 7).
Philip had seen Jesus perform miracles; he had seen Jesus heal people, cast out demons, and thus seen prophecies fulfilled. Yet when the spotlight was turned on his experience, Philip responded with a lack of faith rather than complete trust in the Lord’s willingness and ability to provide.
It’s at this time that we see a shift in the circumstances; Andrew (Simon Peter’s brother) said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish” (v. 9). Who was this boy and what might we know about him and his provision?
• Some scholars believe he might have been a young boy who helped carry the disciples’ provisions, since Andrew knew where to find him.
• The type of bread and the original language used to describe the fish suggest that he was probably poor; barley loaves were the least desirable bread, as they were often coarse and used to feed animals. The fish were more than likely smaller in size.
From Philip’s perspective, the ability to feed the masses didn’t make sense in time or money. From Andrew’s perspective, the ability to feed was due to a lack of resources too, but at least he could now make sure his Master would be able to eat. Yet, once Jesus saw the boy give his food to the disciples, He was going to demonstrate how little is much when God is in it.
Question 3: How have you personally observed that “little is much when God is in it”?
Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down (v. 10a). In other gospel accounts, Jesus ordered them to sit by groups of a certain number. Overall, the number of men was around five thousand (v. 10b). This meant there would have been more than two or three times that overall number, as women and children would most likely have been present too.
Then Jesus did an amazing miracle, as He took the bread and fish, gave thanks, and the food was distributed among the people. Not just a tiny morsel or crumb; they could eat what they wanted until they were full. What started as something small—pieces of bread and a couple of fish—was trusted to the Lord, and He quickly turned a fast into a feast! The focus of this part of the narrative shows how the greatest hope wasn’t found in the disciples who had been with Jesus for so long, nor the unlikely circumstances affecting them; instead, the answer to a great need came from a young boy who simply opened his hands in surrender to Jesus.
Question 4: What’s our part and what’s God’s part in seeing our physical needs met?
John 6:12-15
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 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.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
After Jesus performed this incredible miracle, people began to see Him as fulfilling a sign designated for the promised Messiah (v. 14). Yet, something about the way they responded led Jesus to withdraw. We might think at this point, Jesus, isn’t this what You want to happen?
Jesus didn’t need an earthly kingdom to prove His authority, and He certainly didn’t come to lead a revolt. The refusal by Jesus to be designated as their earthly king shows how the path as Messiah was more about the cross than the crowd, more about the resurrection than the miraculous meal.
So, instead of giving in to their desires, Jesus “withdrew again to a mountain by himself” (v. 15). Perhaps Jesus saw that the people’s hearts were more focused on what He could do for them than who He was. Their hearts were in the wrong place, focused on what they wanted, not what He knew they needed. Meeting our needs isn’t about satisfying our desires and wants. Instead, Jesus is pointing us to our greater need, which is a relationship with God.
If we’re honest, we do the same thing as the people in that crowd. We live in a world of trends. If it’s bigger, faster, stronger, and more satisfying, we justify clinging to it, even if it costs us more. We seek to have our physical needs met before our spiritual needs. We might even think that godliness is measured in more material blessings. Yet, we are still desperately, spiritually hungry. We settle for the crumbs of this world instead of the never-ending buffet of grace provided in Christ.
You see, the feeding of the 5,000 is a tremendous miracle that calls people more to spiritual growth than it does to any physical blessing. It leads to a faith that teaches us that Jesus meets our needs as they arise, but we shouldn’t presume on His goodness and provision. It’s also a faith that teaches us to depend upon the power of God for what ails us most. The same extraordinary power that transformed the offering of bread and fish into a meal for over five thousand people is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave. And it’s the power that comes from God’s endless source of grace and mercy; it’s the power to set you free. Praise God that He knows what we really need!
Question 5: What are some lessons we can learn from this fourth sign from Jesus?
LIVE IT OUT
Jesus meets the needs in our lives. Choose one of the following applications:
• Reflect. Write out a prayer of confession to the Lord, admitting times that you have focused only on your desires instead of seeing how our greatest need has been provided in Christ and His provision.
• Share. Find a way this week to live like the young boy from this passage and share with someone what God has blessed you with, big or small. Remember, God can take our little and make much of it!
• Seek. Spend time in prayer regarding ways to show compassion as Jesus did, not as a burden but as a blessing. Prayerfully seek out someone you can share the gospel with this week.
Friendship Baptist Church
Bible Study
Session 5
“THE SIGN OF HIS PRESENCE”
The Point
In Jesus’s presence, we have no need to fear.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
As a child, sometimes the presence of a parent makes all the difference. Parents learn this truth when it comes to teaching a child to ride a bicycle. There’s that moment at the beginning where children want the parents to hold on and run with them as they ride. The children say over and over, “Don’t let go!” Or: “Stay here with me.” They desire our presence because they are experiencing fear. The same is true in our lives. We’re going to have moments in our lives where the presence of Jesus calms our fears, and we don’t want Him to let go. The amazing truth is that no matter what, Jesus is always there walking with us, no matter what we experience.
In today’s passage, we’re going to see another powerful and unique sign of the divinity of Jesus Christ. Many today try to focus only on the human side of Jesus to the point that they reduce Him to being just another good teacher who lived and died. However, in today’s passage, we read of the power and authority of Jesus as the Son of God. We see that even in the worst of our storms, Jesus’s promises and His compassion don’t waver. Jesus truly sees us through our doubts and fears.
Question 1: What do you remember about learning to ride a bike or teaching a child to ride a bike?
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
John 6:16-18
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
When Jesus dismissed the crowd, the people continued to try to follow Him. Some people came to see another miracle. Some people came to try and make Him their king (John 6:15). In their minds, if Jesus could feed this many people on a few pieces of bread and fish, He must be the One who would be ready and able to conquer Rome and restore Israel. Rather than getting caught up in the crowd, though, Jesus wanted to get away by Himself to pray to His Father. There was so much for Jesus to reflect upon at this moment, such as the news of John the Baptist’s death, the reports of the disciples from their time away, and the miracle that had just occurred. After the feeding of the five thousand, it was evening, and Jesus wasn’t present with the disciples (v. 17).
When we look at Jesus’s life, even after powerful moments, we can see how He prioritized prayer. Jesus knew that prayer was His lifeline to His relationship with God the Father. It was through prayer that He drew His strength and vision for His ministry. Therefore, we, too, must be people of prayer who derive our strength from God alone. Prayer should also remind us that we can’t do things on our own. Sadly, in the self-sufficient culture of today, we end up doing things out of independence instead of dependence upon God. Often, our lack of prayer is due to distractions. We wake up and check our email, text messages, and social media feeds. Then, before we realize it, we have spent mindless time viewing other things instead of listening to God. Prayer reminds us that we need to hear God’s voice in our lives more than the world’s voice. The disciples were about to learn a good lesson about going at it alone.
Not only do we see the priority of prayer, but we also see an example of submitting to authority in this story. It was later in the evening after Jesus had just performed this amazing miracle of feeding the five thousand. Thus, when Jesus sent them in the boat to Capernaum, the disciples could have easily questioned Jesus for sending them at dark on the Sea of Galilee, which was known to be treacherous. Yet, we see they surrendered to Jesus’s commands and obeyed, even when He sent them into the dark.
Just as the disciples began their journey in the dark, we often feel like we are being sent to some places or situations where we don’t see the complete picture. It can seem like we’re going into darkness and danger; yet we are called to trust in Him, no matter where He sends us.
Since the Sea of Galilee is set between six to seven hundred feet below sea level, and with the way that the mountain was on the northwestern side of the lake were formed, a natural wind tunnel can bring about storms at a moment’s notice. So, while the disciples were in the dark and in the middle of the night, a storm began to affect their journey to Capernaum (v. 18).
When we think about the “storms” of our lives, we may not get a warning sign of when they will begin. For the storms that arise immediately could be a diagnosis that becomes a severe illness, issues that occur as the result of an accident, or the sudden loss of a friend or family member. While we don’t understand the reasons for the storms, we must learn how to navigate through these storms in our lives, even when the purpose or end is unclear. We certainly don’t want to have to do it without Jesus.
Question 2: How does this scene depict the spiritual struggles we often face in life?
John 6:19-20
19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”
You can sense the frustration the disciples were experiencing as they had rowed the boat all night long, yet they were a little more than halfway across the sea with a storm raging. Considering the journey was five miles to Capernaum, this meant the disciples had only traveled about three miles. So, it appears the winds were really pushing against them as they were moving.
Today, we use cliches to try to get us to keep moving forward in the “storms” we face. For example, we say things such as, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” Or: “Only the strong survive.” However, the problem comes when we face storms that are bigger than our abilities. Similar to the disciples trying to row in a storm that was pushing against them, we also try in our own strength to keep moving ahead in situations that may be beyond our abilities.
Fortunately, Jesus was watching the disciples from the shore as the storms raged on around them (Mark 6:48). As we’ve read about before, when Jesus sees those in need, He has compassion on them. His compassion led to action when He walked on the water to the disciples (John 6:19). As Jesus approached the boat, the disciples were terrified and thought that perhaps Jesus was a ghost (Matthew 14:26). In another Gospel account, we see that Jesus was about to “pass by” the disciples as they were in the boat (Mark 6:48). The phrase “pass by” doesn’t mean that Jesus was ignoring His disciples in the boat. The phrase was used in the Old Testament when God “passed by” Moses, revealing His nature (see Exodus 33:22), so this is certainly a fair comparison.
Jesus didn’t just reveal His nature in this moment. He brought peace to the disciples. The words that they heard Jesus cry out were, “It is I; don’t be afraid” (John 6:20). Jesus’s statement is similar to the way God revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush, when He called Himself “I am” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus’s purpose was no doubt to reassure the disciples that the One who had all authority and power was in their presence. And in His presence, there is peace and no room for fear!
Question 3: Why does Jesus allow storms in our lives?
Alexander Maclaren, the Scottish preacher, once told the story of how he had overcome fear. As a young boy he took a job in Glasgow, miles away from his home. He worked in the city during the week and returned home on the weekend. There was a ravine on the way to his home that had a superstition of being filled with evil spirits. All during the first week at work, young Alexander feared most that his long walk home would mean passing through this ravine. The weekend came, and there was nothing to do but muster up his courage and begin his journey home. His heart pounded as he reached the ravine, and he paused in panic. His feet were like lead. Then suddenly he heard a voice calling out of the night, “Alex, it’s your dad. I came to walk through the ravine with ye.” All through his life as one of Scotland’s greatest preachers, Maclaren never forgot the courage and strength he felt that night when his father graciously walked through the frightful glen with him. This is the peace that Jesus brought His disciples by His presence.
Scripture is full of assurances for us not to be afraid because of God’s presence, both in the Old and New Testaments:
• “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
• “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
• “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
• “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6)
Now that Jesus was with them, the disciples’ fears would settle like the storm, and all would be well. We can share in the same security in the storms we face when we realize that with Jesus’s nature and character comes His presence and peace.
Question 4: How does Jesus’s presence calm your spirit, especially in tough times?
John 6:21
21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
So, how is the miracle of Jesus’s walking on water a sign of the nature of Jesus Christ to this point? First, just as in the miracle of the feeding of five thousand, Jesus shows providential compassion and care for people. Second, the authority that Jesus showed over nature, particularly the sea, was a sign of God’s sovereignty. Jesus wants His followers to understand that no matter how many difficulties we encounter and no matter how unequal to the task our own strength may be, He won’t allow us to fail ultimately. He also wants us to understand that His power is greater than any obstacle we’ll encounter, and that we are to rely upon Him totally and trust Him implicitly, even as we obey Him absolutely.
Just as Jesus had sent the disciples out on the water and into the storm, He was sure to see them through their troubles. In Mark 6:45-52, we read that when Jesus got into the boat, the storm stopped. In John 6, we read that once Jesus got into the boat, at once the boat was at the shore of their destination (v. 21). This was no small miracle in and of itself!
So, when Jesus entered the boat, the winds died down, and the sea became calm. The same One who was the Master of the sea was Master of the disciples, and He would see them through their journey. After all, He was the One who knew of the storm and sent them through it; yet, He also knew He had a plan and the power to control it.
We can all have unsteady hearts through the storms we face; sometimes we let doubts creep in. But let’s learn the lesson of storms.
• Sometimes storms teach us to trust. To trust in the Lord means we find security in His presence.
• Sometimes storms teach us to surrender. Surrendering teaches us to submit to God’s authority that He has over our lives and the circumstances around us.
• Sometimes storms teach us how to have courage. Courage comes from standing upon the foundation of the promises of God.
• Sometimes storms teach us to be prepared. This won’t be the last storm that you go through in your life, but the next time one comes, you’ll be ready!
Ultimately, the lesson Jesus teaches us in this moment is that He is the One who will see us through our storms.
Question 5: What are some lessons we can learn from this fifth sign from Jesus?
LIVE IT OUT
In Jesus’s presence, we have no need to fear. Choose one of the following applications:
• Surrender. Make a list of the times that you have tried to “row the boat on your own” in your life versus letting Jesus take control. Ask God to help you avoid those choices in the future.
• Worship. Read the lyrics for “It Is Well with My Soul.” Worship the Lord and thank Him for seeing us through the storms of life.
• Share. Consider how storms from the Lord are for the purpose of helping disciples see who Jesus is. Write down something you have learned about Jesus from this week’s study. Share that truth with someone else in your life this week.
