Barton's Bible Study Notes

Life of Christ: Unit 19 - Sections 75-78

Read Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52 and John 6:15-21. Jesus had instructed His disciples to leave without Him. He probably did this because He realized the crowds would not attempt to follow them around the shore as long as He did not leave with them. They would stay to follow Him. After He dismissed the people, He went alone up the mountain to pray. That evening the disciples left and started to sail across the lake without Jesus as He instructed. Later our Lord, from the high ground where He was, saw His disciples fighting a storm. They had lowered the sails and were rowing toward land, but the wind was against them. It was blowing them away in the opposite direction in which they wished to go. Jesus then proceeded to follow them across, walking on the water.

1. Our Lord retreated up the mountain for several reasons. One was to pray; another was so that the crowds would not follow His disciples when they left but stay with Him. A third reason that John gives us is that the people were about to try to take Him by force and make Him king. Why was this something He wanted to avoid?

2. From all three accounts list at least three miracles that took place in connection with our Lord rescuing the disciples from the storm.

3. Mark tells us (6:48) that Jesus came to them, intending to only pass by them. Why do you think He was willing to leave them out there, struggling against a storm that was threatening to sink them?

4. When Jesus had rescued Peter after his faith lapsed and had gotten into the boat, the storm ceased. This caused great astonishment on the part of the disciples because, it says, they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves. What things should they have learned from the incident of the loaves?

Read John 6:22-71. The next day, the crowds, who had followed Jesus, witnessed the miracles of the feeding of the five thousand and who had not gone far when they were sent away by Jesus the night before, were perplexed. They knew Jesus had not gone with the disciples, but neither was He there. So they set out, some in boats, others on foot and found Him near Capernaum. They asked Him, When, how did you get here? The reply our Lord gave them in verses 26 through 59 is commonly called the discourse on the bread of life. Note that our Lord does not answer their stated question but does deal with their actual need.

5. According to John 6:26, what was the real reason they were looking for Jesus?

6. What instruction or advice did Jesus give in verse 6:27 to these people concerning their efforts to try to find Him?

7. What question did these people ask in reply to that advice (See verse 6:28)?

8. Jesus told the crowd that the work which God wanted them to do was what?

9. In verses 6:30-31, what do you think these people were trying to get to do?

10. What statement caused many of His followers to argue among themselves?

11. Jesus, speaking to the Twelve to try to help them understand what He was saying about the bread of life, said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” What do you think He meant?

12. What was the result of this teaching (and probably the fact that Jesus refused to make more bread miraculously!)?

The Applications:

What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.