Latest / Journey Elgin / Journey Through Scripture- Mt 14, Mk 6, Lk 9 & John 6
Transcript
- Phillip Thomas: Hey, it's good to see you today. Welcome to our journey through scripture. My name is Philip Thomas, Pastor of Journey here in Elgin, Texas. And we are continuing our chronological walk ⁓ through the Bible. We are in the New Testament and the Gospels. So today we're going to be looking at ⁓ Matthew fourteen, Mark six, Luke nine, and John six. All right, so this is a ⁓ important part ⁓ of ⁓ of the ministry as it's moving forward. You know, everything is ⁓ obviously moving towards ⁓ the the the crucifixion. ⁓ we're going through the different ministry path that Jesus took. All the different gospels kind of take a a little bit different perspective, but but all of ⁓ are are saying the same things and the th the theology is the same throughout. But ⁓ we see ⁓ a few w we're gonna hit one story that is ⁓ set the same in all of the gospels, ⁓ other than the crucifixion. It's the only ⁓ miracle that is shared in all four gospels. ⁓ but it but we're gonna begin in Matthew chapter fourteen with John the Baptist ⁓ being beheaded. So you're gonna have Matthew fourteen one through twelve, Mark six fourteen through twenty-nine, ⁓ Luke three, ⁓ and then Luke ⁓ nine ⁓ seven through nine ⁓ are talk about ⁓ John the Baptist ⁓ and and Herod and his relationship with Jesus. So so basically these are kind of being ⁓ written ⁓ as ⁓ Herod is hearing about Jesus and he's thinking that maybe Jesus is ⁓ John the Baptist come back to life. So we get to hear the backstory of what Herod did to John the Baptist. And Basically what had happened, if you remember John the Baptist was going to prepare the way for Jesus. He was a ⁓ a preacher, he had disciples, had followers, ⁓ he was known by the Romans, ⁓ he obviously was known by Herod. ⁓ and Herod did not like him, and the reason was is because Herod decided that he wanted ⁓ to divorce his wife and marry his brother's wife, ⁓ which was ⁓ highly illegal. It was actually considered to be incestuous. and John called Herod out on this. And so therefore he was ⁓ thrown into prison. and so John is in prison for ⁓ many ⁓ for a for a while. In fact, whenever Jesus' ministry gets really gets started, John is in prison ⁓ and he's hearing things about what's going on. And remember ⁓ I think it was Andrew ⁓ talks to ⁓ John the Baptist while he's in prison and Tells him about what Jesus is doing. And and then we have ⁓ Herod, who is now married to his brother's wife, and she kind of performs, and I'm sure there was lots of alcohol involved. And Herod says, ⁓ whatever you want, up to half the kingdom, it be yours. this ⁓ lady, ⁓ Herodias's daughter, Herodias, goes to her mom and says, Who what should ⁓ I ask for? And she says, Ask for John the Baptist's head, and Herod obliges. ⁓ the each ⁓ account actually say that that Herod didn't necessarily want to do that, but he made the vow and promised, so he he he didn't didn't take time in in getting it done. And so John the Baptist is martyred ⁓ for ⁓ for his his belief and his calling out ⁓ the king. ⁓ or the Tetrarch. He wasn't technically the king, because remember Rome ⁓ ran everything, but Herod did have ⁓ influence and power ⁓ there in in Israel. And I I think this is interesting and one thing that it does show us and and teach us ⁓ is that there are there are times to call out ⁓ the the powerful ⁓ even if it comes with a cost. ⁓ John is willing to speak out to King Herod and to call his behavior immoral. Even though he had the as a king, he could do whatever he wanted. ⁓ he had the power to do that. But John definitely recognized what he was doing was immoral and unethical, and he called him out and it cost him his head. ⁓ but ⁓ so that that's important I encourage you to read those different ⁓ versions. But ⁓ after that ⁓ the gospels then move from that to the miracle that is recorded in all of the gospels, and that's the feeding of the five thousand. And I find this this interesting. ⁓ so Matthew chapter fourteen, ⁓ just after in verse thirteen, so we've just heard about ⁓ John's ⁓ beheading and now that word is getting to Jesus and it says when Jesus heard it he departed from there by boat to a deserted place to be by himself. But when the multitudes heard, they followed him on foot from the cities, and when Jesus saw the multitude, ⁓ he was moved with compassion and he healed their sick. So Jesus goes, he's kind of is is wanting to to be quiet. He's just heard, of course, that his cousin ⁓ has been beheaded. ⁓ but he's overwhelmed with people. He has compassion on them, begins healing, ⁓ and teaching, and it starts getting late in the evening that you know the story. ⁓ this is very similar in in all four different accounts. ⁓ basically they say, Hey, Jesus, everybody's getting hungry. Why don't you just let ⁓ go to find food for themselves? And Jesus says, Well what w ⁓ why don't y'all go get something to eat? We will feed them and Philip says, you it will take two hundred denare worth of bread to give them something to eat. ⁓ and so it th they just knew there's no way this can happen. ⁓ But Jesus just asked, How many loaves do you have? How many fish? And there's five loaves, two fish. ⁓ and they started handing it out, and it just feeds everyone, and then there's twelve baskets full ⁓ at the end. Just a a truly amazing ⁓ miracle. And you you can imagine ⁓ how the disciples responded to this as they are seeing ⁓ all of this ⁓ go. In fact in John chapter six ⁓ in verse fifteen it says, Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about ⁓ excuse me, says, Therefore they gathered up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, this is truly the prophet who has come into the world. So not only are the disciples amazed by this The people are starting to see, wow, this is a sign. Look at what Jesus has done. He has fed us, he has filled our bellies, and they became very excited. And this next verse fifteen there of John six says, Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he departed again to the mountain by himself alone. So that's that's kind of interesting, right? He He recognizes what the people are doing and that they are going to be coming after him. ⁓ they are so excited that this guy gave them something to eat. And I I think there's a couple of reasons that Jesus doesn't want this to happen. One, it's not the right time. Two, they don't understand the type of king he is going to be. Right? They they still have an idea that he is an earthly king, a king who will fill their bellies. ⁓ but that is not who Jesus was. ⁓ he was a a much bigger king than that. The picture is is much much bigger than just ⁓ feeding a meal. ⁓ as powerful as this miracle clearly was as all gospels all the gospels share it. ⁓ but then they they continue on. And ⁓ you have ⁓ Matthew chapter fourteen, starting in verse twenty two through thirty three. Now you have the ⁓ miracle of Jesus walking on water, which is found in Matthew 14, Mark 6, 45 through 52, and John six, sixteen through twenty-one. So basically Jesus sends the disciples on their way, and the the waters kind of get ⁓ stormy. It doesn't it's it's not like it's a a huge storm, but ⁓ but it's definitely not not comfortable. And then the disciples ⁓ look out and Who do they see, but they see Jesus? And Matthew has the account of Peter actually getting out of the boat. So whenever this is in verse twenty five. Now the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went with that went to them walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, Is it a ghost? And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I do not be afraid. Peter answered, said, If it is you, com Lord, command me to come to you on the water. So he said, Come, and when Peter had gone out of the boat, he walked on the water to Jesus, but when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink and cried out, saying, Lord, save me. ⁓ And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, caught him, said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ⁓ ⁓ then those who were there in the boat came and worshipped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God. This is ⁓ a pivotal point. The the disciples are seeing Jesus ⁓ in a powerful way. Remember ⁓ James, John, and Peter, James and John have already seen Jesus bring a little girl from the dead. ⁓ now ⁓ the other disciples are seeing him walk on water, do the feeding of the five thousand. this group is Getting to become very confident ⁓ that Jesus truly is the Son of God. Mark six, forty five through fifty-two, Jesus ⁓ again walks on on water. ⁓ it says verse fifty-one, ⁓ then he went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased, and they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled, for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. Right. So they they hadn't fully understood. ⁓ by seeing that miracle. But now with this miracle, ⁓ things are starting to change. ⁓ John chapter six, sixteen through twenty-one ⁓ also ta talks about ⁓ what what Jesus ⁓ walking on on water. Then we move into again, we'll be in Matthew fourteen, that and Mark six, excuse me, Mark six, fifty three through through fifty six. Both talk about how they go across and people recognize that Jesus there. Things are are picking up. He is known now all around the area, not just in Galilee, not just in Capernaum, but the the message is now spreading from town to town and things are starting to change. It's great, you know, more and more people, ⁓ but you can also feel the tension. Building and that ⁓ encourage you to read John chapter six, verses twenty two through seventy one. And Jesus starts talking about making this transition that hey, I'm not here just to fill your bellies with bread and fish. ⁓ there's something more ⁓ about who I am. And in verse twenty six of John chapter six says Jesus answers them and said, Most surely I say to you, you seek me not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him. ⁓ And then they they say, What shall we do when we make ⁓ when we may work the works of God? That we may work the works of God. Jesus answered, said, This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he sent. So he's he's Jesus is being very simple, here's what you need to do. You need to start believing in him, in me. And he fleshes that out a little bit more. Verse thirty five, Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry. He who believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me, yet you do not believe. All the Father gives me will come to me, and and through the one who comes to me I will ⁓ by all by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of the one who sent me. This is the will of the Father who sent me, that all he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day, and this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up in the last day. So Jesus is saying, listen again, it's not about all these wonderful miracles and healing. That's that's part of it. Those are signs that I am who I truly say I am, that I am the Son of God. But it's it's much more than that. I'm here so that you will believe and have eternal life. ⁓ then we we see another rejection. The people start hearing that kind of stuff. They it it's easy to like someone when they're giving you plenty to eat and when they're ⁓ you know, ⁓ healing people. But when they start giving some of these s ⁓ spiritual truths that you're a little uncomfortable with, ⁓ it it becomes a little little more challenging. And so Kind of Jesus runs into the same thing that he's experienced before. Hey, isn't this just the guy ⁓ from Nazareth? and ⁓ so there's ⁓ arguing, how can this guy give us flesh to eat? Right, he compared his flesh to to bread. ⁓ verse fifty-three, then Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, ⁓ I say to you, you who eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh, drinks my blood, has eternal life and will raise him up the last day, for my flesh and b ⁓ is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. For he who ⁓ he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him, as the living father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he feeds on me, will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever. These things he said in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum. So again, this is going to be hard for them to understand. It's hard for us to understand, but Jesus is clearly talking about a spiritual thing here. Because they loved the sign of manna, of getting to eat manna, physical bread. ⁓ but Jesus makes the point. Yes, that was a wonderful sign. But guess what? All of those people are dead that died. What I'm talking about is something that lives forever. that you feed on my spirit, right? The the the body and blood of Christ, the Spirit of God who brings salvation, the Spirit of God who offers forgiveness through repentance. That that is what we should be ⁓ feasting on, not just the bread. ⁓ and so Jesus says this, and this is definitely a hard teaching, especially from back then. Verse 60 Says, therefore, many of the disciples, when they heard this, they said, This is a s hard saying. Who can understand it? And so what what started to be happen is you had the Jesus' teaching start to change a little bit, start to be a little bit more uncomfortable. And people who were his disciples who followed him around, ⁓ these aren't just people in the crowd, but actual followers began to push back. And many stopped following Jesus. ⁓ verse sixty six From that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, Do you also want to go away? But Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. So there's a separation here. There are the people that were there for the cool stuff, and whenever things were fun and exciting and felt really good. ⁓ but once it gets a little tough, ⁓ th not everyone's gonna follow. And ⁓ there's some a pretty valuable lesson here. ⁓ sometimes we focus on ⁓ the the emotional things and the things that make us feel good about being a Christian. We focus on the teachings that make us feel good. ⁓ but what about those that are uncomfortable? Are we gonna be like the disciples who walk away when it gets hard, or are we gonna be like Peter and the twelve who said we We we don't fully understand it. We don't underst ⁓ know exactly where this is going. Yeah, it may be hard, but you know what? You are the Son of God. You are the Christ. And we're going to follow you and trust you even if we don't fully understand everything. And even if right now it doesn't feel good making this decision to follow you. And then Jesus, of course, says, But there will be one of you ⁓ who is not following me for the right purposes. And all right, so let's let's stop there. ⁓ let's look at Matthew chapter fifteen and then like the first ten, fifteen verses of chapter sixteen, and then Mark seven and eight. So Mark chapter seven and eight and Matthew chapter fifteen and then the first part of chapter sixteen. All right, we'll see you on