ALPHA AND OMEGA

JOHN 6:16-27

LAST WEEK: JOHN 5:41-6:15

• John subtly links Jesus’ feeding of the five thousands to Moses and the Exodus.
• Moses was a type of Christ. (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22)
• Both were prophets and lawgivers, mediated covenants between God and man, survived infanticide, came out of Egypt, etc.
• Typology is a hermeneutic (method of interpreting Scripture) NT authors often used to connect the OT with their NT. “Interpreting the old in light of the new [events].”
• Example: “And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’” (Matthew 2:14-15 referring to Hosea 11:1)
• The Holy Spirit led NT authors to do this, because Jesus invented it. (Luke 24:25-27)
• Typology is similar to allegory and symbolism as opposed to literalism. It’s also synonymous with Pesher - used during the Old and New Testament writings. Pesher is a hermeneutic from antiquity used to interpret biblical prophecies as directly applicable to contemporary events.
• Pesher is what NT writers were doing, because the events of Jesus’ first coming were contemporary for the NT authors.
• We once followed in the footsteps of Matthew by using Pesher to investigate Matthew 2:23 with Isaiah 11:1 and the word, branch. “that He will be called a Nazarene” and “a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”
• Peter’s use of Joel 2:28-32 in Acts 2:14-21 was also a Pesher interpretation.
• So the question for Christians today is should we continue to use typology or pesher to interpret the OT and NT (in light of current events)?
• Remember the definition of revelation/apokalypsis in Revelation 1:1 - unveiling. (Daniel 12:4, 10)
• Also remember our other whiteboard lesson on ‘Orientations of History’: history repeats itself on its way to an eschaton. (Luke 17:26)
• It’s critical to understand that true deeper spiritual meanings won’t lead to new doctrine, but can illuminate what’s already plainly read in Scripture. The truth doesn’t contradict itself! Spiritualizing everything leads to gnosticism. (Revelation 22:18-19 ; Proverbs 30:5-6)

JOHN 6:16-18

• Again, the Gospel of John is the simplest, but also the deepest book of the Gospels.
• We already went over the deeper Mosaic meanings of Jesus’ feeding the 5000 miracle. Though the disciples did not understand due to their hardened hearts. (Mark 6:52)
• The plain reading (mashal) of these two verses is pretty straight forward…
• It had gotten dark and Jesus was still up on the mountain. So the disciples got into a boat to row back across the sea of Galilee to their HQ in Capernaum. This literally happened.
• Now for a typological/pesher interpretation (not used as a basis of doctrine, but of illumination)...
• Darkness = wickedness. Seas = nations. Boats = the Church. Wind = spirit of opposition.
• Before Jesus descends at the close of the age it will become a very evil and tumultuous time. When the nations of the world, under the influence of Satan, will rage - threatening the faithful followers of Christ in the Church. (Luke 21:25-26; Matthew 24:37-39; Matthew 25; Luke 12)
• Like the 5000, like the Israelites, the time to eat is before the storm. (Exodus 12:11)

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.

JOHN 6:19-21

• Though they were alone on the sea, Jesus was watching over them from on high as they struggled to paddle against the wind and the waves. (Mark 6:48)
• A little over halfway across the sea of Galilee Jesus goes out to meet them in the storm.
• This is used as an argument for an intra-seal rapture.
• David Jeremiah Commentary pg 1273
• The 4th watch of the night (3am-6am) was the time the Israelites crossed the Red Sea with Moses - foreshadow of the rapture. (Exodus 14:24)
• They were frightened because they thought they were seeing a ghost (a harbinger of their doom) in the chaotic storm. (Mark 6:49)
• When Jesus got into the boat the wind ceased. Which was the second time He did this. (Matthew 8:24). They were astounded since they didn’t yet understand the lesson of the loaves and who He was. All because their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:51-52)
• Still, God teaches and corrects those He calls His children. It comes with sanctification. Jesus originally told them to get in the boat and row. They had a hard time of it, despite some of them being experienced fishermen.
• Again, followers should expect to be led into storms in order to come closer to the Holy God. That’s how we learn more of who He is and why we can rely solely on Him. (Exo 20:18-21). Though He doesn’t want our efforts to be futile. So He is always watching over us.
• “Do not be afraid.” A phrase often repeated by God in both Testaments.
• Note that Jesus didn’t come into the boat until after they were happy to receive Him. The storm was the catalyst for that.
• Jesus raptures the boat (Church) to their destination.
• John doesn’t mention Peter walking on the water. (Matthew 14:28-31). What lessons do you walk away with from his experience?

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

JOHN 6:22-24

• These people didn’t have to battle the storm, because they literally missed the boat.
• But the storm did cast some smaller boats their direction for some in the crowd to use.
• This too is sometimes interpreted as the Church consisting of smaller home groups at the close of the age.

On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

JOHN 6:25-26

• Jesus did not answer their question and tell them He walked across the lake and raptured the boat full of His disciples.
• Keep in mind that after the rapture and the tribulation comes the millennial reign of Christ; when the Feast of Booths will be celebrated by all nations in Jerusalem. This festival happens to come next in the seventh chapter of John’s Gospel. (Zechariah 14:16)
• Jesus tells them why they came to Capernaum. (This took place at the synagogue according to verse 59)
• Not to learn who He truly is. They only believed Him to be a prophet and wanted to make Him king.
• He tells them that they followed Him because they sought a miraculous breakfast. An answer to their physical wants, not their spiritual needs.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

JOHN 6:27-40

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

JOHN 6:27

• Jesus miraculously gave them their fill of bread the previous evening. So now they’re spending their time and energy seeking more of this temporary physical food for their prosperity. That’s the way of the world. (10min with Jesus or $1 billion meme)
• This is an inferior goal to work toward. Ultimately it’s meaningless for those who are perishing anyway. The universe is decaying. This life is temporary. A puff of smoke compared to the eternal heavens and earth.
• Beware of social Gospels (ministries/organizations that help the poor but don’t feed the Word)
• Fix your eyes upon eternity and not only will you see the world from a proper perspective, but those physical things you need to sustain you, like food, will be added to you. (Matthew 6:19-21)
• Jesus tells them to direct their efforts toward the work of eating Him - the Bread - the Logos - that is consuming His words. (v 35)(Ezekiel 3:1-11, Revelation 10:8-11, John 4:13-14)
• Jesus is more than Messiah. He is God’s guaranteed way to eternal life. His words sustain us on our journey.
• Going back to our previous lesson in John 5:28-29: “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
• We are not saved by works, but good works are the natural byproduct of a saving faith in Christ.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”