Some time after the healing of the invalid in John 5, Jesus traveled back up North to the area of the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a fresh water lake, about 21 miles long by 8 miles across at its widest part. It was also called the Sea of Tiberius in honor of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. Though Capernaum (in the upper center of the lake) was Jesus' base of operations, he traveled to Bethsaida (house of fish) where Philip, Andrew and Peter were from (John 1:44). Then he left for a lonely place with his disciples after news of the beheading of John the Baptist, but the crowds followed him. (Note: The storm at sea on the map below is a different one [Mt.8:23-27] than tomorrow's strong winds at sea story in John 6:16-21.) Alright, enough with the geography. The point is that these things happened in real places, with real people, not like the stories of some religions with their accounts of long, long ago, far, far away. You could ask the people then who lived around the Sea of Galilee and they would be able to tell you about the miracles of Jesus. Many would have eaten some of the multiplied fish and bread. Cool! The skeptic would have had thousands of people to interview regarding this and many other miracles Jesus performed around the Sea of Galilee.
Speaking of that miracle meal, please read that story found in John 6:1-15. You can find great insights from David Guzik's commentary if you wish. He covers the whole chapter, so just stop when you come to the end of v.15. http://ift.tt/1Jt1fLj
1.- What strikes you about this passage? Pick out one verse or phrase and share some of your good thoughts regarding it.
Here's one that grabbed me. After feeding the 5,000 men, plus the women and children that would certainly would have been there too, Jesus tells his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." Okay, I can imagine as a boy, my mom, who was raised in the depression, saying such. "Just think of all the hungry children in the world!" But why would John, writing this evangelistic book, bother to include this statement? The other gospel writers just say that the disciples gathered up the leftovers. Is John just giving us theological leverage for making our kids eat leftovers? Or is he trying to communicate something more to us than simply that Jesus doesn't want us to waste food? Asking questions makes me dig for answers. So here's what I discovered as I did a word study. The NIV says, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." But the word wasted (apoletai) is also translated spoils in 6:27; perish in John 3:16; and lose or lost in 6:39. (See also 10:28; 17:12; 18:9) In all of these contexts it's dealing with perishing versus eternal life. Thus, 6:12 could also be translated: "Gather the pieces that are left. Let none be lost." Let none be lost. Isn't this the heart of John the evangelist and far more so the heart of our Savior? O Lord, may it be more and more my heart, that none should be lost. Thank you that you came to seek to save me, the lost sheep. It didn't matter that you had 99. You laid down your life to rescue and restore me. Thank you! Help me be a good shepherd to others.
2.- As we think about letting none be lost, let's watch another one of our http://ift.tt/1NbCp6o that you haven't viewed yet. Share its title and a little bit of what it's about. Then be on the lookout to share this link or your mini-movies cards with others. Eddie, Sam and others gave out several cards at the Convoy of Hope prayer tent on Saturday. Way to go!
As you go from here to our scoreboard, be on the lookout for how your fireteam brothers are doing. If you don't see any of their points on the board for yesterday, then show your commitment to them and give them a call of encouragement. No man left behind. No man to fall behind. Udabest!
3.-Optional: On our above map, you will see the names of Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum close together. As mentioned, Capernaum was Jesus' base of operations, and in those three towns, Jesus did most of his miracles. So you may be shocked to see what Jesus says in Mt. 11:20-24. Briefly summarize it.
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