Sun
Mar 30
1. AMBITIOUS ZEAL
a. After the miracle of the loaves, what conviction took possession of many people? John 6:14. What were they eager to do? John 6:15 (first part).
“All day the conviction has strengthened. That crowning act is assurance that the long-looked-for Deliverer is among them. The hopes of the people rise higher and higher. This is He who will make Judea an earthly paradise, a land flowing with milk and honey. He can satisfy every desire. He can break the power of the hated Romans. He can deliver Judah and Jerusalem. He can heal the soldiers who are wounded in battle. He can supply whole armies with food. He can conquer the nations, and give to Israel the long-sought dominion.
“In their enthusiasm the people are ready at once to crown Him king. They see that He makes no effort to attract attention or secure honor to Himself. In this He is essentially different from the priests and rulers, and they fear that He will never urge His claim to David’s throne. Consulting together, they agree to take Him by force, and proclaim Him the king of Israel. The disciples unite with the multitude in declaring the throne of David the rightful inheritance of their Master. It is the modesty of Christ, they say, that causes Him to refuse such honor. Let the people exalt their Deliverer. Let the arrogant priests and rulers be forced to honor Him who comes clothed with the authority of God.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 377, 378.
Mon
Mar 31
2. CALMING THE MISGUIDED ZEAL
a. What did Jesus do to prevent the multitude and the disciples from carrying out their plans to place Him on an earthly throne? John 6:15.
“[The disciples and the multitude] eagerly arrange to carry out their purpose; but Jesus sees what is on foot, and understands, as they cannot, what would be the result of such a movement. Even now the priests and rulers are hunting His life. They accuse Him of drawing the people away from them. Violence and insurrection would follow an effort to place Him on the throne, and the work of the spiritual kingdom would be hindered. Without delay the movement must be checked. Calling His disciples, Jesus bids them take the boat and return at once to Capernaum, leaving Him to dismiss the people.
“Never before had a command from Christ seemed so impossible of fulfillment. The disciples had long hoped for a popular movement to place Jesus on the throne; they could not endure the thought that all this enthusiasm should come to nothing. The multitudes that were assembling to keep the Passover were anxious to see the new prophet. To His followers this seemed the golden opportunity to establish their beloved Master on the throne of Israel. In the glow of this new ambition it was hard for them to go away by themselves, and leave Jesus alone upon that desolate shore. They protested against the arrangement; but Jesus now spoke with an authority He had never before assumed toward them. They knew that further opposition on their part would be useless, and in silence they turned toward the sea.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 378.
b. The day after the miracle, what did the multitude do? John 6:22–25.
“The miracle of the loaves was reported far and near, and very early next morning the people flocked to Bethsaida to see Jesus. They came in great numbers, by land and sea. Those who had left Him the preceding night returned, expecting to find Him still there; for there had been no boat by which He could pass to the other side. But their search was fruitless, and many repaired to Capernaum, still seeking Him.
“Meanwhile He had arrived at Gennesaret, after an absence of but one day. As soon as it was known that He had landed, the people ‘ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard He was.’ Mark 6:55.”—Ibid., pp. 383, 384.
Tue
Apr 1
3. BETTER AIMS, DIVINE HELP
a. What frank yet mindful message did Jesus give to the multitudes? John 6:26, 27.
“Jesus did not gratify their curiosity. He sadly said, ‘Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.’ They did not seek Him from any worthy motive; but as they had been fed with the loaves, they hoped still to receive temporal benefit by attaching themselves to Him. The Saviour bade them, ‘Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.’ Seek not merely for material benefit. Let it not be the chief effort to provide for the life that now is, but seek for spiritual food, even that wisdom which will endure unto everlasting life.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 384.
b. What question did the Jews ask Jesus concerning the works of God? John 6:28. Explain the response the Lord gave. John 6:29.
“For the moment the interest of the hearers was awakened. They exclaimed, ‘What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?’ They had been performing many and burdensome works in order to recommend themselves to God; and they were ready to hear of any new observance by which they could secure greater merit. Their question meant, What shall we do that we may deserve heaven? What is the price we are required to pay in order to obtain the life to come?
“ ‘Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.’ The price of heaven is Jesus. The way to heaven is through faith in ‘the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ John 1:29.”—Ibid., p. 385.
“Repentance is turning from self to Christ; and when we receive Christ so that through faith He can live His life in us, good works will be manifest.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 87.
“May the Lord help His people to realize that there is earnest work to be done. . . . In the home, in the church, and in the world they are to work the works of Christ. They are not left to labor alone. The angels are their helpers. And Christ is their helper.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 18.
Wed
Apr 2
4. THE BREAD OF HEAVEN
a. What sign did the Jews want and what historical fact did they mention? John 6:30, 31. What did Jesus say of the bread from heaven? John 6:32, 33.
“The Jews honored Moses as the giver of the manna, ascribing praise to the instrument, and losing sight of Him by whom the work had been accomplished. Their fathers had murmured against Moses, and had doubted and denied his divine mission. Now in the same spirit the children rejected the One who bore the message of God to themselves. ‘Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven.’ The giver of the manna was standing among them. It was Christ Himself who had led the Hebrews through the wilderness, and had daily fed them with the bread from heaven. That food was a type of the real bread from heaven. The life-giving Spirit, flowing from the infinite fullness of God, is the true manna.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 385, 386.
b. Having their minds fixed merely upon the natural, physical bread, what request did they make—and what did the Lord explain? John 6:34–36.
“The figure which Christ used was a familiar one to the Jews. Moses, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had said, ‘Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord.’ And the prophet Jeremiah had written, ‘Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.’ Deuteronomy 8:3; Jeremiah 15:16. The rabbis themselves had a saying, that the eating of bread, in its spiritual significance, was the study of the law and the practice of good works; and it was often said that at the Messiah’s coming all Israel would be fed. The teaching of the prophets made plain the deep spiritual lesson in the miracle of the loaves. This lesson Christ was seeking to open to His hearers in the synagogue. Had they understood the Scriptures, they would have understood His words when He said, ‘I am the bread of life.’ Only the day before, the great multitude, when faint and weary, had been fed by the bread which He had given. As from that bread they had received physical strength and refreshment, so from Christ they might receive spiritual strength unto eternal life.”—Ibid., p. 386.
Thu
Apr 3
5. RESURRECTION AND ETERNAL LIFE
a. What two closely related promises are given to those who identify themselves with Christ—and how does this bring hope to every sinner? John 6:37–40.
“All who received Him in faith, [Jesus] said, should have eternal life. Not one could be lost.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 387.
“Do not listen to the enemy’s suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better; until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then, you will never come. When Satan points to your filthy garments, repeat the promise of Jesus, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ John 6:37. Tell the enemy that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Make the prayer of David your own, ‘Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.’ Psalm 51:7.
“Arise and go to your Father. He will meet you a great way off. If you take even one step toward Him in repentance, He will hasten to enfold you in His arms of infinite love. His ear is open to the cry of the contrite soul. The very first reaching out of the heart after God is known to Him. Never a prayer is offered, however faltering, never a tear is shed, however secret, never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble, but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. Even before the prayer is uttered or the yearning of the heart made known, grace from Christ goes forth to meet the grace that is working upon the human soul.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 205, 206.
b. What did the unbelieving Jews murmur and what promise did Jesus repeat to those who believed in Him? John 6:41–51.
Fri
Apr 4
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. After the miracle of the loaves, what did Christ’s followers plan to do?
2. Describe the main interest of the multitude following Jesus.
3. Explain the words of Jesus in John 6:29.
4. What illustration did Christ use to depict the source of spiritual life?
5. How did the Jewish leaders manifest their prejudice against Christ?