Jesus The God of the Exodus

John 6:1-21 Jesus The God of the Exodus Introduction: Have you ever had the experience of thinking you know about something only to look at it with fresh eyes and see it in a whole new light? As a kid one of the frequently watched movies in my house was, The Princess Bride. Being a typical boy I loved the sword fighting, the storming of the castle, the clever little quips by Fezzik (played by Andre the Giant) and yes, the idea of true love. But it wasn’t until I was in my late teens that somebody rocked my Princess Bride world by informing me that The Princess Bride is a comedy. I was bothered by this. It took a bit of time for me to wrap my head around this, but once I did the movie actually made so much more sense. This is what happened to me this last week while studying John 6. For years I’ve been reading it in only one way, only in one light, and it was only recently that I discovered that there is so much more to this chapter than meets the eye. One of the most exciting things about the Bible is that every book is telling the same story, The story of God and the World. Some books emphasize different aspects of this story, but it is one story. Just as we saw last week that all the O.T. is filled with types and symbols and pictures of Jesus and his work of redemption. It is a most exhilarating thing when you find those hidden or not so hidden pictures. Therefore we shouldn’t be surprised when we open our NT to find jesus doing many similar things to what Yahweh was doing in the OT. The other thing about this story is that it’s a story in which you also have a part to play. The Bible isn’t just a story about God, the world, and his dealings with ancient people, but it’s about you. And that’s why John writes his book, that you and I might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we might have life in his name.” 1. The Feeding of the Multitude 1. “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” 2. We could probably do a whole study on this section about how Jesus cares for the hungry and provides for our physical needs as well as are spiritual need. And I think that’s where we naturally go before we get to the application in the latter part of this chapter. But that’s not where were going this morning. 3. I want to point out a few things: 1. “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.” 1. The other side of the sea where the feeding occurred would likely be the more barren hillsides to the east of the lake, directly across from Tiberias. -This area is wilderness/ desert. 2. "A large crowd was following him (because) they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick” (5,000 Men, not including women and children). 3. “The Passover, the feast of the Jews was at hand" - also known as the festival of Freedom. This was the time when the Jews remembered God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. 4. Jesus by a miraculous deed feeds a multitude in the wilderness. (5,000 Men, not including women and children) 5. VS.14 “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “this is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the World..” 6. VS.15 “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew to the Mountain by himself.” 1. The reaction of the crowds show that they understand both of these (The Prophet, the King) in what Jesus considers a quite inadequate sense” -Wright 2. I think it’s very obvious that the scene is set up to where just like Yahweh fed Israel in the wilderness, so also Jesus is feeding the multitudes in the wilderness- which of course leads to the discourse on Jesus being the Bread of Life. 3. But why this next break in the story? 2. Walking on the Water 1. “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. 19 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.” 1. Usually we read this story as a kind of interruption of the Bread of Life narrative. This story then becomes a sort of power statement about Jesus. Jesus has power over the elements of nature and controls the storms of our lives, don’t be afraid, but instead, invite him into the boat…. 2. Taken separately these stories are stories about Jesus power over nature, taken together they are a story of God’s faithfulness to his promise. 3. Jesus the God of the Exodus. 1. In this context reminiscent of Israel’s first generation, the crossing of the sea, and the coming of the crowd out to a lonely arid mountain region formed a picture perfect setting for considering how Jesus could be related to the stories of the Exodus. Therefore it should be no surprise that the stories of Jesus in this chapter deal with a miraculous feeding of a multitude, and the control of the seas. Moses had been mentioned as a witness in the concluding arguments of the last chapter. Now we see how clearly Moses himself, spoke of, or pointed, to Christ. It’s also no surprise that these miracles happen at Passover. 2. Those who are familiar with the Passover haggada (telling) even today should remember in the introduction to the Seder ceremony, before the pronouncing of the “three words” and the “Hallelya”, that two of the great benefits or historic remembrances rehearsed are the control of the sea and the feeding of the Manna. 3. Passover epitomizes God’s claiming and releasing of his people as well as his preservation of the people by supplying them with food and rescuing them from the threatening sea. Passover was a multifaceted identifying celebration and John knew it well. For a Jew, the control of water and the concept of eating are forever linked with Passover. 4. Therefore the miracle of feeding the multitude is a deliberate sign which Jesus planned. He surveyed the mass of hungry people and, turning to Philip, brought up the subject of feeding them. It would not ordinarily have been done. Many were Passover pilgrims and had food in their camps. Others lived nearby. 1. But Jesus saw opportunity to make a declaration of a vital truth. Just as he had done thousands of years before with their fathers, He himself, would feed them. He would give them bread and fish, enough to satisfy. so that they would recognize him. 5. Take also the storm, Jesus sets up the whole thing. He sends the disciples to the others side by themselves, a storm hinders their crossing. Jesus comes to them walking on the waters and what does he say? Some of your translations read, “it is I, do not be afraid,” and they say this because in our language what Jesus actually says doesn’t seem grammatically correct. He says to them, “I AM, do not be afraid.” Jesus here takes to himself that same name that Yahweh gave to Moses, when Moses asked who shall I say sent me? God replies, “I Am that I AM, That is my name.” 1. "When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. 18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.” - Psalm 77:16-19 1. The same God who parted the Red Sea, is the one who walks on the water and calms the storm. 6. Jesus is reenacting the Exodus story for us to see that he is the God of the Exodus, Yahweh in the flesh. But if Yahweh has come in the flesh he has come to do something, Just like in the original Exodus story, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land.” He isn’t here just to reenact the Exodus but he is here to perform and bring about the real, the true and better Exodus - God’s claiming on and freeing of humanity from the tyranny of sin and death! 7. “Whatever else John is going to tell us, he wants us to see his book as The Story of God and the World, not just the story of one character in one place and time. This book is about the creator God acting in a new way within his much loved creation. It is about the way in which the long story which began in Genesis reached the climax the creator had always intended. John like many New Testament writers wants us to understand the events concerning Jesus as a new and better Exodus story. Just as God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, so God was now bringing a new people out of an even older and darker slavery.”-N.T Wright 4. Conclusion: Passover epitomizes God’s claiming and releasing of his people as well as his preservation of the people by supplying them with food and rescuing them from the threatening sea. But this is also our story, each of us who has placed our faith and hope in Jesus Christ. 1. God’s Claiming - a new identity. Whoever you are, whatever your history might be whatever false identity you are living by, if you have believed in Jesus, God no longer identifies by your sin or sinful character. You are now a child of God. 1. "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.” Isaiah 43:1-5 2. God’s Releasing -you are now set free from the power and bondage of sin. Sin no longer has you in it’s grasp, you have been set free and given power over sin. All your sins and the sin committed against you has been nailed to the cross, the lamb has been slain, and God has lead you out of slavery… 1. But God’s purpose in this “Exodus” goes far beyond deliverance from judgment. God brought His people out of Egypt so that they would be set free to worship Him. God made a covenant with them at Mount Sinai: “I will walk among you, and be your God, and you will be my people.” God has set us free in order that we might worship him, that we might walk with him all of our days. 3. God’s Preservation - Just as God brought the children of Israel into the promised land, “he will bring you to safe haven” - you will be preserved both body and soul for the kingdom of God- through God’s provision all your needs and his continual rescuing you out of every danger toil, and snare…. 4.