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Printer Friendly VersionI. Introduction
A. The text
1. It would help us to understand the question of the people
of Capernaum and the response of Jesus if we simply look at the grammar and
the words spoken
2. Here is a simple outline
a) What must we do? – spoken in the present active subjunctive
– it was a simple request wanting his immediate response
b) So that we might perform – they use a form of ancient
language called a hina phrase. He was to teach them so that they could do
what they sought.
c) The works of God – they asked in the plural. They sought
to do God’s deeds – his mighty acts of power.
(1) They wanted training
(2) They wanted to act so that God would act
(3) They were in a world of cause and effect
d) He responded “This is God’s work” – he
responded in the singular
(1) They sought many – he offered one
(2) They sought help in developing their ability – he offered
that which only God could do
e) So that you might believe
(1) Might go on working in faith
(2) Might keep on trusting
B. The setting
1. Jesus had been involved in a hectic forty-eight hours
a) In the beginning of John, he left the western shores of the
Sea of Galilee and sailed to the east
b) He spent all day teaching and miraculously fed thousands
(1) This was the sign of the prophet
2 Kings 4:42-44 Elisha said, "Give it to the people and
let them eat." But his servant said, "How can I set this before
a hundred people?" So he repeated, "Give it to the people and let
them eat, for thus says the LORD, They shall eat and have some left.'"
He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word
of the LORD
(2) Feeding them like Moses in the wilderness
c) The people of the Greek cities would have made him king
d) He slipped away after putting his disciples in a boat
2. That night on Galilee
a) They sailed away without Jesus
b) He came walking to them before sunrise
c) He had seen them when they could not see him
d) They experienced great miracles
e) Yet they did not understand
Mark 6:52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were
hardened.
C. They arrived in Capernaum
1. Followed by the boats of seekers
John 6:23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had
eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
2. From shore to shore they sought him
D. This was the season of Passover
1. We are one year before his passion
2. The ministry in Capernaum is coming to an end
3. Our text is set in the synagogue
John 6:59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
II. Sabbath in Capernaum
A. It was now the holy Sabbath – Yom-ha-Kenisah (the day
of assembly)
1. The shophar (ram’s horn) sounded from the roof of the
ruler of the synagogue – Rosh Ha Kaeneseth
2. All the sons of the covenant moved silently toward synagogue
3. They went toward the holy inspiration – the divine breath
B. The synagogue was packed by people from beyond their country
1. There were the people Jesus had touched
a) The centurion and his healed servant
b) The nobleman and his restored son
c) The converted tax collector called Levi
d) The man who had been let through the roof and had lived
e) The women who had been healed
(1) Jairus’ daughter
(2) The woman with the issue of blood
(3) The woman who silently came in from the night to anoint
him at a rich man’s feast
(4) Peter’s mother-in-law
(5) Mary of Magdalene
2. Those who came from far countries
Matthew 4:25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem,
Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
C. The hour of worship
1. It began with the blessings
2. The Shema of Israel “Hear, O Israel”
3. The prayers
4. The reading of the Law (Torah)
a) The minister opened the holy chest (Ark)
b) Eulogies and benedictions were given
c) The scroll of the Law was given to seven men
5. The minister (Chazzan) moved to the Ark a second time
a) The scroll of the prophet was removed (Haphtarah)
b) The one who was to read stood – Jesus stood
c) Covering his head he read from the prophet and began his
sermon
d) Jesus took Moses’ seat to preach
III. The Exhortation
A. Motives
1. They came faithfully to synagogue
2. But this day they came not because of the word, but because
of Jesus
3. They sought him because of the power at work
4. He met their needs
B. Jesus was calling them to live above their lusts
1. He pointed out their deficiencies
John 6:26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking
for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for
eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God
the Father has set his seal."
2. He opens to us the divine life
2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has given us everything needed
for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his
own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious
and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption
that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine
nature.
a) A call beyond the realm of getting
b) A call beyond the realm of achieving
c) A call beyond the realm of power
C. To acquire that which lasts forever
1. Jesus is pulling them beyond their limits
a) Do not work: he speaks in the emphatic
b) He issues a call for them to live beyond their achievements
and into the work of God
2. Their seeking is “show us how – teach us how –
train us – enable us”
3. He will ask them to seek “what God is able to do”
IV. The Single Work of God
A. Throughout his ministry Jesus had emphasized the simplicity
of faith
Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him
and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all
the work by myself? Tell her then to help me."
B. Often the tasks of life had crowded out a simple life in
God
C. They asked in the plural – they were into ministries
1. Into causes
2. Champions of crusades
3. Tasks and missions to fulfill
4. Ministries to promote
D. His response was in the same words as their request
1. But with a significant difference
John 6:28-29 They asked Jesus, “What must we do, (hina) so that we might
perform God’s works?” Jesus responded, “This is God’s
work, (hina) so that you might believe in him whom he sent.”
2. The issue was not what we would accomplish for God but what
God would accomplish in and through us
a) He called them to a submission
b) They sought to be valuable
c) He called them to a greatness beyond themselves
d) They sought to be great for God
(1) What they sought kept them central
What Jesus offered placed God central