Introduction: How many people have you encountered who admit
that Jesus was a “great man,” an “important rabbi,” or a
“prophet?” They admit He is an important historical figure,
but not that He is God. Do Jesus’ miracles prove He is God?
Let’s dive in and study some miracle stories in John,
stories that point to Jesus’ divinity!
I. The Bread Miracle
A. Read John 6:1-3. Do you think Jesus and His
disciples shared the same goal as the approaching
crowd? (Read Mark 6:31-32. When we recently
studied Mark we found that Jesus and His disciples
needed a break from the crowds. They needed to
rest so they went to a “desolate place by
themselves.”)
B. Read John 6:4-5. What would you say if you saw
this large crowd thundering your way? (I would ask
why they will not leave us alone? Why not allow us
just a little rest?)
1. What motivated the crowd to pester Jesus? (Re-
read John 6:2. They saw that Jesus was healing
people and they wanted healing.)
a. Is that a purely selfish motive?
2. Is Jesus’ question selfish? (Not at all. He is
looking out for them, and not for Himself.)
C. Read John 6:6. Jesus’ question in John 6:5 is a
test for Philip. What kind of test is it? A math
test? Baking test? Financing test?
D. Read John 6:7. What kind of test does Philip
decide this is? (A financing test.)
E. Read John 6:8-9. What kind of test does Andrew
think this is? (A practical test of finding food.)
F. Re-read John 6:6. Jesus thinks to Himself, “I know
what I will do.” What hint do we find about the
nature of the test? (The test is whether Philip
will look to Jesus for a miracle to solve this
practical problem. Obviously, Andrew did no
better in understanding the test.)
G. Read John 6:10-13. If you were one of the crowd
who came to Jesus to see healing or be healed,
what would you conclude? (This seems different.
It is even different than turning water into wine.
Jesus is creating food – and a vast amount of it.)
1. Is there significance to the fact that Jesus
chose to create wine and bread, which are the
essential elements of communion? (Re-read
John 6:4. This suggests that they are related.)
2. Let’s test you. What do you think this miracle
proves? (It is a sign that Jesus is God
because we know that God created food for His
people when they escaped slavery in Egypt.)
H. Read John 6:14-15. How do the people answer this
test? (They conclude that Jesus is the “Prophet”
who will overthrow the Romans.)
I. Read Acts 3:22-23 and John 1:19-21. (The parallel
between Moses and Jesus is clear with the creation
of food. Moses predicted a “prophet” will arise
who is like him. John the Baptist denied that he
was the prophet spoken of by Moses. Adam Clarke’s
commentary explains that the Jews misunderstood
Moses on this point. They thought Moses was
speaking about the return of one of the great
prophets, likely Jeremiah. But Moses was
predicting the Messiah, Jesus.)
J. Let’s skip down and read John 6:25-27. Now we have
Jesus’ answer to the test. What does Jesus say
they should conclude from this miracle? (Jesus
tells them the answer is not some earthly
blessing, like being fed or being free. He is
giving eternal life. This miracle is God’s “seal”
that He is the “Son of Man.”)
K. Because of space considerations, we are not going
to discuss John 6:28-40. But you should read it
for Jesus’ more complete answer.
II. The Sight Miracle
A. Read John 9:1-2. How important is the answer to
the disciples’ question? (What would it matter? It
certainly would be odd to claim that a man sinned
before his birth.)
B. Read John 9:3. Was the man born blind to give
glory to God? (The goal of every human is to give
glory to God. I don’t think Jesus is saying the
man was born blind to satisfy the goal of giving
glory to God. The cause of the blindness is sin in
the world. Jesus is simply saying that this
tragedy will be used to give God glory.)
C. Read John 9:6-7. Do you think it is a coincidence
that Jesus is healing a blind man, as opposed to
any other kind of healing? (Read John 9:4-5. Jesus
says that He is the light of the world, and this
is part of His “light” work. Darkness is coming.)
D. Skip down and read John 9:15-17. Is the blind man
fulfilling John 9:3?
E. Read John 9:18-21. Are the parents being asked
reasonable questions? (The question about how
their son is now able to see is unreasonable.)
F. Read John 9:22. Are the Jewish leaders looking for
honest answers?
G. Read John 9:24-27 and John 9:30-33. I ask you
again, is the man fulfilling John 9:3? (Yes. This
is a wonderful and forceful argument about the
divinity of Jesus.)
H. Read John 9:34. What kind of argument is this?
(They are attacking the blind man, they are not
addressing his logical arguments.)
I. Read John 9:35-39. Is Jesus claiming to be the
Messiah?
III. Lazarus
A. Read John 11:1-3. What do you think Lazarus, Mary,
and Martha expected of Jesus? (Jesus was healing
others, certainly He would heal someone He loved.)
1. Why did the sisters write that Jesus “loved”
Lazarus? Did He need to be reminded? Were the
sisters uncertain whether Jesus would come and
this added a little prod?
B. Read John 11:4-6. Is this an emergency? (Jesus
says it will not end in death.)
1. Why does John write that Jesus loved Lazarus?
(Jesus’ actions suggest that He does not.
Jesus is delaying His aid.)
C. Read John 11:7-8. How would the disciples vote on
Jesus going to help Lazarus? (They vote, “no.”
Jesus’ life is at stake.)
D. Read John 11:9-10. Has anyone suggested that they
take this trip in the night? If not, what is Jesus
speaking about? (We all have a certain amount of
time given to us. Jesus still has a little bit
left to live on earth, and therefore He will
continue doing works of light. He will be safe.)
E. Read John 11:11-16. Are the disciples now
convinced it is a good idea to go to Lazarus? (It
is now completely ridiculous. Now everyone will
die.)
F. Let’s skip down to John 11:20-21. What does Martha
believe is the cause of Lazarus’ death? (Jesus not
coming when He was called.)
1. Why did only Martha meet Jesus? (The
implication is that Mary is angry with Jesus.)
G. Read John 11:22-27. What does Martha say is her
belief about Jesus? (He is the Messiah, the Son of
God. He has come down from heaven.)
1. Is it necessary to have Martha’s belief to
accept that Jesus would heal Lazarus? (We see
that John records this miracle to prove Jesus
is divine.)
H. Read John 11:32-35. Mary also blames Jesus for
Lazarus’ death. Why does Jesus weep when these
charges have been raised against Him? (The charges
are true. However, Jesus loves Martha, Mary, and
Lazarus. Jesus cries while knowing what He will
do.)
I. Read John 11:36-37. Is this exactly what Martha
and Mary are thinking?
J. Read John 11:38-40 and re-read John 11:4. How
important to the glory of God is the fact that
Lazarus’ body is decomposing?
K. Read John 11:41-44. How does Jesus bring Lazarus
to life? (By merely speaking. This is the same
power that spoke the Creation into existence.)
1. Let’s re-read John 11:24-25. What is the
difference between this and the resurrection
on the last day?
L. Read John 11:45-47. How would you answer the
question raised by the Jewish leaders?
M. Read John 11:53. Does their answer make any
logical sense?
N. Friend, the correct answer to the question is
“Believe Jesus has the power over death.” The same
One who created bread, gave sight to the blind,
and raised Lazarus to life can give you eternal
life so that you can live forever. Why not choose
to believe in Him right now?
IV. Next week: The Backstory: The Prologue.
Copr. 2024, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are
from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within
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