WORD: OC's 60-Day New Testament PlanSample

Don’t Put Your Faith in Anything Except Jesus, The Christ These five chapters continue John’s demonstration of the divinity of Jesus. Chapter 6 begins with two miracles of Jesus’ creative power and control over nature. He first takes five barley loaves and two fish and uses them to feed 5000 men. Then, he astonishes his disciples by walking on the water of the Sea of Galilee. Back in Capernaum, he stuns the crowds by making the first of several “I am” statements in these chapters, claiming “I am the bread of life” in 6:35. Not only that, but he then asserts, “I am the bread that came down from heaven” (6:41). When Jesus insists that his audience must eat his flesh and drink his blood (v. 53), many disciples could not accept such an outlandish statement and stopped following him. Jesus asked the Twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Doubtless the Twelve did not completely understand Jesus’ words either, but Peter gives the great answer of faith: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (6:68-69). We, too, face situations in life with imperfect understanding—death of a loved one, heart disease, cancer, failed relationships, and many others. Some turn away from the Lord in these situations, but we should instead cling to the one who gives eternal life. Written By John Maple History Professor, Oklahoma Christian University