Four Feasts, Part 1: Sabbath & Passover
Jesus heals a lame man on the Sabbath, feeds the five thousand, walks on water, and declares, "I am the bread of life." Witnesses take the stand as Jesus' identity is put on trial.
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The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.
Classroom Instructions
Lesson
Four Feasts (John 5-10) 5:1, AD 28 [or 31], Feast (Passover or Tabernacles) 6:4, AD 29 [or 32], Passover 7:2, AD 29 [or 32], Tabernacles/Booths 10:22, AD 29 [or 32], Dedication (Hanukkah)
Healing of the Lame Man (John 5:1-18)
Jewish Festival (Jn 5:1) ● Passover? – This would make it one-year since the Passover when Jesus cleansed the temple and met with Nicodemus. ● Feast of Tabernacles? – This would make it about 18-months since the Passover meeting with Nicodemus (later in the fall).
Sabbath and the Jewish Identity ● Sabbath law (Ex 31:12-17; Jer 17:21-27) [Gathering manna (Ex 16:22), firewood (Num 15:32), farming (Ex 34), business (Neh 10:31; 13:15; Amos 8:5), carrying a load (Jer 17:19)]. ● Oral traditions (the Mishnah lists 39 activities in 24 chapters) were designed to clarify and codify Sabbath law. Explanations of what is meant by work, travel (approx. half-mile), and carrying loads. ● Jesus’ healings get back to the heart/meaning of the Sabbath and expose the hearts of the leaders who burden rather than bring rest.
Sabbath as Symbol ● Rest & Prioritization of God ● Rest from Exile ● New Creation Restoration
Pool of Bethesda/Bethsaida (“house of mercy” / “house of healing”) ● A pool at the Sheep Gate (mentioned in Nehemiah 3:1, 32; 12:39) located at a north entrance of the temple complex. Some scholars suggest that the pool was used for the washing of sheep before they were taken into the temple for sacrifice (i.e., service entrance). This makes it an interesting place for those who are suffering from various ailments to also gather.
● Five covered colonnades provided shelter and became a gathering place for the blind, lame, and paralyzed.
A Textual Variant—Notice that 5:4 is disputed and often footnoted in our modern translations: “…and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.” ● This variant does not have strong manuscript support but does give us information as to what is inferred in 5:7 when the lame man mentions that he needs help getting into the pool “when the water is stirred.” It likely represents a historically accurate belief about the pool. Tertullian (c. 145-220 AD) was familiar with this belief and the pool of Bethesda.
Jesus asks questions that go deeper ● 1:38 “What are you seeking?” ● 3:10 “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?” ● 5:6 “Do you want to get well?”
Pick up your mat and walk… (Jn 5:8) ● Would have been cruel unless Jesus had the ability to fulfill it. ● A portable straw mat (or similar) used by the poor and homeless. ● The focus of the miracle is on BOTH the man and the moment.
Jesus’ claim to be equal with God (continues into the next section): ● Working on the Sabbath (5:18) ● Giver of life (5:21) ● Receives honor (5:23) ● Judges (5:22-30)
Witnesses to Jesus’ Identity (John 5:19-47)
Connecting the sections:
- Healing a lame man = picture of resurrection
- Jesus’ identity on trial
Legal testimony in Jesus’ court case ● Self-testimony (5:31) ● John the Baptist (5:32-35) ● Works/Signs (5:36) ● The Father (5:32; 37-38) ● Scriptures (5:39) ● Moses (5:45-57) [your accuser]
Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15)
Passover significance
Leftovers ● 12 baskets—each disciple held a leftover basket when the crowd was satisfied. ● A messianic picture of abundance
The reaction ● They wanted to make him King by force (6:15)
Walking on Water (John 6:16-21)
Jesus walking on water = 5th sign ● 4th Watch (3-6 AM) — “a ghost!” Their superstitions of the sea and experiences with the demon-possessed would make this highly plausible. ● He looks like God − Hover over (Gen 1:2) / pass by (Ex 33-34) − Power over the sea / crossing the sea (Ex 14; Ps 69; Rev 4 & 21-22) − “I am” (Ex 3:14)
The Bread of Life (John 6:22-71)
Seven “I am” statements ● Bread of Life, 6:35 ● Light of the World, 8:12 ● The Gate, 10:7 ● The Good Shepherd, 10:11 ● The Resurrection and The Life, 11:25 ● The Way, the Truth, and the Life, 14:6 ● The Vine, 15:5
John 6:66–69 — From this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Reflection Questions:
- What is the “bread” in your life? Is God the life you are seeking, even when He doesn’t provide what you want when you want it?
Four Feasts, Part 1: Sabbath & Passover Instructions
Lesson
Four Feasts (John 5-10) 5:1, AD 28 [or 31], Feast (Passover or Tabernacles) 6:4, AD 29 [or 32], Passover 7:2, AD 29 [or 32], Tabernacles/Booths 10:22, AD 29 [or 32], Dedication (Hanukkah)
Healing of the Lame Man (John 5:1-18)
Jewish Festival (Jn 5:1) ● Passover? – This would make it one-year since the Passover when Jesus cleansed the temple and met with Nicodemus. ● Feast of Tabernacles? – This would make it about 18-months since the Passover meeting with Nicodemus (later in the fall).
Sabbath and the Jewish Identity ● Sabbath law (Ex 31:12-17; Jer 17:21-27) [Gathering manna (Ex 16:22), firewood (Num 15:32), farming (Ex 34), business (Neh 10:31; 13:15; Amos 8:5), carrying a load (Jer 17:19)]. ● Oral traditions (the Mishnah lists 39 activities in 24 chapters) were designed to clarify and codify Sabbath law. Explanations of what is meant by work, travel (approx. half-mile), and carrying loads. ● Jesus’ healings get back to the heart/meaning of the Sabbath and expose the hearts of the leaders who burden rather than bring rest.
Sabbath as Symbol ● Rest & Prioritization of God ● Rest from Exile ● New Creation Restoration
Pool of Bethesda/Bethsaida (“house of mercy” / “house of healing”) ● A pool at the Sheep Gate (mentioned in Nehemiah 3:1, 32; 12:39) located at a north entrance of the temple complex. Some scholars suggest that the pool was used for the washing of sheep before they were taken into the temple for sacrifice (i.e., service entrance). This makes it an interesting place for those who are suffering from various ailments to also gather.
● Five covered colonnades provided shelter and became a gathering place for the blind, lame, and paralyzed.
A Textual Variant—Notice that 5:4 is disputed and often footnoted in our modern translations: “…and they waited for the moving of the waters. From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.” ● This variant does not have strong manuscript support but does give us information as to what is inferred in 5:7 when the lame man mentions that he needs help getting into the pool “when the water is stirred.” It likely represents a historically accurate belief about the pool. Tertullian (c. 145-220 AD) was familiar with this belief and the pool of Bethesda.
Jesus asks questions that go deeper ● 1:38 “What are you seeking?” ● 3:10 “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things?” ● 5:6 “Do you want to get well?”
Pick up your mat and walk… (Jn 5:8) ● Would have been cruel unless Jesus had the ability to fulfill it. ● A portable straw mat (or similar) used by the poor and homeless. ● The focus of the miracle is on BOTH the man and the moment.
Jesus’ claim to be equal with God (continues into the next section): ● Working on the Sabbath (5:18) ● Giver of life (5:21) ● Receives honor (5:23) ● Judges (5:22-30)
Witnesses to Jesus’ Identity (John 5:19-47)
Connecting the sections:
- Healing a lame man = picture of resurrection
- Jesus’ identity on trial
Legal testimony in Jesus’ court case ● Self-testimony (5:31) ● John the Baptist (5:32-35) ● Works/Signs (5:36) ● The Father (5:32; 37-38) ● Scriptures (5:39) ● Moses (5:45-57) [your accuser]
Feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-15)
Passover significance
Leftovers ● 12 baskets—each disciple held a leftover basket when the crowd was satisfied. ● A messianic picture of abundance
The reaction ● They wanted to make him King by force (6:15)
Walking on Water (John 6:16-21)
Jesus walking on water = 5th sign ● 4th Watch (3-6 AM) — “a ghost!” Their superstitions of the sea and experiences with the demon-possessed would make this highly plausible. ● He looks like God − Hover over (Gen 1:2) / pass by (Ex 33-34) − Power over the sea / crossing the sea (Ex 14; Ps 69; Rev 4 & 21-22) − “I am” (Ex 3:14)
The Bread of Life (John 6:22-71)
Seven “I am” statements ● Bread of Life, 6:35 ● Light of the World, 8:12 ● The Gate, 10:7 ● The Good Shepherd, 10:11 ● The Resurrection and The Life, 11:25 ● The Way, the Truth, and the Life, 14:6 ● The Vine, 15:5
John 6:66–69 — From this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Reflection Questions:
- What is the “bread” in your life? Is God the life you are seeking, even when He doesn’t provide what you want when you want it?