The Gospel of John | Week 05 – ENTERING INTO CONFLICT
Week’s Passage: John 5 and 6
- inTro
- Growing Opposition
Chapters 5–12 of John’s Gospel mark a new phase in Jesus’ ministry, where He increasingly encounters opposition from religious leaders. In this section, Jesus’ mission to reveal the Father (John 1:18) becomes clearer, drawing followers and critics. Key miracles, including healing a paralytic, feeding a multitude, calming a storm, and walking on water (John 5–6), highlight His divine authority and intensify conflict with those resistant to His message. As Jesus reveals more of the Father’s character, the opposition grows. This part of John’s Gospel explores how Jesus’ miraculous acts and teachings provoke varied reactions, challenging us to reflect on our response to understanding God.
- inGest
- By the Pool
In Jerusalem, Jesus healed a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years at the pool of Bethesda. This compassionate act, performed on the Sabbath, led to conflict with religious leaders who focused on Sabbath law over the miracle. Jesus defended His authority, asserting His divine roles of giving life and judging. He gives four witnesses that is John the Baptist, His works, the Father, and Scripture to validate His claims. He confronted the leaders’ disbelief, pointing out that even Moses, whom they revered, testified about Him, revealing their spiritual blindness.
- inTerpret
- Conflict in Galilee
After returning to Galilee, Jesus drew large crowds with His healings and miraculously fed over five thousand, echoing the manna in the wilderness. The crowd sought to make Him king, misunderstanding His spiritual mission. After retreating, He walked on water and later identified Himself as the “bread of life.” This claim led to conflict, causing many to abandon Him, leaving only a few disciples despite His life-giving message.
- inVite
- Responding to Jesus
In John 5 and 6, reactions to Jesus’ miracles differ significantly. His healing in Jerusalem provoked hostility from Jewish leaders, who chose anger over awe, while in Galilee, the crowd demanded more signs instead of accepting the gift of eternal life through faith. This echoes Israel’s distrust during the Exodus.
John also refers to “the Jews,” sometimes indicating Jewish authorities or those resisting Jesus. While many believed in Him, the use of this term highlights their ambiguity and failure to recognize Christ, despite their knowledge of Scripture and prophecy.
“Jews” also refers to us who are in the know of the gospel but usually do the contrary.
- inSight
- The Savior’s Ministry
Ellen G. White’s The Desire of Ages describes Jesus’ ministry as one of healing and compassion. He performs miracles without demanding faith, emphasizing that belief in Him brings strength. Jesus portrays God as a loving father, countering oppressive traditions and revealing divine love.
Despite interruptions, He compassionately ministers to the needy, teaching that spiritual life comes from His sacrifice. After failing to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, Satan attempts to undermine His mission by influencing religious leaders to oppose Him.
InQuire
QN: When you’re interrupted in the middle of an enjoyable experience, how do you react? How does this compare to how Jesus responded to the pressure of the crowd? (John 6:5.)
Take a moment to enter a prayerful state of mind. Meditate on John 6:59–66. Think carefully about what it means to be offended by God’s Word. Share your insights.
