reading for: Tuesday Night, 23 Jul

John 6:1-21

• READ

  Scripture Reading: John 6:1-21

  1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

  Commentary

  Last week for the gospel reading, we looked at Mark’s telling of the story of the feeding of the 5000. Today we look at the same story according to John. Before we begin to discuss the story, let us take a step out to see the big picture. The story of the feeding of 5000 is situated at the start of John 6, following this is story of Jesus walking on water which we will also look at today. After that, Jesus gets into a conversation with the crowd on the true bread and true drink which we will slowly look at in the weeks that follow.

  John 6 begins with the story of the feeding of 5000. The Passover was at hand and Jesus was near the Sea of Galilee to celebrate the Passover. Passover was a major Jewish festival to celebrate God’s deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Egyptians. It was a festival that all the families of Israel will slaughter a lamb, smear the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their house, eat unleavened bread and the lamb together as a family to commemorate what God did for his people when the angel of death killed all the first born of Egypt but did not kill any of the Israelite firstborn. The result of this killing is that Pharoh let Moses bring the Israelites out of Egypt.

  Jesus went up on the mountain with his disciples and he saw a large crowd was coming to him. Presumably they wanted to hear him teach and heal the sick. Jesus saw them and tested Philip asking Philip where to go and buy bread for the crowd. We don’t know why Philip is the one singled out, but Philip did not believe in the power of God for he said that a large sum of money was needed to buy bread for the crowd even if the people were to eat a little.

  Andrew came into the conversation to point out that a little boy has five barley loaves and two fishes but this is no use for this crowd. It is like a drop in the ocean. Jesus then took action and asked his disciples to have the people sit down. Jesus took the barley loaves and distributed it to the people, and he did so similarly for the fish. The people had as much food as they wanted and after they all were full, there were twelve baskets full of barley loaves. The people exclaimed that the one that did this is the “Prophet”. Jesus knew what that title meant and how the people were about to come and make him king by force, so he withdrew again to the mountain.

  The disciples got into the boat and started to cross the sea to Capernaum. Soon, it was dark, and Jesus had not come to them. The sea was rough, and a strong wind was blowing. Suddenly, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming to them and they were terrified. Jesus reassured them and told them to not be afraid and they were glad to take Jesus into the boat and the boat was at the land in their destination.

  In today’s retelling of the story by John, we see that Jeus had compassion on his people. We also see the importance of faith in Jesus. Philip did not believe Jesus could provide for his people and so thought in the natural, but Jesus is the one who is ruling and can provide food for his people. He is the one that can walk on water and calm the storm.

• REFLECT

John brings out a picture of Jesus that is in control. The crowds had no food, so Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish from the small portions that were available to him. Jesus knew that the storm was brewing, yet he was not afraid and came to his disciples walking on water. Jesus in the gospel is presented as one who knows what he is doing and achieves what he is doing.

Do we see God as in control of our lives? Perhaps we are facing some situations in our life that we find difficult, and we can’t get out of. May we recognise that God is in charge and he will work to bring about his purposes in that situation. May we learn to pray and put our trust in God.

Share 1 or 2 successes or failures this week in your LG and pray for each other. Give God praise for the successes that He has led us through this week and pray for the failures that God will bring about restoration for our mistakes and failures and that God would lead us into the next week with guidance and clarity so that we can glorify God in the weak ahead.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 24 Jul

2 Samuel 11:1-15

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  Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-15

1In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.”

6 So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab was doing and how the people were doing and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” And Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. 10 When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” 11 Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” 12 Then David said to Uriah, “Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk. And in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.

14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.”

Commentary
2 Samuel 11:1-15 tells a sad story in King David’s life. When kings usually went to war, David stayed in Jerusalem. This lazy choice led to his serious sin. He saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, bathing and was filled with desire. David’s actions—committing adultery with Bathsheba and planning Uriah's death—show a terrible misuse of his royal power.

God’s direct action isn’t seen in this passage, but His control over everything is still there. Despite David’s big mistakes, God’s plans for Israel continue. This passage prepares us for God’s judgment and later restoration, reminding us that God’s plans are not stopped by human failures.

David’s story clearly shows human weakness and sin. His choice to stay back (v. 1), his lustful look (v. 2), asking about Bathsheba and bringing her to him (v. 3-4), and then trying to cover it up (v. 6-15) are steps down a path of growing sin. This passage shows that even someone close to God (1 Samuel 13:14) can fall into serious sin.

Though not seen right away, God’s love and mercy appear in later chapters. David’s serious sins need God’s correction, but we later see God’s grace through Nathan’s confrontation (2 Samuel 12) and David’s repentance (Psalm 51). God’s love shines through His willingness to forgive and restore.

God’s judgment is certain because of David’s actions. Uriah’s death (v. 15) shows the harmful results of unchecked sin. However, this story ultimately points to redemption. David's family line leads to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, through whom ultimate redemption and hope are fulfilled.

• REFLECT

  1.      In what areas of your life are you allowing small compromises to lead you away from God’s will? How can you realign yourself with His purposes today?

  2.      How does our understanding of God’s mercy and judgment shape our response to personal and communal sin within the church? How can we support each other in accountability and restoration?

reading for: THURSDAY Night, 25 Jul

Ephesians 3:14-21

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  Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

  3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

  3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.

  3:16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit

  3:17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.

  3:18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth

  3:19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

  3:20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,

  3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

  Commentary

• REFLECT

reading for: FRIDAY Night, 26 jul

Psalm 14

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  Scripture Reading: Psalm 14

  The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord will protect his people.

  Psalms 14:6

  Commentary

  What does it mean that we are God’s children? His sons and daughters?

  Psalm 14 distinguishes very clearly between those who belong to God and those who don't.

  Fools are those who don't acknowledge and recognise that God is alive and at work in our world and lives. For they are corrupt, their actions are evil and they do nothing good.

  The sad reality is that all of us have fallen short of the glory of God, all of us have this tendency to deny God because sin entered into every human through Adam (original sin).

  Left to our ownselves, we will only keep doing evil. Persecuting and rejecting God’s children.

  Yet we do this because deep down we are full of terror and fear. We fear being alone, we fear we are unloved. Out of fear we inflict evil on others in hopes of delivering ourselves out of fear.

  In contrast, God’s children are protected. For wickedness and evil might surround God’s children, but they will never be overwhelmed or consumed.

  The wicked might try but God will always protect His children. And they will always abound in joy and peace.

• REFLECT

  Are you feeling overwhelmed by evil and wickedness around you? Are you feeling down and discouraged?

• PRAYER

  Father in Heaven on this day I remember and lay claim my inheritance as your child once again. As your child I am protected. As your child I can love in joy and peace. Teach me and enable me to overcome evil with good by the power of your Spirit. Amen.