Justin Houtz

Exodus 24, John 6

DateVersionReading Plan
March 15, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Exodus 24

Observation

  • Exod. 24:1 – “worship from afar” – This “fits ancient customs that called for bowing in full-length prostration at various points when approaching a person to whom one showed great respect (Gn 33:3). While only Moses could approach closely, Aaron and the elders could come near enough to participate in the ways that Ex 24:9–11 describes.” (CSB Notes)
  • Exod. 24:14 – Moses build an altar and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. They “represented the people as silent witnesses to their participation and agreement, like the ones built by Jacob and Laban (Gn 31:44–53) and by Joshua (Jos 24:24–27).” (CSB Notes)
  • Exod. 24:7 – The people promised obedience, consenting to all that the LORD had spoken.
  • Exod. 24:9-10 – Moses Aaron and the elders met with God. “Ordinarily, to see God would be sufficient to kill a person, but it was not so here. They were not destroyed; they saw God, and they ate and drank. In other words, they saw God and lived to eat the peace offering.” (BBC)
  • Exod. 24:13 – Moses went up the mountain with Joshua while the others waited where they were
  • Exod. 24:16 – the glory of the LORD dwelt on the mountain six days and a cloud covered it. The LORD called to Moses on the seventh day
  • Exod. 24:17 – the appearance of the LORD’s glory was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain to the Israelites
  • TGCBC
    • Exod. 24:9-11 – The ratifying of the covenant came through the eating of a meal
    • Exod. 24:16 – It is unknown why the LORD waited seven days to call to Moses

Application

The LORD was faithful in confirming the covenant with His people. God is faithful even when we are not, providing the means by which we can live in obedience to Him. Knowing of our desperate position before our holy and righteous God, this should engender a deep sense of gratitude to be shown such undeserving favor.

John 6

Observation

  • John 6:10 – Describes that there was much grass where Jesus said to have the people sit down. “It was unusual to find such a place in that region, but the Lord took care that the crowd would eat in a clean, pleasant place.” (BBC)
  • John 6:12 – Jesus told His disciples to gather the leftover fragments so that nothing would be lost. “Any man who can feed five thousand does not worry about a few leftover crumbs! But Jesus is God, and with God there must be no wasting of His bounties. He does not want us to squander the precious things He has given to us, and so He takes care to instruct that the broken pieces which remained should be gathered up so that nothing might be lost.” (BBC)
  • John 6:20-21 – Jesus assuaged the fear of the disciples by telling them who He was and not to be afraid. They then gladly took Him into the boat
  • John 6:27 – Jesus told the crowd not to work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life. Satisfying the body is worthwhile, but not the most important thing. The saints should feed their souls daily with the Word of God
  • John 6:34 – In response to Jesus speaking of the bread that comes from heaven, the people asked Him to “give us this this bread always”. This is similar to the Samaritan woman of who asked Jesus to give her the water so that she will not be thirsty (John 4:15)
  • John 6:48-50 – Jesus contrasts the manna in the wilderness (which their fathers ate and still died) with the bread from heaven that, if one eats of it, they will not die
  • John 6:63 – The Spirit gives life, but the flesh is no help at all. “Flesh cannot give life; only the Spirit can do this. They had taken His words literally and had not realized that they were to be understood spiritually. And so here the Lord Jesus explained that the words that He spoke were spirit and they were life; when His sayings about eating His flesh and drinking His blood were understood in a spiritual way, as meaning belief in Him, then those who accepted the message would receive eternal life.” (BBC)
  • John 6:66 – Following Jesus’ words that no one can come to Him unless it is granted by the Father, many of disciples no longer walked with Him. “These disciples were never true believers. They followed the Lord for various reasons, but not out of genuine love for Him or appreciation of who He was.” (BBC)
  • John 6:68-69 – Contrasting the disciples who stopped following Jesus, Peter acknowledged that there is no one else to whom they can go because Jesus has the words of eternal life

Application

Jesus is the bread of life, the living water. Only in Him can one be fully satisfied. In our sinful rebellion, we try to satiate ourselves with the things of this world, continuously consuming but never reaching satisfaction. May we turn from such wickedness, seeking to instead feed and drink of the One in whom is eternal life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness and steadfast love. Thank You that You have sent Your Son in whom we find the complete satisfaction of our hearts’ greatest longing.

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