INTRODUCTION
• When you look back on your life, how many opportunities have you missed because you felt like you were not up to the task or did not have the resources to take advantage of the opportunity?
• Maybe you missed your chance because you were afraid?
• Basketball great Michael Jordan said the following
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."- Michael Jordan 1997 Nike Commercial.
• Given all that failure, do you know who wanted the ball when the game was on the line? Michael!
• The reason I bring this thought to your attention is because it is easy to let past failures, feeling of inadequacy, or a lack of resources or confidence keeps us from wanting to participate in working with God to reach people.
• Today, we will dive into a miracle that Jesus performed that most of us are familiar with, or somewhere along the line, we have heard of the miracle.
• Our text today covers Jesus feeding the 5,000.
• That 5,000 only included the men on the scene.
• With children and women, that number could have been triple that number.
• We will look at the well-known miracle from a different view than we may usually take.
• By the way, this is the only miracle Jesus performed that is in all four Gospels.
• Often, when we read the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish, we focus on the fact that Jesus used a small boy's generosity as the starting point of a miracle.
• This is true, of course.
• However, Andrew's participation in the miracle is often overlooked.
• After a short conversation with Philip that only focused on the lack of resources, Jesus's attention was turned toward Andrew when he pointed out the boy's supply.
• Andrew and the boy were invited to participate in Jesus's miracle of feeding thousands of people.
• What an honor to be included in a miracle!
• The miracle of feeding the multitudes is an example of how God's actions affect so many people.
• In this case, the disciples and the young boy had an up-close view of Jesus's work, while the people who were fed benefited from the miracle.
• Jesus provided abundantly for all in attendance.
• In addition, in miracles we observe Jesus perform, are we aware of the ripple effects?
• When one person says yes to Jesus's offerings, unknown numbers of others are affected.
• This thought shows us that we all need to get on the field and get in the game.
• When I was an athlete, I did not go out to sit on the bench for the team.
• I did not want to watch the game from the sidelines; I wanted to be on the field.
• For Christians, none of us were called to sit on the sidelines!
• God needs you, and others need you!
Big Idea of the Message: Miracles of God, such as feeding the five thousand, provide opportunities to be part of God's work.
• Maybe you are bored with your faith because you have chosen not to be on the field.
• Today, as we examine the feeding of the 5,000, I pray we will be encouraged to get on the field with Jesus!
John 6:1–7 (NET 2nd ed.)
1 After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias).
2 A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick.
3 So Jesus went on up the mountainside and sat down there with his disciples.
4 (Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near.)
5 Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?”
6 (Now Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.)
7 Philip replied, “200 silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.”
SERMON
I. The problem before the disciples.
• Jesus had a large crowd following Him because the crowd was seeing Jesus perform miracles and heal people.
• For information purposes, John 6 takes place about a year after the events of John 5.
• It is from Matthew 5-8, Mark 2:23-6:29, and Luke 6:1-9:9 that we learn what happened during that year of Jesus' earthly ministry.
• When we examine the account in Luke in Luke 9:11 that when Jesus was withdrawing to Bethsaida, the crowds saw Him and followed.
• In Mark's account in Mark 6:33-ff we find that the crowds ran to where Jesus was on foot from all the cities.
• All the cities would include all the cities and villages to which Jesus and the twelve ministered during their third tour of Galilee.
• Once Jesus landed, Jesus probably healed more people, but the crowd was there to see more healings and miracles.
• This event occurred right before the third Passover celebration during Jesus' earthly ministry, around April 29 AD, marking the beginning of the third and final year of Jesus' ministry.
• Jesus was used to large crowds following Him, but on this occasion, Jesus looked up to and asked Philip where they could buy some bread to feed the masses.
• Philip's answer proved the point because, rather than focusing on Jesus, Philip's mental computer began to work like a cash register, and all he could think about was the total cash needed to provide just a little bread for each person.
• It was fast approaching the better part of a year's wages (6:7).
• To be fair to Philip, Jesus' question was a leading one, and Philip's mind followed the easy path.
• But the answer was not what Jesus was seeking.
• For Philip, however, the answer was hopelessness.
• What mistake did Philip make when Jesus asked the question?
• Logic would tell you that if you feed people, you need resources to do so.
• To solve the dilemma, Philip leans on the resources available to him.
• Think about this for a minute.
• This problem could only be solved for Philip by leaning on what money he had available.
• When you face a problem, where do you turn?
• Now, sitting next to Philip was the man who turned water into wine and performed a great number of miracles and healings, yet all Philip could do was count the money they had at their disposal?
• That thinking is short-sighted!
• I am sure Philip when he took stock of what he and available to him, saw this as a lost cause.
• When you feel something is a lost cause, do you want to get on the field to take it on?
• When Philip counts the money and runs the math in his head as he scans the crowd, he determines they do not have enough to feed everyone, even a little!
• When we face problems and are only willing to rely on our own resources, we fail!
• Jesus knew what He was going to do, but He wanted Philip to have the faith to say that they did not have enough but could rely on Jesus!
• Let's look at verses 8-10
John 6:8–10 (NET 2nd ed.)
8 One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,
9 “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” (Now, there was a lot of grass in that place.) So the men sat down, about 5,000 in number.
II. The opportunity that presented itself.
• When we face life problems, we can see the situation as an obstacle or an opportunity!
• In Matthew's account, in Matthew 14:15Look at how the disciples saw the problem.
Matthew 14:15 (NET 2nd ed.)
15 When evening arrived, his disciples came to him saying, “This is an isolated place, and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
• Wow, that is logical, but not a response filled with faith!
• Clearly, Jesus saw the situation not as a problem but as an opportunity to glorify the Father!
• As the discussion between Philip and Jesus occurs, one of the other disciples, Andrew, speaks to Jesus.
• Jesus, here is a boy who brought his lunch, five barley loaves and two fish!
• For information purposes, so you can see how meager the meal the boy had, barley loaves were the bread of the poor versus bread made with wheat, which was much more appealing.
• The loaves were about the size of a hamburger bun of today.
• When Andrew points out the little boy's lunch, Andrew asks what good is this little bit for so many people.
• Jesus is unfazed.
• Without Jesus, what did the disciples have to offer?
• They had 200 silver coins worth of bread, five loaves of black bread, and two small fish.
• What do you have to offer without Jesus?
• Not much more.
• Logic says send the people away; we cannot care for them.
• Jesus said to have the people sit down!
• Did it not occur to the disciples who they were with?
• I mean, Jesus is with them; what are they worried about?
• Those faithless silly men!
• Wait!
• Who is with us now?
• Jesus!
• Why do we always want to throw in the towel when things get tough?
• It is easy to pick on the disciples, not thinking about who they are with.
• Guess who is with you?
• Jesus!
• Jesus was unfazed by the meager offering He had to work with.
• If Jesus is not sweating it, neither should we.
• EASY TO SAY, RIGHT!
• Let's see what Jesus does and what we can learn.
• Let's look at verses 11-14.
John 6:11–14 (NET 2nd ed.)
11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted.
12 When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.”
13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.
14 Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
III. The lessons gleaned from the experience.
• Look at what Jesus did!
• Jesus took the small amount of food; He gave thanks, then He distributed the bread and fish to all seated; they all ate as much as they wanted, AND there was enough of the bread left over to fill twelve baskets full of the bread!
• This was a miracle that had such an impact that all of the Gospel writers included the event in their narratives!
• What are some lessons we can glean from this event?
• In no particular order, here we go!
• First, don't give up, don't quit, and do not leave the field no matter what the problem is before you!
• Next, do not think you have nothing to offer God!
• Failure happens when you don't get on the field because you think you have little to nothing to offer or think what you have is inferior to what others have to offer!
• The boy had the cheapest bread to offer, yet all were satisfied by the bread!
• We also see that Jesus can take your offering, no matter how small, and He can multiply it to the point of abundance!
• Failure happens when God takes our offering, and we take the credit for its multiplication!
• The little boy could have bragged to all that he fed the folks with his bread!
• We have to remember that God did it; we did not!
• No matter how talented you are, stay humble because your talent comes from God!
• Next, we see that we are not to be selfish!
• The little boy brought his lunch; he was prepared, he could have refused to share, but because he opened his hand to Jesus, many were blessed abundantly!
• We also see God is to get the glory for all that happens!
• Failure happens when we take the glory that belongs to Him!
• Anything that happens that is good in my messages or ministry is from God, not me.
• No matter how talented you are, stay humble because your talent comes from God!
• Failure happens when we forget why we are on the field!
• We are on the field to bring glory to the Lord!
CONCLUSION
• Get off the bench and get on the field!
• Jesus needs you!
• Do not ever think that because you feel you have little to offer, you cannot participate!
• Remember that Jesus can and will take a little and make it a lot!
• Don't make excuses and miss opportunities to be on the field with Jesus!
› Application Point: We should remain watchful for opportunities to be used by God in a miraculous moment.
