Feeding Faith for The Impossible

Feeding Faith for The Impossible

John 6:1-14 

 

Illus. Impossible.

 

John chapter 6 begins with one of Jesus’ most famous miracles, known as the feeding of the 5,000. Aside from the resurrection, it is the only miracle during Jesus’ earthly ministry that is recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:12-17, and John 6:1-14). While the main account we will consider this morning is from John chapter 6, we will also pull from some of the other places it is recorded in the gospels as they are helpful in gathering additional insights into the circumstances and situation.  

Many know the story; Jesus fed a large crowd with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Large crowds had begun to follow after Jesus. They were seeing the miracles He performed and wanted to see and experience more. Though many were seeking after Him because of the signs, what we find repeatedly is Jesus directing the people toward the importance of faith and belief, not simply in His name, but belief in faith that He is the only one who could save and offer life eternally.

Much of the accounts so far have centered on the people who did not believe in Him. They had heard about Him, they responded to His growing popularity, but had not yet put their faith and trust in Him personally. Jesus had performed several miracles up to this point. He had turned water into wine, He had healed an official’s son who was at the point of death, and in chapter 5, He had healed a man who was ill for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda. The people were seeing all these miracles and signs, just a few among many that were not recorded (John 20:30-31), and after what the people were seeing, they began following after Jesus. Their reasoning was simply because of the signs they were seeing (verse 2), though what we know biblically is that they all don’t end up truly believing.

Belief has been a theme throughout our study. The verb “to believe” is found 98 times in the book of John. This is compared to 11 times in Matthew, 12 times in Mark, and 11 times in Luke. John uses that verb 3 times as many times as all of them combined. It is a central theme to the book and one that we have seen as a central theme to Jesus’ ministry in the book of John so far!

Much of our study surrounding the term “belief” has been centered on unbelievers…To go from unbelief to belief. To go from no faith in Jesus, to faith in Him for salvation…But what happens then? What is it that believers need to believe? When a person puts their faith and trust in Jesus for salvation, how is that faith and trust developed in them?

This morning, through this famous and well-known text, we are going to see Jesus turn to His disciples who were following Him for the right reasons, and build up their belief in Him by feeding their faith for the impossible. The task Jesus turns their attention to, giving this crowd something to eat, seemed impossible, but Jesus will build up their belief by giving a living example of just how possible all things are, for those who believe (Mark 9:23).

           

Read: John 6:1-14

 

As we consider the fact that Jesus was not only feeding a crowd, but was feeding faith for the impossible, I want to draw your attention this morning to the Jesus factor in every test, the full acceptance of your place in His plans, and filling up on whatever comes from His hands.

 

1. Factor Jesus into Every Test

 

• From verses 1 to 4 we know that Jesus had gone to the other side of the sea of Galilee.

 

• Verse 1 begins with “after these things” which is a reference to the things that took place in chapter 5.

 

• In terms of a timeline, verse 4 tells us that the Passover feast was near, and in the beginning of chapter 5 we know that Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate a feast. We weren’t told which feast, however, if Jesus had been there celebrating the Passover in chapter 5, this would have been a year later, if another feast, like the feast of tabernacles, this would have been 6 months later.

 

• In the book of Matthew, this story immediately follows the death of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12). We are told there that it was when Jesus heard the news that He had withdrawn by boat to a secluded place.

 

• In Luke 9 verse 10, we read that Jesus and His disciples withdrew together to a city called Bethsaida.

 

Luke 9:10(b)-11, And taking them with Him, He withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and He welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and curing those who had need of healing.

 

Matthew 14:14, When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

 

• Jesus “felt compassion” for them; other translations say “moved with compassion,” which is a picture of a person who is stirred with love and sympathy to their deepest depth.

 

• Putting together the Gospel accounts, it seems to me that as Jesus went out on the Sea of Galilee, those on the shore could see His boat ever so slightly enough, that they were able to track where He was headed.

 

• From the book of John, we understand that upon seeing the crowd coming, He asked Phillip a question.

 

John 6:5-6, So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?” But He was saying this only to test him, for He Himself knew what He intended to do.

 

• Seeing the crowd, Jesus turns to Phillip with a question. Hey Phillip, “where could be buy bread so that all these people could eat?”

 

The fact that Jesus asks this question, and the person He poses the question to is worth our consideration.

 

1. Jesus asked Phillip the question…

 

John 1:44, Philip was from Bethsaida…

 

2. Jesus and the disciples had taken a boat over to Phillips hometown. He was the “local expert” amongst the group.

 

3. The other important aspect of the question worth considering is that Jesus asked this question before the crowd arrived.

 

• There was a problem, the large crowd was following them and coming their direction, we know that Jesus will get to shore and in His compassion will begin teaching and healing many.

 

• We know that it was near evening from Matthew 14 and will get past the hour to eat…therefore in posing the question, Jesus was presenting a problem, but the question was only to test Phillip because Jesus already had a plan in mind.

 

• Jesus was testing Phillip’s faith, it was all a part of feeding his faith, but Jesus here tests Phillip.

 

• The problem is presented, Jesus already has a plan in place, He already has the miracle in mind, but He presents the problem to Phillip, “Hey Phillip, we have a problem…Where can we go for a solution?”

 

• Jesus has the miracle in mind, He will feed the crowd, but He also wants to use the opportunity to feed the faith of His disciples.

 

John 6:7, Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!”

 

• Phillip answers the question by immediately beginning to consider the calculations.

 

• Jesus didn’t ask him how much money it would cost to feed the crowd. He ask him where could they go to buy the bread.

 

• His response to where they could go was, “we don’t have the money!”

 

• 200 denarii in today’s money, would be around $15,000 dollars or more.

 

• Jesus asked the question, and Phillip went a different direction. Phillip was focused on his inadequacy, rather than God’s ability.

 

• There were 5,000 men there. From Matthew 14:21, we know that there were also women and children there. Commentators suggest the crowd could have been 15,000 or more.

 

• Phillip sees the crowd, and begins calculating… This much bread divided by this many people costs this much money. How much would it cost for just a like snack to tide them over.

 

• Phillip was factoring in all the equations in front of him, but he was failing to factor in the One who was in front of him.

 

• Phillip had seen Jesus turn water into wine, he had seen Jesus heal the official’s son, he had seen Jesus heal the man who was ill for 38 years, unable to walk. Phillip had seen those things, and from the other gospels, many more things up to that point, but still, when a problem was presented, he is not see factoring in the one who was in front of Him.

 

James 1:2-4, Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

 

Illus. Looking for an answer.

 

• From verse 6 we know that Jesus had a plan, something He intended to do and as the story continues, we are introduced to two more people He was going to use.

 

John 6:8-9, One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?”

 

1. Fully Accept Your Place in His Plans

 

• In verses 8 to 9 we are told that Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother was a part of the plan, and also a boy who had brought five barley loaved and two fish with him that day.

 

• Andrew was one of the 12 disciples, but he is not one who is often mentioned. So far, we learned about his turning to Jesus in John 1 after being a disciple of John the Baptist, and both times he has been referred to, he has been called “Simon Peter’s brother.”

 

John 1:40-41, One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).

 

• Notice, he is mentioned as the one who found and followed Jesus first. He is the one who introduced Simon Peter to Jesus, yet, he is forever known as Simon Peter’s brother.

 

• His brother, Simon Peter would get the attention…He would be in Jesus’ inner circle, he was a very prominent figure in Jesus’ earthly ministry, we see him preaching in Acts, writing books in the New Testament…Andrew on the other hand, was largely in the background.

 

• Andrew, however, accepted his place in God’s plans and is consistently seen bringing others to Jesus in the. First he brough his brother, here in John 6, he brings the boy with five loaves and two fish, and John 12 He will be told about a group of people desiring to see Jesus and He will their request to Jesus.

 

• There is not a great deal of detail surrounding what Andrew did, but one thing that is consistently seen is that Andrew consistently brought people to Jesus.

 

Illus. Your place.

 

• Andrew is a connector, and here he connects this young boy to Jesus.

 

• We don’t know the boys name, or much about him. In fact, out of the all the Gospels, John’s gospel is the only one that mentions that is was a boy, other translations call him a “lad” who offered what he had to Jesus.

 

• The loaves he was carrying were likely around the size of a small pancake, a small pita type bread. Five pieces of bread, and two fish.

 

• Barley loaves were considered food for the poor, as that type of grain and bread was less expensive than wheat bread.

 

• The fish were likely small pickled or salted fish, likened to sardines. This would be eaten as a side dish or put on the bread for flavor.

 

•  Surely, this young boy, when he brough his lunch along that morning, would have ever imagined that his lunch would be used to feed thousands.

 

• Imagine when Andrew approached him, “Hey, all we have here in this crowd is five loaves and two fish…”

 

• After Andrew discovered the five loaves and two fish, he said, “but what are these among so many?” But Jesus had a different response…

 

Matthew 14:18, He said, “Bring them here to Me.”

 

• The boy gives up his lunch. He could have had many different responses… “mine!” he could have replied. But he didn’t, what is implied is that he willingly offered his lunch.

 

Corinthians 8:9, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

 

Illus. Available anytime?

 

• Jesus already had in mind what He was going to do. There would be enough for the crowd, and enough for the kid. But the boy had to let go and let God.

 

• He played a role in Jesus’ plan. Jesus, God incarnate, could have had bread come down from Heaven, but he didn’t, He decided to involve Phillip, and Andrew, and the young boy, so too, he involves me and you.

 

Illus. Broken down.

 

John 6:10, Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat.” Now there was plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.

 

 

III.  Fill Up on Whatever Comes from His Hands

 

John 6:11-13, Jesus then took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

 

• Jesus took the little that was given to Him, and made much of it.

 

• The boys lunch was placed into His Jesus’ hands. He gave thanks for the little lunch, and in His hands, that small lunch became great.

 

• I love the way both the book of Mark and the book of Luke describe the distribution.

 

Mark 6:41-42, And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He gave them to the disciples again and again to set before them; and He divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied.

 

• Jesus gave thanks for the food, distributed it to the disciples, and the disciples would pass out what they could carry to the people, then head back to Jesus for more, and then back to the people.

 

• Notice the difference between Phillips calculations, and Jesus’ provision. In verse 7 when Jesus asked Phillip where they could go to get enough bread to feed the crowd, Phillip gave a calculation according to the minimum.

 

John 6:7, Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!”

 

• 200 denarii for just a little! Calculations for the minimum, but Jesus provided the maximum!

 

Ephesians 3:20, Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

• Jesus had a plan in mind and provisions in place, not only for the boy who offered up his lunch, but for the disciples as well.

 

• 12 baskets full. Jesus had the disciples go and fill up these baskets and they are now provision for them.

 

Illus. All things are possible…Help my unbelief!

 

 

John 6:1-14

1After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2A large crowd was following Him, because they were watching the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3But Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?” 6But He was saying this only to test him, for He Himself knew what He intended to do. 7Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!” 8One 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 these for so many people?” 10Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat.” Now there was plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. 11Jesus then took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12And when they had eaten their fill, He *said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”