Sunday Morning - May 2, 1996
Text: John 6:5-14
John 6:9-10 "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10. And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand."
This feeding of the 5000 is found in all of the gospels.
Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; and Luke 9:10-17.
Setting is near Bethsaida and according to Josephus a northern city of "Bethsaida Julias" where the Jordan empties into the Sea of Galilee; in the "Desert place" Luke 9:10; and the "much green grass" in Mark 6.39; and John 6.10.
The time is in the spring of the year when grace would be green and fresh. John 6:4 "The passover... was nigh."
The apostles had been working
Mark 6:30 "And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught."
a time for rest
Mark 6:31-32 "And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Mark 6:33 "And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him."
They could not see enough of his works.
They could get enough of his teaching.
They could not endure his absence.
They came from as far away as Tiberias. John 6:23 "(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)"
John 6:5-14 "When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
Luke 9:11-12 "And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
12. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place."
6. And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Matthew 14:16 "But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat."
Luke 9:13 "But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat..."
Mark 6:37 "He answered and said ...Give ye them to eat..."
7. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth [200 days pay, about 8 months pay] of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
These men were not professional base ball players. They did not have 8 months pay in their pocket on the field.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE?
Mark 6:38 "He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes." ONLY ONE CAME PREPARED!
Proverbs 11:24-25 "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself."
Matthew 25:21 "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
8. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9. There is a lad here [Not the Mayor of Bethesaida], which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
2 Kings 5:3 "And she [young Jewish girl] said unto her mistress [Syrian Commander, Naaman's wife], Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy."
Matthew 14:18 "He said, Bring them hither to me."
Mark 8:5 "How many loaves have ye? ...they said, Seven."
10. And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
Psalms 23:2 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."
Mark 6:39 "And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass."
1 Corinthians 14:40 "Let all things be done decently and in order."
11. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
Psalms 78:19 "Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?"
12. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Proverbs 18:9 "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster."
14. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."
Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;"
TO PROVE HIM
John 6:6 "And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Luke 14:19 "And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused."
Deuteronomy 8:2 "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no."
Deuteronomy 8:16 "Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;"
Exodus 16:4 "Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no."
Exodus 20:20 "And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not."
John 6:26 "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled."
John 6:9 "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?"
You do not have to be in a hurry. There is time to prepare for the day with a lunch.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"
John 5:11 "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
John 2:5 "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."