Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.” - Genesis 22:14
Last Sunday we read that Jesus and His apostles retreated by boat to a desolated area near Bethsaida on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. However, the multitudes followed on foot, with many coming from surrounding towns, and met them when they came ashore. Seeing the crowds, Jesus was moved with compassion and spent the rest of day preaching the gospel to them and healing many of their various afflictions.
Today’s sermon is set at the end of that same day, in the remote countryside near Bethsaida. It was on this occasion that Jesus performed what may be His most well-known miracle - the feeding of the 5,000. This is the only miracle of Jesus recorded in all 4 gospels. As always, I encourage you to read and study each account, but for the sake of time, we will center our discussion on John 6:1-14. Turn there in your Bibles and let’s begin…
I. 200 DENARII (John 6:1-7; Matthew 14:15-16; Mark 6:33-37; Luke 9:12)
When evening came, Jesus and the disciples were sitting on the mountain. He looked out over the crowds of hungry people and asked Philip where they might buy enough bread for all these people to eat. Jesus was testing Philip with this question, as He already knew what He was about to do. Philip answered that 200 denarii worth of bread would not be enough to feed them all sufficiently.
Based on Philip’s response, it would seem that Jesus and His disciples were carrying about 200 denarii with them in their money bags. Basically, Philip was saying that even if they spent all their money to buy bread, it wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone. In Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s rendition of this story, the disciples ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can go into town and get themselves something to eat. However, Jesus doesn’t send the people away, but instead challenges the disciples to give them something to eat.
Jesus’ request seemed impossible. The disciples simply didn’t have the resources necessary to meet the need. Even if they spent all the money they had, it wouldn’t have been sufficient. Why didn’t Jesus just let the crowds go find supper for themselves? It would have been easy for Him to just send them away, but He didn’t. Why? Jesus was about to teach the disciples an important lesson about God’s provision.
Before moving on, let me quickly point out John’s statement that Passover was near. This would have been the Passover 1 year before Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. This detail gives us a definite time stamp, and reveals that Jesus was about to enter the final year of His earthly ministry… and what a year it would be!
II. 5 LOAVES AND 2 FISH (John 6:8-11; Matthew 14:17-19; Mark 6:38-41; Luke 9:13-16)
Having been instructed by Jesus to feed the crowd themselves, the disciples surveyed the people to see what food they might be able to gather. Andrew reported that there was a boy who had 5 barley loaves and 2 fish, but questioned how that would be enough to feed everyone. Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down on the grass. Then He blessed the bread (and fish), broke it, and began to distribute it. As He did so, it continued to multiply until everyone ate and was filled.
There were about 5,000 men in the crowd. This number doesn’t include women and children. So, even though we refer to this miracle as “the feeding of the 5,000”, there were likely many more in total. Jesus took a tiny amount of food and multiplied it to feed everyone. He provided for them all. We may worry sometimes that we don’t have enough to meet the need before us, and the truth is often we don’t. But in the Lord’s hand and with His blessing, He can take our little and make much of it. Trust in Him, and even when it seems impossible, He will come through. I’ve personally experienced His provision in my own life in a myriad of different ways time and time again.
We categorize this as a natural miracle. How did Jesus do it? The blessing was spoken, but it seems that the bread and fish actually multiplied as they were distributed, not all at once. This would suggest that the miracle occurred progressively as the disciples distributed the food. Therefore, I am going to categorize this as a miracle done “through obedience”.
III. 12 BASKETS (John 6:12-14; Matthew 14:20-21; Mark 6:42-44; Luke 9:17)
After the multitudes had eaten, Jesus instructed the disciples to gather the leftovers so that none would be lost. They filled 12 baskets full of bread and fish that were leftover. The people saw this miraculous sign and said, “This is truly the Prophet who has come into the world.”
Not only did Jesus meet the need, but He went above and beyond. In fact, there was more food leftover than what they started with! Think about that for a minute. Amazing! There was a basket of leftovers for each of the 12 apostles. This illustrates the abundance of God’s blessings. It makes me think of Psalm 23 when David declares, “My cup overflows!”. God doesn’t just give us enough, but He blesses us with more than enough… certainly much more than we deserve. God is so good!
Although the entire crowd was amazed by this miracle, Jesus seemed particularly interested in developing the faith of His disciples. He purposefully involved them in each phase of the process. He challenged them to feed the crowd, He had them distribute the food as He divided it, and He had them gather the leftovers afterwards. I think Jesus used this occasion to stretch and grow His disciples.
CONCLUSION
The feeding of the 5,000 beautifully and powerfully demonstrates Jesus’ supernatural ability to meet our needs. He is God in the flesh, the only begotten Son of Jehovah-Jireh, which means in Hebrew “the God who provides”. Whether it be financial shortfalls, emotional support, strength to get through the day, or whatever your need, trust in the LORD. Give Him what you have and allow Him to supply the increase.
While this story focuses on God’s provision, there is another lesson that I want to touch on before we close. It really jumped out at me as I prepared this message. Again I ask, as I did earlier, why did Jesus insist that His apostles feed the crowds rather than simply releasing them to go get food elsewhere? I believe He was trying to teach them to take responsibility for the people. Beloved, in Christ we have the Bread of Life, which is sufficient to satisfy any and all who will receive it. If we will simply distribute the bread, He will multiply it. We dare not send people into the world to find their nourishment. As His disciples and His church, we must take our calling to feed the masses seriously. It is our commission, not anyone else’s.
Well, that brings us to the end of another sermon. Next Sunday Jesus and the disciples are going to travel across the Sea of Galilee again. Of course, that means they will need boats to ride in… or will they? Join us next week and we’ll find out together. God bless you.
Last Sunday we read that Jesus and His apostles retreated by boat to a desolated area near Bethsaida on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. However, the multitudes followed on foot, with many coming from surrounding towns, and met them when they came ashore. Seeing the crowds, Jesus was moved with compassion and spent the rest of day preaching the gospel to them and healing many of their various afflictions.
Today’s sermon is set at the end of that same day, in the remote countryside near Bethsaida. It was on this occasion that Jesus performed what may be His most well-known miracle - the feeding of the 5,000. This is the only miracle of Jesus recorded in all 4 gospels. As always, I encourage you to read and study each account, but for the sake of time, we will center our discussion on John 6:1-14. Turn there in your Bibles and let’s begin…
I. 200 DENARII (John 6:1-7; Matthew 14:15-16; Mark 6:33-37; Luke 9:12)
When evening came, Jesus and the disciples were sitting on the mountain. He looked out over the crowds of hungry people and asked Philip where they might buy enough bread for all these people to eat. Jesus was testing Philip with this question, as He already knew what He was about to do. Philip answered that 200 denarii worth of bread would not be enough to feed them all sufficiently.
Based on Philip’s response, it would seem that Jesus and His disciples were carrying about 200 denarii with them in their money bags. Basically, Philip was saying that even if they spent all their money to buy bread, it wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone. In Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s rendition of this story, the disciples ask Jesus to dismiss the crowd so they can go into town and get themselves something to eat. However, Jesus doesn’t send the people away, but instead challenges the disciples to give them something to eat.
Jesus’ request seemed impossible. The disciples simply didn’t have the resources necessary to meet the need. Even if they spent all the money they had, it wouldn’t have been sufficient. Why didn’t Jesus just let the crowds go find supper for themselves? It would have been easy for Him to just send them away, but He didn’t. Why? Jesus was about to teach the disciples an important lesson about God’s provision.
Before moving on, let me quickly point out John’s statement that Passover was near. This would have been the Passover 1 year before Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. This detail gives us a definite time stamp, and reveals that Jesus was about to enter the final year of His earthly ministry… and what a year it would be!
II. 5 LOAVES AND 2 FISH (John 6:8-11; Matthew 14:17-19; Mark 6:38-41; Luke 9:13-16)
Having been instructed by Jesus to feed the crowd themselves, the disciples surveyed the people to see what food they might be able to gather. Andrew reported that there was a boy who had 5 barley loaves and 2 fish, but questioned how that would be enough to feed everyone. Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down on the grass. Then He blessed the bread (and fish), broke it, and began to distribute it. As He did so, it continued to multiply until everyone ate and was filled.
There were about 5,000 men in the crowd. This number doesn’t include women and children. So, even though we refer to this miracle as “the feeding of the 5,000”, there were likely many more in total. Jesus took a tiny amount of food and multiplied it to feed everyone. He provided for them all. We may worry sometimes that we don’t have enough to meet the need before us, and the truth is often we don’t. But in the Lord’s hand and with His blessing, He can take our little and make much of it. Trust in Him, and even when it seems impossible, He will come through. I’ve personally experienced His provision in my own life in a myriad of different ways time and time again.
We categorize this as a natural miracle. How did Jesus do it? The blessing was spoken, but it seems that the bread and fish actually multiplied as they were distributed, not all at once. This would suggest that the miracle occurred progressively as the disciples distributed the food. Therefore, I am going to categorize this as a miracle done “through obedience”.
III. 12 BASKETS (John 6:12-14; Matthew 14:20-21; Mark 6:42-44; Luke 9:17)
After the multitudes had eaten, Jesus instructed the disciples to gather the leftovers so that none would be lost. They filled 12 baskets full of bread and fish that were leftover. The people saw this miraculous sign and said, “This is truly the Prophet who has come into the world.”
Not only did Jesus meet the need, but He went above and beyond. In fact, there was more food leftover than what they started with! Think about that for a minute. Amazing! There was a basket of leftovers for each of the 12 apostles. This illustrates the abundance of God’s blessings. It makes me think of Psalm 23 when David declares, “My cup overflows!”. God doesn’t just give us enough, but He blesses us with more than enough… certainly much more than we deserve. God is so good!
Although the entire crowd was amazed by this miracle, Jesus seemed particularly interested in developing the faith of His disciples. He purposefully involved them in each phase of the process. He challenged them to feed the crowd, He had them distribute the food as He divided it, and He had them gather the leftovers afterwards. I think Jesus used this occasion to stretch and grow His disciples.
CONCLUSION
The feeding of the 5,000 beautifully and powerfully demonstrates Jesus’ supernatural ability to meet our needs. He is God in the flesh, the only begotten Son of Jehovah-Jireh, which means in Hebrew “the God who provides”. Whether it be financial shortfalls, emotional support, strength to get through the day, or whatever your need, trust in the LORD. Give Him what you have and allow Him to supply the increase.
While this story focuses on God’s provision, there is another lesson that I want to touch on before we close. It really jumped out at me as I prepared this message. Again I ask, as I did earlier, why did Jesus insist that His apostles feed the crowds rather than simply releasing them to go get food elsewhere? I believe He was trying to teach them to take responsibility for the people. Beloved, in Christ we have the Bread of Life, which is sufficient to satisfy any and all who will receive it. If we will simply distribute the bread, He will multiply it. We dare not send people into the world to find their nourishment. As His disciples and His church, we must take our calling to feed the masses seriously. It is our commission, not anyone else’s.
Well, that brings us to the end of another sermon. Next Sunday Jesus and the disciples are going to travel across the Sea of Galilee again. Of course, that means they will need boats to ride in… or will they? Join us next week and we’ll find out together. God bless you.