Manna Redux?

021 John 6:1-15 Manna Redux?

In Feeding the Five Thousand, Jesus Demonstrates that He Is the God Who Provided Manna in the Desert.

Points:

In Feeding the Five Thousand, Jesus Demonstrates that He Is the God Who Provided Manna in the Desert.

Jesus demonstrates His authority and divinity by providing in a very unique way by feeding the 5000.

God wants us to offer what we have. In His hands, God will multiply the effect according to His purposes.

When we entrust what we have into the hands of Jesus, we can trust Him about the outcome.

Jesus will work through what we have and will do a work that clearly demonstrates God’s glory and love.

Text: John 6:1-15

John 6:1–15 ESV

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 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 they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Reading:

Mark 6:30–44 ESV

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

INTRO

Did you ever have to feed a large group? We usually plan on that. buying for the 30 people in France for breakfast...

I can see this passage as an extension of the series of the Authority of Jesus and His Divinity. Why? Because I believe that the feeding of the 5000 has hints of the time God fed Israel manna. The “After this” includes Jesus saying how He could only do what He sees His Father doing - that includes feeding the Israelites in the wilderness and now with Jesus feeding the 5000.

This passage can also serve as the first sermon on the topic of Jesus as the Bread of Live.

Parrallel passages in see Matt. 14:13–21; Mark 6:32–44; Luke 9:10–17

John 6:1 ESV

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.

the “after this” refers to the last three weeks where Jesus healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath.

Jesus tells the man to pick up his mat and walk who is stopped by the Jews and questioned why he was breaking the Sabbath.

He tells them, but he does not know who it was.

Jesus goes to the man, warning him to stop sinning or something worse may happen to him,

The man now goes to the Jews to tell them Jesus healed him, which leads to the Jews condemning Jesus for working on the Sabbath.

Jesus counters He can only do what His Father is doing; which leads to additional condemnation for Jesus is making Himself equal with God,

This leads Jesus to discuss His relationship with the Father and to the authority He has and the various witnesses that attest to His authority and deity.

John 6:2–6 ESV

And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

First clue dropped - it was close to the Passover, the feast of the Jews....

The Passover is remembering the last plague that led to the Israelites being set free.

John 6:7–11 ESV

Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 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 they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

Days wage: $20/hour - 8 hours = $160 - $10 per meal - 16 meals a day x 200 = 3200 meals - but had 5000 men, let alone the women and childrend?

Second hint: Andrews question - “But what are they?”

Third hint: “as much as they wanted.”

But one side note: Notice that God will use what we have. He can multiply it, expand it, make it effective beyond our expectations.

Never think that you cannot do much for God. As long as you have breath - God has a place and purpose for you....

God wants us to offer what we have. In His hands, God will multiply the effect according to His purposes.

Differences Between the Manna and the Five Thousand

1. Those who came out of Egypt had little choice - Stay and live in Slavery, or Go and Live under God (with the unknown future?)

Exodus 12:33–37 ESV

The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.

2. It was all the Jews that came out - 600, 000 men plus women and children. (another hint - the men were numbered)

Here, only 5000 followed Jesus from Jerusalem because of the miracles they saw Jesus do - They chose to follow to see more. ( not necessarily His teaching).

3. God initially gave the manna to test Israel. God would continue giving the manna 6 times a week to teach Israel to follow God.

Jesus fed the people to 1) test the disciples and 2) demonstrate His authority and Who He is. In that, perhaps Jesus was testing the 5000 to see how they would respond

4. The Exodus Jews had to make the effort to gather their food. The 5000 Jews got to sit down and the disciples passed the baskets of food...

5. God created the manna out of nothing for the Exodus Jews. Jesus created the additional fish and loaves as He broke it and had the disciples pass it out - Jesus worked with what the disciples had (found).

6. Perhaps a testament to the weakness of the Covenant of the Law versus the Covenant of Grace.

Exodus 16:16–18 ESV

This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’ ” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.

We see that the Exodus Jews had all they could eat. What about the 5000 Jews?

John 6:11–13 ESV

Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

Both the Exodus Jews and the 5000 Jews had their fill, but do you see the over flowing abundance Christ gave?

Similarities Between the Manna and the Five Thousand

1. A minor point: each story had a similar question.

Does anyone know what “manna” means in Hebrew?

Yes, it says they said, “What is it?” In our text, we see that when Andrew offers the loaves and fishes, he asks, “But what are they?” For me a hint of “What is it?” from Exodus. “What are they for so many?”

2. Both the Jews of Exodus and the people that followed Jesus saw the miracles God had done recently.

3. Both the Jews of Exodus and the 5000 that followed Jesus were dull in not realizing the power of God.

- The Exodus Jews did not trust nor honor God despite what He had done to Egypt to bring them out.

- The 5000 were interested in seeing miracles, not necessarily changing their lives for God.

4. Ultimately, the Exodus Jews are condemned for their lack of faith and end up wandering in the desert for 40 years.

The 5000 are judged the next day as we will see over the next week or so for preferring their bellies full rather than sit under the authoritative teaching of God-with-us Jesus.

John 6:14 ESV

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

Sounds like a win, doesn’t it? They ate food that clearly multiplied in front of their eyes (so to speak).

Sounds like they believe in Jesus - “This is the Prophet Who is to come!”

Let’s see what Jesus thinks:

John 6:15 ESV

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus is resolute on His mission. He needs to diffuse it so he retreats up the mountain for a personal time of solitude.

Jesus demonstrates His authority and divinity by providing in a very unique way by feeding the 5000.

Jesus fed the 5000 in a desolate place using what was available - the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. All had their fill with 12 baskets left over.

God’s economy is not our economy. The compassion of Jesus led to a blessing overflowing - I wonder if that young boy went home. He may have left a basket outside and went into their home.and his parents ask about the 5 loaves and 2 fish.

“No mom and dad, I don’t have the loaves and fish,” he would reply.

What happened to the loaves and fishes? I gave them to Jesus of Nazareth.

What are we going to eat tonight and tomorrow? and he shows them the basket full of bread and fish.

When we entrust what we have into the hands of Jesus, we can trust Him about the outcome.

Jesus will work through what we have and will do a work that clearly demonstrates God’s glory and love.

In Feeding the Five Thousand, Jesus Demonstrates that He Is the God Who Provided Manna in the Desert.

Jesus Can Provide What You Need

NOTES:

John 6:1-15

Observation: John 6:5 - God's plan is to work through our faith and hands. God knows what is coming and He may put before us a test of faith. God knows what he wants to do, but he works through us. Jesus as a man left his eyes to see. We, too, must keep our eyes open to what is around us.

John 6:7-9 - "Have-not" Eyes or "What-I-Have" Eyes of Faith. Philip heard Jesus, but focused on what they did not have. The three others, saw what they had and offered it to Jesus' work. They saw the reality of the challenge, but still offered what they had with their eyes on Jesus not the lack.

John 6:11-12 - Thankfulness, Generosity, and Obedience to the Lord. All that was available was used. It was dedicated to God through thankfulness to him for what they had. It was obedience to using what they had fully to the Lord.

Application: How is God challenging us to use what we have for the work, that on the surface is beyond what we have? Are we willing to give thanks and dedicate to God what we have to the work, being generous and obedient to accomplish what he has given our hands to do?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me have “What-I-Have” Eyes of faith. O Holy Spirit, guide me to keep my eyes on Jesus, Who is the Perfecter of my faith. Give me eyes to see where God is at work, and the faith to do what He is calling me to do. Remind me of how Jesus served, that I may conform increasingly into His image for the glory of God alone, amen. 20171117, 20200118