Confidene in Him

Confidence in Him

October 1, 2023

John 6:1-5

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Eventually, each of us runs into situations where there is no clear explanation, no clear “way out”. There are times when we face the dark with no light, an ocean without a life vest and hopelessness settles on us like a heavy weight.

Today we will look at seemingly impossible situations with impossible odds with little options.

To fully understand what is happening, we must attack this passage from 4 different vantage points. To God’s glory, we have four such takes on the same event all recorded in each of the 4 Gospels. These are some key observations.

a. No other miracle was this large recorded where Jesus miraculously touched this many people at one time. (5,000 men/theologians guess no less than 10,000 but upwards to 20,000 people with women and children. Just for perspective, Idaho Ford Center seats 12,200 people.

b. No other miracle is so important that it was recorded in all four gospels. We get extra detail from the other gospels making this event well documented. It obviously left a massive impact on the four writers.

c. No other miracle has an explanation after (bread of life) and this serves, as a key setup for what is coming next.

Jesus had just re-connected with His disciples after sending them out on their mission. It was an exciting time and they met back at Bethsaida, the pre-determined location (Luke 9:10) on the North side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus understood that they were tired, and He wanted time to reconnect with them away from people. (Mark 6:30-32)

Their (Jesus’s) ministry was on fire at this point. People all over the region had heard of Him. John the Baptist had been killed and now all eyes were on Him.

He and the disciples got in a boat and sailed along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. He did not sail across but skirted the northern seashore. It was close enough that people could see His boat and follow Him (Luke 9:11). When Jesus got to the location He wanted, it was roughly 4 miles from Bethsaida, the only real city in the region. This was remote in a remote area.

It is just like our Lord to set the stage for something big. Imagine being in the boat attempting to escape the pressure of people only to see the numbers growing and the line getting longer. When they got to the place Jesus wanted, He was met by a sea of people. Imagine being a disciple, they are exhausted and now they are not on a retreat, they are on another mission.

Timing is critical for us to further understand this event. We need to understand when this was. John 6:4 says, “Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews was at hand.” The gap between John 5 and John 6 is thought to be no less than 6 months if not a year. We can safely assume this because in John 5 Jesus was in Jerusalem for the “feast of the Jews” and now six months to a year later, we are BEFORE the Passover north of the sea of Galilee.

That white space makes up for some ten chapters in the other synoptic Gospels. It is a big jump for John to go from 5 to 6. This is important for later.

There are three main characters in this narrative. The desperate crowd, the doubting disciples, and the Lord of creation.

Before we beat up on the crowd for their nagging pursuit of Jesus, we need to ask, why would 5,000 men march out into the wilderness with their women and children with no food to Jesus? What would cause them to be so motivated?

1. Life causes desperation. (John 6:1-4; Matt 14:14)

We 21st century Americans complain when we have to drive more than 20 minutes to church, whereas these people drug their families 4 or more miles. Why? We do not have to guess, it’s all in the text.

Jesus had compassion for the crowd. They followed Him because of the signs that He was doing. I know that this is hard for us to hear today because we have many freedoms, liberties, and Walmart. But do you realize that the Romans were not a kind and welcoming government? They crushed people and their favorite tool to keep people in line was the Roman cross.

Also, do you know what it takes to make a loaf of bread? You needed to grow the crop, harvest the crop, process the crop, mix the crop, bake the crop and then you finally had bread. You could buy it, but, that process was not handled in Frans Bakery down the street. It was handled by mom-and-pop locations doing it all. Food was a major concern of the people of this time.

Spiritually, the pastors/priests were misleading and attempting to manipulate the masses (much like today).

Hospitals were NOT what we have today. We go to a sterile office where everything is clean and hopefully, the guy/gal who is treating you passed their medical boards. We have cutting-edge equipment and get seen the same day. I can’t even compare their situation to ours. We have very little to be “desperate for”. Let’s be honest, if you had a sick wife, or child and you were fearful that you would not feed your family, you would follow a miracle worker to. I’d be in that crowd just like you would be.

So, you had an oppressive government, a lack of food no real medical care, and a religious system that was broken.

I guess many of these reasons for following Him would be honorable but there is another that we need to consider. They wanted to see the magic tricks.

People have not changed over the years. They are as fickle then as they are now. One only needs to look at professional sports or the entertainment industry. Yesterday’s star is today has been. Jesus was no different, and yet:

Matthew 14:14 “He had compassion on them”.

We need to be very careful here to not over-generalize the entire crowd but, for the most part, we know for a fact that they were not coming to the Lord for the right reasons. If they knew what He had to really offer, we would have seen this event finish differently.

We find in John 6:26 that Jesus actually calls them out:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs (that point to His divinity and purpose to spiritually save) but because you ate your fill of the loaves”

They do come for the food but when Jesus starts preaching about their sin, the need for redemption, the need for salvation, and spiritual accountability, they quickly leave. The sayings are too hard for them. It is tempting to come down on the crowd, but we are no different than them. We are here for selfish reasons, “make me good pastor so I can go back to my work week”.

Like I said, we are all a little fickle. I have had numerous conversations about sports, politics, family, hobbies etc., but when it comes to sin, salvation, and Christ, people can’t change the conversation quickly enough. I have noticed that people stop wanting to my house for the BBQ or coffee when I do that.

The reason people are like this is that we are spiritually desperate, and we can’t even see it. We only want what is easy.

ANNALOGY: I want six-pack abs but I won't do the work to get them.

Spiritually, we want only the bare minimum so we can continue in our sin. Sin blinds us from seeing it’s effects and this happed to this crowd.

2 Cor 4:4

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God[1]

Or:

Eph 4:17

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity[2]

Sin causes us to pursue all of the wrong things. We would rather fill our bellies and see the magic tricks than hear that we are wrong spiritually and that there is an expectation for salvation. The Word of God is clear, sin creates darkness, and that darkness creates desperation that causes people to chase the wind of emptiness.

Ecc 1:13,14:

13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. [3]

It is a sad event when we chase after wisdom and the business of life. We lose sight of the most important part of our lives. Life causes our faith to take the back seat if not no seat at all.

But, this event is NOT centered on the crowd. They are only the background noise for the real lesson. The real lesson is designed for the disciples and us today.

2. Life causes a doubting heart. (John 6:5-6)

5 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?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do[4]”

John takes us to the inner circle and the conversation that should make us rethink how we view who Jesus is. Philip was not chosen for this test by accident. If we think of a group dynamic, there is always the Peter, “just jump, we will figure it out on the way down” the planner/tax accountant that says “we can’t afford that” (Matthew) and then the melancholy, “it’s too big, might as well not try.” (Philip).

Personality aside, it is more interesting that Jesus asked Philip “Where”. We learn that Philip was actually the best person to ask logically. He was originally from that area. But instead of hearing the question, he went to doing math, not location.

Let’s break down these words:

“He said this to test him.”

Does God test? Does God tempt?

The two words are very similar in the original languages and to be honest it is used at time interchangeably. The difference in not mechanical (the meaning test has a unique definition compared to tempt) rather it is all about intent. To test is for the good of the one being tested. Tempting is at the destruction of the one being tempted. Example: Jesus was tempted to break the will of the Father and succumb to Satan’s offers (to destroy Him). Testing is used often in the scripture when God is teaching His children. Example: Philip here.

Jesus’s question is important. He asks where. But in the other Gospels:

“This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crows away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves” Matt 14:15

“Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” Mark 6:36

“send the crowd away…” Luke 9:12

Interesting, Lord, get rid of them. It’s late.

If we take all four gospels and put them together, we see clearly that the authors record that the disciples were overwhelmed and telling the Lord, send them Lord! In all four gospels, Jesus resoundingly says, “You give them something to eat”

This test is a big one! Even us reading this where we are blessed to know how it ends, imagine standing in the Ford Idaho center on center stage and hearing from Jesus, you feed them. I would be like Philip! How in the world do you expect us to do that!!

Philip’s response was sarcasm. “two hundred denarii” is 8mnths pay for a middle class worker and that would not even give each person a bite, let alone feed them.

You would think that Andrew’s response was going to redeem the disciples, but it really wasn’t. Be careful to not give him too much credit.

“8 One 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 they for so many?[5]”

Andrew starts off right and then falls flat on his face:

a. A boy: is a lad, small and insignificant. This kid’s cultural value was less valuable than a common animal. When Andrew says “lad”, it is diminutive. Meaning, less then valuable.

b. Fish and loaves: This was a peasant’s meal. We think a “loaf” is like what we have on our communion days. Actually, it was a rye cracker dried out for travel. The fish was a sardine to provide protein and salt. It as diminished by Andrew. Meaning, he was saying it’s not that valuable.

c. Finally, “What are they for so many”? He is saying, there is no way this will work.

Just as Philip fails the test, Andrew does not do much better. To Peter’s credit, at least he didn’t jump on this fail train to like he normally did.

What our LORD does next is amazing! He shows the disciples how it’s done.

a. He made the people sit down in 50s and 100s. Creating passageways to serve people.

b. “Have the people sit down”; other gospels say in the grass= it was a comfortable setting. Reclining.

c. He then CREATES

Like his great divine imperative when He said “Let there be light, he spoke into existence fish that had never swam, bread that was never harvested. God in the flesh created! Now we don’t know how, was it in the form of a bottomless basket in the hands of the disciples or all at once. We don’t know and it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that He did it.

Could Jesus have fed a million people? Yep! The number is huge for sure but that is not the most amazing thing. Jesus could have made all the food to mystically appear in the pockets of everyone one there. BUT, that is NOT what He did. Instead He taught the disciples and us CRITICAL lessons:

a. He taught the disciples what church was all about. In other words, if we call ourselves followers of Christ, we serve! We don’t consume, we serve the body of Christ. This is a key component to MBC. We are not immune to this lesson. Even though we are small, your leadership is keenly aware that 20 people are largely caring the load of making Sunday work. What if ½ the disciples would have said, yea, you go Peter, I have this thing I can’t help. NO! it was all hands on deck!

b.

c. Jesus showed us that He chooses to use us in this thing called life. God uses us to execute His plan. I am concerned that some may think “I don’t need to evangelize because God does it all, so, I can disengage.” Church that view is antithetical to God’s Word and His example. It comes from a hyper view of “calling” that is damaging and an arrogant view of salvation.

d. MOST IMPORTANT: He taught His disciples and us that our perception of the “impossible” is from us holding onto what we have in exchange of what is possible through Him.

Analogy: What I’m holding onto in exchange for His plan.

3. TRUST GOD IN YOUR TEST

John 6:14,15

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

15 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. [6]

These words capture a plan that does not match what we would ever have in our minds. We people have mastered the art of not catching the true story of what is happening. The people gathered at the time of Passover. That day for the Jewish people would make the 4th of July seem like any other day. It is the pinnacle day of national pride. What better time to instill a king with a 5,000-man arm that He can feed, heal, and lead?

It is a logical assumption to make! What better way to rid themselves the tyranny of Rome? What better way to establish a kingdom that would fill the bellies of every man woman and child and have healing endlessly. If I was Jesus’s advisor, I would have said, this is it Lord! Now’s the time! We can take on Rome!

Look closely at what the people said: “This is indeed the Prophet”. Guys, I have preached John since January. I can’t believe how this passage keeps coming up! It is a direct reference to

Deut 18:15

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen[7]

Although this was exactly who Jesus is, it was NOT the time. Matter of fact, it still isn’t the time but it is closer. Jesus is NOT on anyone’s timetable. His plan is not our plan and His ways are not ours. He removes Himself because this was not the plan! But, the takeaway is simple. We must be trusting of His plan! We need to trust God in our own time and space. In our own tests and trials.

Want to know what I mean by “your test”?

Normally when I write these sermons I learn a lot but only two have truly changed my perspective on life. The first was the worst sermon I have ever given and I will never ever give it again. It was on depression. The second is this one. The reason why is that I am holding onto my five crackers and my two nasty sardines for fear that if I give them up to our LORD, I’ll lose the meager blessing in exchange for what?

Not to over simply, but if my hands are full with something small, how can I grab what is bigger and better? Church, this is striking a nerve with me because there have been times, just this year, when I am not fully trusting that God’s plan is better than what I have. I know I need to Let go so that I can let God, but doubt is a real thing. Maybe you have been holding onto something smaller when God has in mind for you to test your faith and let it go. Does it have to do with a job, a family member, a financial situation, a wayward child, a ministry or even a friendship?

To conclude, I came across an example of letting go to let God:

George Müller (1805-1898) was a Christian missionary evangelist and a coordinator of orphanages in Bristol, England. Through his faith and prayers (and without asking for money) he had the privilege of caring for over 120,000 orphan children. He also traveled over 200,000 miles (by ship) to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 42 countries and to challenge believers about world missions and trusting God. In his journals, Müller recorded miracle-after-miracle of God’s provision and answered prayer:

One morning, all the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder and no money to buy food. The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.” Then lifting up his hands he prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”

There was a knock at the door. The baker stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.”

Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.

Muller’s journal is packed full of such miracles. Like me, someone may have needed to hear this today. You see, our Lord and savior has an end in mind for our testing. He has a plan that is four the believers good. It may not be financial wealth, health and happiness from a worldly standpoint. But, it is for the good for those who believe.

Romans 8:28: 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [8]

UNBELIEVER ASSIDE:

I have some questions for you:

How is life in your eyes? Are you:

a. Overwhelmed

b. Under appreciated: He has your gender, identity, in His hands.

c. Undervalued: He crafted you in HIS image, your value is greater than you think.

How would you like to have answers for the impossible? Christ’s promises of “good” is for the believer. It is not for all. If you have yet to recognize that Christ is the “way the truth and life and not man comes to the Father except through Him”, that is where you must start. Often people want to jump to the fun promises and love part without understanding why He came. Christ came to pay the penalty for the sin that you and I have racked up. He, being rich in mercy, willingly took the cross that you and I rightly deserved to justify the wrath of God towards rebellious sinners like us. As Christ poured out His blood, He takes the very best, His righteousness, and places it onto the believer, then takes the very worst of us and places on Himself.

Nonbeliever, call out to Christ! His salvation is real and your only hope.