A Teachable Moment

ILLUST: Cat rescue when 7th grade

READ John 6:1-15 - Feeding of the 5000

Every Gospel shares this account, details very similar

Chronology - this likely occurs soon after JTB is beheaded

John is painting a picture in his Gospel

Invoking a common thread with Moses (invoke History)

Jesus:

“Hey, you guys like Moses and the Law, let me remind you of what the Exodus was all about” (DELIVERANCE)

Wilderness time, manna from above, water from the rock

Please let Me deliver you from the bondage you are in now (SIN)

Jesus was there in the cloud and pillar of fire

Jesus, now the “new Moses”

Moses prophesied of one to come in Deut 18:15

Deuteronomy 18:15 NASB95

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.

So…will they listen?

JESUS PREACHES

Heads to the mountainous region - good place for teaching crowds who were following Him

They were impressed with the signs so far

Willing to climb to follow Him

He sat down - sign of authority

Taught them, gave them Bread from Heaven

JESUS TEACHES - without them knowing they are being taught

Listen, but WATCH (Words are only 7% of effective communication)

Watch how a problem is tackled

A Teachable Moment

People are hungry - so now what

Jesus will test the faith of His disciples first

“Do you understand Who I Am?” without saying so...

1) Philip’s Solution

“Let’s buy bread”

He knows how many bakers could be in the area (Wed. night shout out)

He knows what the cost would be (200 denarii - 200 days of wages) and that will not be enough.

This human, relying on his own wisdom, falls short

Philip’s idea ends in hopelessness

2) Andrew’s Solution

Hey, Andrew has initiative, he was the one who introduced Peter to Jesus

“Let’s find people with food” - he finds a boy

Quickly realizes this is a bad idea, very insufficient

ASIDE - This “meal” is enough for this boy, or his family

Barley - Grain of the poor; ‘loaf’ is what we call a biscuit

Fish are likely sardines or small pickled fish

NOTE - The boy is apparently willing to share

This human, relying on his own wisdom, falls short

Andrew’s idea ends in hopelessness

3) Jesus’ Solution

He’s about to do the miraculous - instill HOPE

“Have people sit down” - will help control them

5000 only includes men (10K, 15K, maybe more)

(Area this occurs near sources of fresh water)

Much grass there - surrounded by lush area

(recall Psalm 23, makes me lie down in green pastures) Psalm 23:2

Psalm 23:2 NASB95

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

Gives thanks, distributes from the small supply - continues to do this, likely quietly, no huge fanfare, but people catch on to what He is doing (Illustrate reaching in the basket)

People get as much as they wanted

Let’s teach these 12 a lesson - “Go gather up the leftover”

12 baskets (12 tribes, 12 disciples/the church)

One for each disciples - “This solution was available to you with Me, start thinking spiritually!”

POINT - Jesus wants it all gathered, nothing left behind, SAVE it all

Jesus wants all people saved.

THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE

This is the Prophet! (from Deut. 18)

Someone to be like Moses - and overthrow the oppressors!

NO! Deliverance, deliverance

Pharaoh, all of Egypt, had the chance to see YHWH at work and follow

Moses did not go to overthrow, He went to RESCUE

HELLO????

They want a king

Oh, He’s THE King - just not their kind of king

They will use Him to satisfy their earthly concerns, desires

So Jesus ducks out to be by Himself

Good move, good mental health break

He’s had enough of the sheep for the moment :)

PLUS:

If word got our to Herod Antipas, Jesus would likely be arrested for insurrection, no need for another king there!

Herod already beheaded JTB - didn’t like what he heard from him (TRUTH)

So Jesus avoids trouble, plenty of time for that later

Next we’ll see what these people who witnessed this miracle do with what they heard, what they saw, and what they feel they need

CLOSING POINTS FOR US

Patience

Goodness, I am impatient with people, I want them to get it NOW. So did Jesus. But He was patient with people. Frustrated, but patient. Ever feel that way? Good company with Jesus

Disciples learn first

GOD WILL TEST YOUR FAITH FIRST, then you can help others

2 Corinthians 1:4 NASB95

who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Social Ministry

Think about this: Which ‘feels’ better? Giving someone food, or warning them from dying and going to Hell?

Which do they need more?

He taught FIRST, then fed them

He FIRST addressed the spiritual need, then the physical

The spiritual message ALWAYS accompanied the felt need

Feeding the poor

We are told by the world we are to be more like Jesus, feeding the poor

ACTUALLY - WE NEED TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS AND TELL PEOPLE THE GOSPEL!

We can fill bellies, and send full, physically satisfied people to Hell

The food will eventually be consumed, and people will need more

Clean water in third world countries is good; so is school for kids in impoverished cultures

But without the Gospel, people will enjoy clean water and die and go to Hell

Kids will get through school, never hear the Gospel. Grow up, stay lost, and end up in Hell

WE MUST ALWAYS LEAD WITH THE GOSPEL WHEN MEETING SOCIETY’S NEEDS

We are responsible for souls if we do not tell them

Lead with GOSPEL, OR WE TRULY MISS WHAT SOCIETY REALLY NEEDS

Jesus saw it. He tries to tell us through this whole account in the Gospel.

JESUS FEEDS ETERNALLY

John 6:35 NASB95

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

Woman at the well, will never thirst spiritually again

People saved by the Bread of Life will never starve spiritually

PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY - LET’S FEED THEM!

Serve at the food pantry? Great, tell people about Jesus

Ring bells for Salvation Army - OK, tell people about Jesus

Support the less fortunate in our area - they will appreciate that - tell them about Jesus

WE MUST ALWAYS LEAD WITH THE GOSPEL WHEN MEETING SOCIETY’S NEEDS

OR WE TRULY MISS WHAT SOCIETY REALLY NEEDS

So…let’s feed people what they REALLY need