Feeding a City with a Sack Lunch

John 6:1–14 NKJV

1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” 10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Icebreaker: What is your most memorable meal ever? What made it so memorable?

Lesson Connection: Share the Lesson Connection.

John writes his Gospel, unlike the other 3 (Synoptics) many years later. After he had been preaching and applying the theological principles from the life of Christ for many years.

He has been the Bishop of the church at Ephesus where many people were held spiritually captive.

The acclaimed magnificent temple of Artemis (Roman “Diana”), one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world was there.

Idolitry, spiritual darkness, superstition....

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Perhaps this is one reason John’s gospel begins the way it does....

John 1:1 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Demonstrating the cosmic significance and unlimited spiritual power of Jesus.

Jesus was superior to any and all spiritual forces in Ephesus.

He surpassed the ancient Temple of Artemis, for he was the glory and grandeur of the almighty Creator God, “Tabernacled” amonth his people.

John 6:1 NKJV

1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.

After these things - Rejected in Jerusalem as some there sought to kill him...

Sea of Galilee

Most of Jesus ministry, other than a few trips, was around this Lake.

The Lord Jesus spent much time on and around the Sea of Galilee with his fishermen-disciples. These disciples, who gave up all to follow him (Luke 5:11), were good sailors. They knew the lake and its harbors well.

The Sea of Galilee, also called Lake Tiberias or Kinneret, is a freshwater lake in Israel.

It is about 13 miles long and eight miles wide. (64 sq Miles)

Greers Ferry Lake (made of two connected lakes) is 63 sq miles.

Capernaum, Jesus' home base during much of his public ministry, is located on its shores.

The Jordan River flows into it from the north, and flows out of its southern end.

It is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world, at levels around 686 ft (209 metres) below sea level.

Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels (The History of Research)

In the past, explorers have searched in vain for harbors along the Sea of Galilee from the New Testament period.

They have been unsuccessful because two millennia of wind and wave action have eroded the harbor superstructures.

Only the foundations remain, and they were, until just over 30 years ago, hidden beneath the water.

Mendel Nun has determined that the water level of the lake varied between 687 and 691 feet (209.5 and 210.5 meters) below sea level in the New Testament period.

In 1932, a dam was built at the southern outlet of the Jordan River allowing the maximum level to be controlled.

It is normally maintained at −686 feet (−209 m); however, due to the drought between 1989 and 1991, the level dropped to a dangerously low −699 feet (−213 m)—a 13 foot (4 m) difference.

Since one-third of all the drinking water for modern Israel comes from the Sea of Galilee, this was a serious problem.

However, Many ancient harbors were exposed for the first time in the modern era.

16 Harbors were exposed - Familiar places to Jesus, His disciples, and NT readers.

John 6:2–4 NKJV

2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.

John provides important context to the pericope.

The numbers of followers were increased by those coming from surrounding nations and areas for the Passover.

Bread was eaten at Passover and Jesus will celebrate the 3rd passover mentioned in the book of John, here in Galilee, with His disciples and followers.

Jesus introduces Himself in one of the 7 “I AM” statements of the book of John, as:

John 6:35 NKJV

35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Passover looks forward to a coming deliverer and this will play into their fervor to crown Him king after the miracoulous provision of bread.

I. JESUS FED FIVE THOUSAND

A. Jesus Tested the Disciples

» Why do we worry so much when we know Jesus is able to meet all our needs?

Over five thousand men gathered on the mountainside to hear

what Jesus would say and see what He would do.

Crowd Swelled

They listened as Jesus taught them.

Hungry for the Word of God,

Hungry for dinner as well.

But problem.

If the crowd wanted to eat, they should go home and eat.

But Jesus saw this opportunity as a time to test His followers’ faith

and raise the crowd’s faith.

Jesus asked His number cruncher, Philip,

Since Philip came from the nearby town of Bethsaida...

If anyone new where there was a Kum & Go...

John 6:5 NKJV

5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

John 4:35 NKJV

35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (4:35)

Four months more and then the harvest was probably a local proverb. But in the spiritual realm there is no long wait. Jesus has come so now it is the day of opportunity.

All that is needed is spiritual vision and perception.

If the disciples would look around, they would see people with spiritual hunger.

The Samaritans in their white garments coming from the village (v. 30) may have visually suggested a wheat field ripe for harvest.

John, who recorded this miracle in his Gospel, added this footnote for those of us who were not there:

John 6:6 NKJV

6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

Jesus held back a wry smile because He knew He was about to multiply a Lunchable to feed a city, but Philip did not. Philip just worked the math in his mind and gave Jesus a bottom-line number.

John 6:7 NKJV

7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

Philip was worried. In today’s terms he was saying,

“I’m counting thousands of people here, Jesus. Thousands. I didn’t invite all these people here. Did You? How did they know we were coming? We don’t have the money to feed all these people. It would take two hundred pennyworth—eight months of paychecks—just to give everyone a crust of bread. That won’t fill anyone up.”

While Philip looked at the large number of People,

Andrew looked at the small amount of food

John 6:8–9 NKJV

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

While Philip worried, Jesus grinned, and Andrew answered,

John recorded faith-filled Andrew’s faithless moment,

Even Andrew couldn’t make the math and recipes work in his mind.

Let’s take our focus off Philip and Andrew for a moment and look back at Jesus. He was not worried.

Concerned? Sure.

Did He care? You bet.

But worried? Not even a little.

B. Jesus Multiplied a Meager Lunch

The disciples didn’t have eight months’ worth of paychecks stored up.

They had been following Jesus for the last eight months.

They didn’t have any paychecks;

they didn’t even have pay stubs.

But they did have a little lunch of five barley loaves and two small fish.

Jesus held the five barley loaves and two small fish in His hands, and He commanded the disciples, “Make the men sit down”

John 6:10 NKJV

10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

(John 6:11).

John 6:11 NKJV

11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Everyone was seated and grouped into hundreds and fifties.

As the disciples counted, they realized the number of this great multitude was greater than they originally thought.

Jesus held up the barley loaves and fish, lifted His eyes to Heaven, and gave thanks—not for what He wished He had, but for what He did have.

» What would you have thought if you were in the crowd and saw Jesus give thanks for such a little lunch to feed such a massive multitude?

Before you enjoy your next meal, remember to give God thanks.

At mealtime, the head of each Jewish family looked up to

Heaven, gave thanks, and distributed bread for the meal.

One of the most common mealtime prayers was: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.”

Jesus was acting as the father of this whole crowd. That’s a lot of kids.

His next act revealed He was not just acting as their father; Jesus really was their heavenly Father, who brings forth bread.

Jesus broke the bread and kept creating more and more to meet their needs. Then He gave the lunch to His disciples and told them to feed the crowd. Jesus broke the bread while the disciples served it.

C. I Will Be Available for Jesus to Use Me

This miracle started when Andrew looked around to see what he could offer Jesus.

But it would not have happened the way Scripture records if the lad had not been willing to give his lunch to Jesus to be multiplied.

And the multitude may not have enjoyed Jesus’ wonder bread if the disciples had not been willing to serve the multitude.

God could have opened the heavens and poured down manna for this multitude like He did for the multitude in the wilderness, but He chose to involve people in the process.

Thankfully people chose to be available to God.

God can heal everyone of every sickness with just His word, but we should be thankful He chooses to use our prayers to make a difference.

Let us be available to God to use our prayers, our faith, our fervor, and our compassion to minister to people’s needs.

Maybe God gave you a raise or bonus, not just so you could buy bigger, nicer, newer things, but so you could also help support a missionary who feels called of God to share the gospel with people who have not yet heard the gospel.

God could rain down money, but He uses His people’s offerings and generosity to meet the needs of His people.

Just as God used Andrew, the lad, and the disciples, He uses us.

II. THE MULTITUDE’S RESPONSE

A. The Multitude Wanted to Crown Jesus as King

The rumors were true. Jesus really did work miracles.

Everyone in that mountainside multitude who witnessed what happened realized Jesus was not just a man; He was a miracle worker.

He was a prophet.

He might even be the Messiah.

They got more animated and excited as the minutes ticked away.

Jesus knew human nature. He even knew what the people were thinking.

They were about to crown Him as their king.

They had been waiting and praying for a Messiah to come, and it appeared He had come.

John 6:14 NKJV

14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

He is the Prophet the prophets prophesied was coming.

The crowd’s response made sense.

Who would not want to crown Jesus king after what they had just witnessed?

If Jesus could multiply bread and fish to feed a city, what else could He do?

Could He wage war with the formidable Roman army and win?

They were willing to risk their lives and His to find out.

Crowning Him king was signaling revolt against Rome, but they were sure revolt was worth the risk.

B. Jesus’ True Purpose

» How would you live differently if you were constantly thinking of

eternity?

They may have even thought back to the scroll of Deuteronomy.

The Lord had prophesied to Moses, “I will raise them up a

Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put

my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him” (Deuteronomy 18:18).

They were right about Jesus’ identity, but they were wrong about His mission.

Jesus wasn’t flattered.

He did not come from Heaven to Earth just to set up a kingdom to lead a revolt against Rome.

Luke succinctly recorded Jesus’ mission statement: “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus’ true purpose was to save our souls.

His purpose has not changed from their day to ours.

He is still seeking and saving the lost.

He can empty every hospital and fill every bank account, but He does not just want to give us a more comfortable life; He wants to bring us eternal life.

One day every crooked limb will be straight, and every cancer will be healed.

Even death will bow its grisly knee to the lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ, but what will really matter on that day is that our souls are right with God.

Every one of the men, women, and children in that multitude eventually died.

They were still under Roman rule, but even the Roman rulers who governed them died as well.

Yet their battle is still our battle.

We don’t fight with Rome, but we do fight with sin;

therefore, we must realize Jesus’ true mission is to seek and save that which was lost.

C. I Will Worship Jesus for Who He Is, Not Just for What He Does

» Do you worship Jesus because of who He is or because of what He does for you?

Will you still worship Him if He never works another miracle for you?

One day we will have the holy honor of crowning Jesus as king, but not just of a nation or people.

We will crown Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. (See Revelation 4:10–11.)

We worship Jesus for who He is, not just for what He does.

If our devotion hinges on Jesus working miracles for us every time we make our request, He is not really Lord, and we will be disappointed and even disillusioned with God because He did not do everything we wanted when we wanted.

But if He is Lord, He can say yes, no, or not yet, and we will still worship Him because of who He is, not just for what He does.

Jesus is Lord, not us.

When Jesus realized the people were going to try to take Him by force and make Him king, He left the crowd as He instructed His disciples to board a boat.

He would meet up with them after He climbed another mountain to pray.

Perhaps, as Jesus walked up that mountain, His mind looked ahead three years to another mountain He would climb.

That future mountain He knew He would climb since the day He called out into the darkness, “Let there be light,” and there was light

—the mountain where He would call out into even deeper darkness, “It is finished,” and it would be.

New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel (Jesus and the Jews (Jn 1:19–12:50): The Theological Story)

The bread of life (Jn 6:1–71). Jesus continues to respond to people who have seen his mighty works by feeding a multitude of them in a miraculous way, so that the people concluded that he was the expected Prophet.

John also relates the story of Jesus walking on the sea but does not explicitly develop its significance.

Rather he goes on to a lengthy dialogue in which the feeding miracle is made into a symbol or sign of spiritual food, contrasted with the manna that merely supported physical life although it was of divine origin.

This spiritual bread is identified with Jesus; the gift of salvation is equated with the giver, since ultimately salvation is a personal relationship with the giver of life rather than something that can be handed over by him and then he withdraws, his task completed.

Internalizing the Message