What a Day!
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
It is great to be back with you this morning. Kenya is always a rewarding trip, but getting home was great, being back in my bed was great, and being back with my wife was the best thing of all. I look forward to having Alyssa with me next time. And oh yea, we had a bit of news while I was gone, we will be having a little boy!
I want to thank Chad and Aubrey for doing a great job while I was gone, the place did not burn down, so that’s always a positive.
Chad did a great job bringing the messages, especially the last minute one! Aubrey did a great job as well last week. If you missed them I hope you will go back on facebook, youtube, or our Podcast channel to hear them. All will be posted tomorrow.
This morning we hop back into the Gospel of John, and the events we cover today mark quite a day in the life of Christ and His followers. We are going to see not one, but two miracles performed by Christ, in the same day!
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.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Examination
Examination
This is recorded in all 4 Gospels, Matt 14:13-21 Mark 6:30-44 and Luke 9:10-17
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.
Here we see Jesus, right after his altercation with the religious leaders, heading away and a large crowd has followed Him.Now their reason is because of what they have seen him doing for the sick.
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.
We see that it is Passover, which means its time to eat! It was customary to share in a Passover meal. As Jesus sees this mas of people, He wants to ensure they take part in this meal. We see here alos that Jesus isnt asking this question to get an answer, He a;ready knew what He was going to do. Jesus doesnt need us to provide answers, He already knows them.
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.
Can you imagine this scene. Philip provides Christ with a real answer, “200 denarii wouldnt even give them all a nibble” 1 denarii is equal to one day’s wage, so 200 days of work wouldnt provide but a morsel for these people, and this is no small group. 5000 people are here. Andrew, Peter’s brother, finds one boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish, Jesus’ response, tell them to sit down. Now you know the disciples are thinking there is no way this is going to end well, there wont be enough, there are so many here, this will end badly, or they may just be thinking that Jesus is crazy.
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.
What does Jesus do? He blesses the food and tells them to distribute, and it just keeps going and going and going. And they did not just get a bite, they ate their fill. And even more than that, there were leftovers, twelve baskets full. 5 loaves and 2 fish feed 5000 people with leftovers, truly a miracle. The people saw this, and they began to press Jesus, they wanted Him as King! But only because of the signs he performed, there is no relationship here. Jesus them leaves the area and is alone.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Jesus is up on the mountain and it’s getting late. His disciples decide to head across the sea to Capernaum. 3-4 miles out, the sea is fierce, and they see this figure walking on the water towards them. It of course freaks them out,but Jesus tells them to not be afraid, and the moment he steps in the boat they were at dry land.
Application
Application
Jesus cares for YOU!
Just as we see with Jesus feeding the 5000, he cares for you
We all have times when we have been one of the 5000, hungering for something, and Jesus provided.
We saw that in Kenya with delivering over a combined $3,000 worth of food.
We were able to meet a tangable need, not for ourselves, but through the provisions of the Lord.
Jesus is the MIRACLE WORKER!
We all have experienced miracles
Moments when we are told there are no hope and then hope appears
Sometimes the miracle comes in the form of saving, sometimes the miracle comes in the form of deliverence
One of the hardest things to do on the trip is to hear the constant praise heaped on you by others.
For those we served these past two weeks, that may be the only time they ever will get aid, or assistance.
Jesus is the Miracle Worker, allow Him to use you!
Both Mission Serve and Kenya team did this
Now we shift our focus to our own community and begin to search for ways we can be used.
Miracles still HAPPEN!
Miracles have not stopped
Do you still believe in Miracles?
You should, we serve a Lord who fed the 5000, and walked on water. One who has stood up to religious leaders, healed the lame and turned the water into wine.
Are you willing to be the Miracle?
Kenya Food, Shoes, Medicine
For them it was a miracle, for us it was service
Mission Serve
Boys Home, Home Repairs, Mission Work
All seem like miracles to those who are served.
I never have any difficulty believing in miracles, since I experienced the miracle of a change in my own heart.
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Conclusion
Conclusion
The people around Jesus during his ministry, and the 5000 we read about here, were only there because of the miracles, because of what they have seen. Today we have the testament of all Christ did, and we have seen Him work in our lives and the lives of others. He is still working, performing miracles, and saving lives. So go be a miracle worker this week, allow Christ to use you in truly powerful ways. What we all saw over the past two weeks, and what those on Mission Serve saw a few weeks back, can be hard to put into words. But we see the Lord work in many ways, other times we just have to be willing to be used, and move out of his way. I am excited to share with you in the coming weeks about our trip and hope that you still believe in miracles.
