Like No Other (pt1)
Notes
Transcript
Part 1: The Savior (John 6:1-16)
Introduction
Introduction
One in a million. A normal phrase we toss around to describe something special. But where does its value really come from? is it just the rarity, or is it something intrisic? Today we are having a two part series called Like No Other. This morning we will begin with part one “The Savior-Like no other”. Tonight
1. The Compassion of the Savior (6:1-5)
1. The Compassion of the Savior (6:1-5)
After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 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?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
He saw the multitudes
He saw the multitudes
He saw their physical needs
an impossible situation (5-7)
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?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
Phillip illustrates the spiritual need by immediately crunching the numbers and checking the budget, but not even properly ansering Jesus’ question. About a year’s salary to feed them a little bread.
Phillip’s responce reminds of my mom. She would be in the kitchen preparing for dinner. We would ask her if she needed any help. You could right it down her responce would always be the same. “Well i’m just in here doing...” then she’d list off the many things she was trying to accoplish, but she’d never tell you yes or no… I’m just like her in that reguard...
As mentioned earlier The disciples in Matthew’s account urged Jesus to send them off to get thier own lunch. Which honestly isn’t a bad notion. When Tom, Tommy, and I attend the GBC they schedule lunch and supper breaks and send us on our way to fend for ourselves. Its a logical and easy solution to the problem.
But Jesus isn’t as concerened with solving the physical problem as much as he desires to know him better. There is a world of differnce between knowing about Jesus and Knowing Jesus.
He saw their spiritual needs
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
He cared for the multitudes
He cared for the multitudes
He didn’t send them away
The disciples wanted to send them away according to Matthew 14:15
When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”
He wanted them to see Him
Why did Jesus perform miracles? to help the needy? to Heal the sick? comfort the grieving?
Clearly the miricles did benifit those who recieved them, but most of his miracles were meant to be signs. proofs that he was whom he claimed to be.
Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”
2. The Power of the Savior (8-14)
2. The Power of the Savior (8-14)
A humble sacrifice (8-11)
A humble sacrifice (8-11)
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
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. 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.
This small, humble meal for a small boy. I’ve often wondered what went through this boy’s mind during this exchange. He’s been following the crowd Gets hungry and starts to open the package that his mom probabbly packed him. These five little loaves of barley, two little fish. Not alot of food at all, but just enough for him. Then, the Disciples walk by and Andrew makes the announcement that the boy has food. He hears Jesus ask for it and commands the crowd to sit. Is he worried what his mom will say when he gets home? All we know is that Jesus alone knew what was about to happen (v 6). The boy probably thought that his little humble sacrifice was an honor to feed Jesus, the great teacher and healer. He had no idea that Jesus was about to show off His power and provide for all of them.
A Powerful blessing (10-13)
A Powerful blessing (10-13)
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. 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. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 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.
Jesus’ power is unmatched because He is God. Sometimes, I think we forget that. We know it in our heads,b ut forget it in our hearts. When impossible situations present themeslves we tend to defaut to human options, like Philip or the Disciples. We plan, we think, we work to make things happen.
The text says that Jesus gave thanks, then began breaking the loaves and fish. It reminds me of another time when before raising Lazurus from the dead. John 11:41-42
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
I don’t think Jesus “needed” to pray in order to be able to perform the miracle, but He did it so that people would understand that God sent him.
An amazing sign(13-14)
An amazing sign(13-14)
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. 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.”
What a miracle, feeding thousands of people. No catering required, simply God doing the impossible. But this time he did it through the hands of faithful hearted people.
And the people recognized the sign. They knew that Jesus was from God. They called him prophet and were intending to make him king (v 15). As signs go this wasn’t a hint, or a wink or a nod. It was a billboard. Jesus wanted them to know more about who he was, and they now recognized his power.
3. The Love of the Savior (15)
3. The Love of the Savior (15)
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
He did not come to be made king
He did not come to be made king
Jesus is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Jesus will reign as king, but at this point in history it isn’t time yet. He doesn’t need or obviously even desire for the people to try and make him into their king.
He wasn’t the first that the people rallied behind. There was a whole group called the zealots whom were active rebels agains Rome. One of Jesus’ disciples was one of them, we know this because his name in the Gospels is recorded as Simon the zealot.
He came to become the sacrifice
He came to become the sacrifice
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
Conclusion
Conclusion
The difference between a great man and a good man, is humility. Jesus is God. He has all the power of God, yet he chose to make himself lower in order to save us all from our sins. We need to remember who we are worshipping.
Isn’t it great to know that God can take our humble sacrifices, Our little talents, gifts, but most importantly hour sincere hearts and make something great out of them. But we must remain humble when God chooses to use us.
