Food from the Lord
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
We all love a good cookout. Some of you actually love to take your food and go camping or have a picnic out in nature. Almost always, these types of trips are planned.
However, I want you to imaging for a moment following Jesus around for days trying to get a glimpse of Him. Maybe you are interested in His message or maybe you have some kind sickness that you need help with.
The crowds are huge and your food supply has run out but still you keep following Jesus around.
That is the scene we come upon this morning. Jesus has been ministering so much that He attempts to get away for Himself and His disciples, but the crowds find him and gather around Him flocking to Him like sheep on the mountainside.
The are hungry in more ways than one. They have a physical need, but also an even greater spiritual need to receive food from the Lord.
We are not different today. We need the Words of the Bread from Heaven this morning. Let’s dive in!
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”
18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.”
19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Pray
A Comparison of Two Feasts
Herod has a lavish feast with wickedness and debauchery
Jesus has a meager feast with healing and compassion
Herod takes life
Jesus gives life
1. The Need of the Crowds (vv.13-16)
1. The Need of the Crowds (vv.13-16)
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Many of the crowd had run on ahead of Jesus around the upper bend of the Sea of Galilee
Show map of the region
The lame and the sick were there so they would have had to get a head start
Many others were traveling through the area. We know that it was Passover according to John’s account so the crowds would have swelled with people that were coming through the area on their way to Jerusalem and were looking for a show
These would be those of the thorny ground in the Parable of the Sower. They had many cares in this world and were mostly looking for what Jesus could give them
Jesus has compassion on them. He sees them like sheep that are scattered on the mountainside
15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
The language of the disciple’s response is that they hope Jesus will send the crowds away to help themselves so that they could get away from the crowds and be alone
Even if the people did leave, the towns could not have supported that many people
The estimates based on the fact that there are 5,000 men counted and they would have their wives and children (and they had large families) is 15-25k people
The people have more than a need for just food and healing, though Jesus meets that need
They need Jesus to feed their soul
2. The Compassion of Jesus
2. The Compassion of Jesus
14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
We first need to see that Jesus sees the people and not just their problems
He sees them from the boat and is moved in his bowels
He has compassion on them and sees them like sheep without a shepherd all scattered on the mountainside
Jesus is tired and worn out. He’s needing to regroup and spend time with the Father and His disciples.
Jesus needs time for Himself to rest. He puts all of this aside and has compassion on the crowds.
19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
Jesus feeds the people
He pronounces a blessing over the people and prays a prayer of blessing like the head of a Jewish family would do
He breaks the bread and distributes it through the disciples
According to John’s account, Jesus had raised the question earlier in the day. John MacArthur makes the connection that He might have wanted the disciples to ponder all day how the need would be met
Rather than look to Jesus to meet the need, they look within themselves at their own abilities. This is crazy being they have Jesus right there
MacArthur says it’s like they are looking for a drink of water at the base of Niagara Falls
They got lost in the ministry. They have been a part of Jesus’ healing ministry all day. Surely Jesus could meet the need and yet they missed that fact
Jesus uses us though he could meet the needs of our world without us.
3. The Results of the Provision
3. The Results of the Provision
20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
12 baskets are taken up
Probably a reference to the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. These are the foundations of the people of Israel and the Church
We can serve in Jesus power and give all we’ve got without depleting God’s resources.
Conclusion
