The Bread of Life P1

Moving into John chapter 6, Jesus has suddenly become very famous. The Galileans, the rural northern people of the country have heard about Jesus healing the sick and they begin flooding to Him. This chapter begins with the largest crowd who ever followed Jesus, and ends with a handful.

John 6 is the bread chapter. It begins with Jesus miraculously distributing bread to the crowds, feeding them until they are satisfied. And then, Jesus tells them that He is the bread that came down from Heaven, at which point the crowds leave Him.

The hymn we just sang (what a friend we have in Jesus) was written by an Irish man named Joseph Scriven. Joseph was a street preacher, often pelted with rotten vegetables while evangelizing. After he lost his first wife to drowning then moved to Canada and lost his second wife to sickness. After this he took a vow of poverty and began to help the poor. He sold all of his belongings, selling things like his watch to buy a local family a cow. Once his family in Ireland learned that he sold all his belongings they stopped sending him money.

His mother fell ill, and since he didn’t have the money to travel, he wrote this poem to her, which are the words of the song.

“Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee

Thou wilt find a solace there.”

Joseph Scriven’s story is a demonstration of the truths we’re about to learn today. That Jesus is the bread of life, and He provides well for His beloved people. Philippians 4:19 “ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

The crowds we read today will follow Jesus to be full and healthy, but the path will become narrow soon, and many will fall away.

My prayer is that you will hear this message and not just hear some new details to a timeless story, but that the actions and words of our Lord will shape you into pilgrims who follow Jesus down narrow paths, through dark valleys and yes, even green pastures.

Read John 6:1–15 “1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 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?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 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. 11 Jesus then took the loaves,…”

[Pray]

1.The Scene

John 6:1–15 ESV

1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.

The account we’re reading today is the only miracle recorded in all four gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). The scope of this miracle is enormous, the number of people involved could be as high as 15,000. And the miracle is explained in great detail by our Lord later in this chapter.

Jesus is in His home territory near the sea of Galilee. Recently this body of water had been renamed to honor the Caesar, Tiberias. (Sounds familiar). In modern times we call this area the Golan heights.

We have a time of the year, that is passover which is just a few weeks from now. April 12th of this year is the first day this year. 2000 years ago the climate and coastal winds in Israel would have been even more temperate. Today you’ll find dry grass most of the year, but back then the vegetation would have been greener.

The scene John sets is a beautiful, idyllic day. Residents would have known how beautiful this was. If you’ve visited fall in the smokey mountains, I wouldn’t have to paint the picture for you.

Then, just as there are now, would have been red flowers called Red Everlasting, or the Red Anemone (ah neh moh nee). These flowers carpet the fields and there are even festivals celebrating their bloom.

This is the scene John sets as we go to Jesus.

Why are so many following Jesus into the desert? Because He was doing miracles.

Last chapter Jesus told us He is the prophet Moses foretold of- someone who would be better than himself. Now, look at the parallels.

Moses took the Israelites out into the wilderness where they had to rely on God for food. Moses went up the mountain to spend time with God.

Jesus had a crowd of Israelites out into the wilderness where they would have to rely on Jesus for food. The disciples went up that mountain to spend time with Jesus.

2. The “Impossible” Test

John 6:5–6 ESV

5 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?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.

Jesus sees this crowd of people and points out an impossible problem. No one looks at 15,000 people and thinks, “now how am I going to take care of them”. We know the problem is too big for us, therefore it isn’t our problem.

Yet, Jesus is God in flesh. This story gets us into the mindset of God Himself.

You and I see an insurmountable problem, yet God sees a problem He solves every moment of every day. He feeds the birds, He clothes the lilies, He makes the rain pour down on the just and unjust. This is actually a very small logistical problem in light of the work God does daily.

So, what does Jesus, God the Son, do? He tests Philip.

“What are we going to do about this, Philip?”

And Philip sees and impossible problem.

John 6:7 “7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.””

Oh what peace we often forfeit!

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer

Application: Aren’t we the same way? Philip frets about eight months wages while talking to GOD.

What problem do you have that God cannot solve. Is there a bill too big? Is there loss that is too painful? Is there a regret that eternity with your Father won’t erase?

God does not have problems. He is not troubled. He is not worried.

What is the answer to Philips very difficult test?

“Well, Lord, will you feed them?”

John 6:8–9 “8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?””

Andrew starts out strong- he begins to offer some help for the problem. If he had just stopped at how many fish, he would have showed some enormous faith.

These barley loaves are the small flat palm sized loaves. Five of them and two small fish probably to flavor the loaves was enough for this child.

Yet, he says “but what are they for so many?”

Andrew, also fails this very easy test. He finds a small solution and gives up before even having hope.

We are much the same. Our blessings never seem to outweigh our problems. Lord, I know I have a house, a family, friends, food.. but I don’t have the next thing on the list.

3. The Master’s Lesson

John 6:10 “10 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 is about to demonstrate the answer to the test that Phillip and Andrew both got wrong.

John 6:11 “11 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.”

Jesus prays for the food! He gives thanks, and starts handing them out. He thanks the Father for what He has provided, and starts distributing enough for the whole crowd.

Jesus of course provides all of our needs. The crowds and even disciples doubted it, yet the bread and fish kept multiplying. Slowly the men who crossed their arms started scratching their heads. The mothers who worried about their children’s hunger started smiling. Maybe the bread and fish wouldn’t run out, and everyone could eat. Maybe this Jesus really can provide for us.

Has He proven it to you, brothers and sisters? Do you still wonder if Jesus can give you your daily bread?

He teaches His disciples how to pray,

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

He will give you the bread for today.

You will pray tomorrow, and He will give you the bread tomorrow. You will pray next week and He will give it to you next week.

Should He give you bread for a year, would you next meet Him in a year? Then He will only give you daily bread.

It starts with bread, and soon it will be more. Soon you will come to Him for everything first, then soon you will find that He is better than all the things you have needed. He is better than all He has given you. Soon will find Him better than bread.

John 6:1–15 ESV

12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

John Piper points out that it likely no coincidence that 12 baskets are picked up. Who has been doing the work handing out all this food? The disciples see all the food being distributed and surely have the thought in their head, “I’m hungry, too. I wonder If I’ll have enough” Then there it is, 12 baskets left over.

Jesus didn’t forget them. Matthew 6:8 “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

4.The Useful King

John 6:1–15 ESV

14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 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.

Passover is this huge national holiday for the Jewish people. July 4th does not compare at all to this. If you have connection to the military you might have some emotion when it comes to July 4th, but passover is a much more intense national holiday. This is the day they became independent of egypt, when God broke the hold of pharoah and they the slaves were begged to leave the land.

Passover is this religious, national, cultural phenomenon. And at the same time, there is civil unrest in the country. Every few years there were leaders who tried to drum up support, rebellions and the zealots who carried swords and were ready to fight.

There Jesus is, and the people thing, now there is a KING! He can feed us bread and fish. How useful.

You might notice I mention bad church practices a lot. And yes, I will continue to do so. Because they blaspheme God and their mouths are ash.

Many churches will preach a useful Jesus.

Does Jesus let them make Him King??? No

John 6:26–27 “26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.””

If you want Jesus to be your King, because He would be a useful King, He will resist you. He will not let you put Him on the throne.

Jesus’ will have a throne in a Kingdom, full of people who delight in Him.

[Give the Gospel]

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

So what is it? Is Jesus useful for your purposes? Or is Jesus your delight?