Fish Sammiches

Matthew 14:13-21

Wiersbe: “The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is recorded in all four Gospels (Matt. 14:13–21; Mark 6:35–44; Luke 9:12–17; John 6:4–13). It was definitely a miracle. Those who teach that Jesus only encouraged the people to bring out their own hidden lunches have ignored the clear statements of God’s Word. John 6:14 definitely calls the event a “sign” or “miracle.” Would the crowd have wanted to crown Jesus King simply because He tricked them into sharing their lunches? (John 6:14–15) Not likely!”

What we are about to read, happened, historically and as testimony of miracle - that Jesus is the God that fed Israel He is the rock of water, he is the God of supply and salvation. John reminds us this was a sign, and we need to read it as such.

Now, Jesus in 14:3-12 was told about what had happened to John and the news affects Jesus

Matthew 14:13 “ When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.

Jesus was often filled with care, love and compassion not just for everyone but especially his family in God. Note as well that his compassion was in regard to healing. Note as doubt that compassion is also at play but it’s different in then”feeding “

Matthew 12:50 “ For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.””

John, the last OT Prophet, the man who baptized Him, his cousin on earth, the one who leapt for joy about him even in the womb, was beheaded for his faith. And Jesus as He often did, went into the deserted places to fellowship with His father.

But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.”

The fervor to follow Jesus has reached incredible pitch, and he doesn't seek it but its headed to the cross - and He knows it and the immensity of that, the miracles, the preaching the stand against those who claimed to interpret the law, is a magnet to many.

Many from outside Jerusalem are also coming into the area headed toward Jerusalem to prepare for the feasts.

Jesus, ever the compassionate servant, loves the people like only He can.

Matthew 14:14 “ And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”

Jesus, suffering, hurting, feeling what so many go through, looks at the mass of humanity around him, knowing their wicked hearts, loving them (not their sin) and even in the midst of those sins, he is going to die on their behalf. He feels it in His guts, The word translated “moved with compassion” literally means “to have one’s inner being (viscera) stirred.” esplanchenisthē - esplanknoniszomai - say that 3 times fast. Another occasion Jesus felt it in his guts - Matthew 9:35–38 “ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””

Romans 5:6–8 “ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 8:38–39 “ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

With the weight of everything around him, he bears it, and removes the yoke from those around Him. There is nothing, not even your own stupidity which can come between you and your savior, nothing in creation can. Call Him, he will answer.

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.””

Now, is this seems simple. The people wanted to follow Christ, to do what He said. The disciples know how difficult it will be, but what other option is there? (Jesus would provide again in (Matthew 15)

Matthew 14:16–17 “ But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.””

John 6:1-13 relates that this was the food being carried by a “lad”. A young man willing to share with Jesus.

though little, God our savior Jesus, could take this faithfulness and produce much.

This also shows that the ministry didn't have much money, and did not carry much with them. Like many poor they had just enough to purchase a meal for themselves, always dependent on God and the donations of those who cared.

Matthew 14:18–19 “ He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.”

It is very plain here, Jesus doesn't convince everyone to give a little like the kid did. He breaks what they have and like he did in the wilderness he feeds his people.

We are told in Nehemiah 9:15 “ You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, And brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, And told them to go in to possess the land Which You had sworn to give them.”

John 6:48–51 “ I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.””

1 Corinthians 10:1–4 “ Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

Baptism. Communion, the bread and life-giving water (wine). Its spiritual. But real.

Matthew 14:20–21 “ So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”

Now even if each guy only had one wife, one kid, that would be? 15k. Rather than speculate on how many folk, lets just say we wouldn't be able to do this. Jesus does more than just the improbably, but literally the impossible,

We can say, twelve baskets, for the twelve tribe, apostles, etc. Its all foreshadowing and pointing to what God does and has done.

In Closing: Why? Why does Jesus do the impossible by feeding 5k people with one lunch-able? Compassion: Matthew 14:14 “ And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” Quite possible butAlso, because we see it was more than that. Because it must be done. Its what He did in the wilderness - and as we are told in John 6:14 “ 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.””

Peter and John healed a man by the temple and when preached Peter said, Acts 3:22–26 “ For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.””

- Genesis 49:10 Deuteronomy 18:15