Jesus Fills Our Hunger

Introduction

I want you to know that today we study a very important miracle of Jesus. In fact, other than the Resurrection, no other miracle is recorded in all four gospels. This morning we will study the feeding of the five thousand. For you note takers you find this story recorded in Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44, Luke 9:11-17; and this morning we will study from John’s Account, John 6:1-14.

Scripture Reading

John 6:1–14 NKJV

1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 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?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” 10 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. 11 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. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 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. 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.”

Prayer

Message

1. General Assessment: Mankind Starves for Wholeness VV. 1-3

In our first verse, John 6:1 “1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.”

The Sea of Galilee is really a large freshwater lake (about 13 miles long and 8 miles wide) in Northern Galilee. By the way, Jerusalem is in the hill country of Judea and the Sea of Galilee is in Northern Israel-80-90 miles away, a 3-5 day journey by foot in biblical times.

260 miles long and from 40-70 miles wide, 40 miles wide at Tel-Aviv Jerusalem.

We learn in Luke 9:10 “10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.”

Think in these terms. Montgomery is Jerusalem and they travel northward about the distance of Birmingham and at Birmingham is the Sea of Galilee.

The Sea of Galilee is 9,000 acres shy of being the size of Lake Martin.

The feeding of the five thousand happened on the eastern shore, the land rises into grassy hillsides, and served as an ideal place for the people to gather.

What had been happening before this miracle?

What had created this interest?

John 2:1-11-Water into Wine at Cana of Galilee-He demonstrated His authority over creation and His ability to transform. He brings joy and New Covenant fullness.

John 4:46-54 Healing the Nobleman’s Son Also in Cana-Jesus’ healed from a distance. He showed Jesus power over distance and space. Note something: The man believed before he saw.

John 5:1-15-Jesus heals the lame man at Bethesda. Christ power over time, tradition and limitation.

That miracle at the pool at Bethesda stirred controversy because it happened on the Sabbath and led to confrontation with the Jewish leaders in John 5:16-18.

The event created a stirring. The lame man was advertising Jesus and the manner in which he was healed. The religious leaders were agitated because Jesus did not conform to their standards and the world they knew. Oh listen to me dear brother or sister, When Jesus presents Himself to us in the power of the Holy Spirit’s wooing it is an alluring, there is a stirring of our very soul and being.

So, by the time we reach John 6:1 there is already this momentum, this ramping up of the people to be drawn to Jesus. Oh listen Jesus draws people to Himself. But what is interesting is that Jesus loves you unconditionally, but He will not force Himself on you. He invites you into a relationship with Him. Jesus loves you enough that He wants you to voluntarily love Him. What I am speaking of is free will. The Lord does not force Himself on us. And I share that to say that by this time; there were people that opposed Jesus and people that were drawn to Jesus.

Growing Conflict-the Religious leaders are actively opposing Him because He upset the status quo. They did not want to change.

On the other hand, the crowds were growing because whatever they pursued in this life to this point did not bring satisfaction. They could not find completeness. Oh dearly beloved, we are spiritual beings and there is a void everyone of us have and that void will not be fulfilled until we come into a relationship with Jesus. We as creation are drawn to our Creator.

Growing Crowds — People were increasingly following Him for His miracles

John 6:2 “2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.”

Growing Compassion — Jesus, weary from ministry, still desired to teach and meet the needs of the people.

Mark 6:31 “31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.”

Listen, we do not know exactly how long between the events of chapter 5 and chapter 6 as to what span of time it took Jesus and the disciples to move from Jerusalem to the area of Bethsaida. All we do know is that that type of travel is tiring. We also know that from:

Matt. 14:13 “they followed Him on foot from the cities.”

-Followed on foot from all the cities

Luke 9:11 “the people followed Him.”

Mark 6:33 “many people knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.”

-Ran there from all the cities...and the question is why

People walked, people ran and the question we must ask is why?

Mark 6:34 “34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.”

There is a void, this vacuum and we scurry in this life until we fill it.

Some were curious, drawn by the crowd. Others were desperate, they needed healing or in desperate need of help. Yet others were hopeful, they were looking for a political Messiah. I imagine very few were devoted, seeking spiritual truth and transformation.

The same question could be asked of you today?

Why are you here?

Just as the crowd came for many reasons that day, people today walk through church doors for all sorts of reasons — not all wrong, but not all rooted in true hunger for God.

Are you here because you are curious. You heard something was new, exciting or different. Becky as pianist, Ron as worship leader, a barbeque or community fair. We sing to a video every now and then. You see in that instance, you are drawn by novelty or emotion, not by conviction.

You may be here today because its your culture. It’s what we do. You attend out of habit, tradition, or family expectation. Church then becomes a checklist, not a connection. Oh listen, many confuse attending with abiding. Are you simply attending are you abiding in Jesus?

And you might be one who is here as crisis driven. Are you like the sick and hungry in the crowd. You come out of hurt, pain, loss, or desperation today? Oh listen dear brother or sister, that is not a wrong motive, but its not a complete motive. You can come for the blessing and miss the Blesser.

Or you may have come as a consumer, “What’s in it for me?” Oh so common in today’s church culture. You come for comfort, programs, social benefit, not transformation.

Oh listen closely, some came that day to Jesus for the loaves and not the Lord.

John 6:26 “26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”

Oh listen dearly beloved this morning, I hope you are here because you are committed. “I have come to meet with Jesus.” Oh that’s my heart’s desire. I want to have a fresh encounter with my Lord. I’m hungry for His presence, not just His provision.

Psalm 42:1–2 “1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”

Everything jumps off the page as to why we want to run to Jesus to feast on His goodness, His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, and His salvation. They were running, Jesus was sitting, they were panting and Jesus is plentiful. V. 10- “there was much grass in the place.” Sitting is a picture of relaxed, life is restful, the green grass represents the bountifulness we know in Christ Jesus. Let’s continue on.

2. Glowing Appraisal: We Fall Short in our Own Strength VV. 4-9

John 6:4 “4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.”

Time doesn’t permit to adequately discuss Passover than to say that Passover was a celebration when the death angel passed over the home of the Israelite that had the blood on the lintel of the door at twilight and they ate the seder meal in celebration as the death angel killed the first born male of every home of the Egyptian as God brought the tenth plague.

Isn’t it interesting that the crowd of what could have been 10,000-20,000 people were there to see Jesus, yet the Passover, the feast of the Jews was near. Oh listen to me dearly beloved, that reality reminds me that church and religion in and of itself will not satisfy. A relationship with the person of Jesus Christ and all that he offers brings real satisfaction.

Look with me at verse 5-6:

John 6:5–9 “5 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?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?””

We see the compassion of Jesus and we see the crossroad that Philip and Andrew came to.

A. We see the compassion of Jesus. Jesus had the sensitivity to know these people were hot, tired and hungry. And He knows your desperation as well.

Oh listen to me dear brother or sister, Jesus loves you. He loves you regardless of why you came to church today. He loves you whether you came out of curiosity, whether you are in crisis mode, whether you are simply a consumer or you may be highly convicted over a wrong in your life. God still loves you and let you in on a little secret:

He knows why you are here. He knows why you are here.

Verse 6 reveals that he was testing Philip and He already knew what He would do.

B. We see the crossroad of Philip and Andrew

Philip and Andrew represent us the saved. They were apostles. These were men that loved Jesus greatly but they were a work in progress. They are like many of us believers, they were being sanctified. They were growing in their awareness of who Jesus was with each passing day. I’m 63 years of age and I grow each day in my awareness of who Jesus is.

Do you function in this life like Philip? Are you a facts and figures type of individual? Ron as our Wednesday night cook on Business meeting night knows just the exact amount of food to buy to serve the number of people he is serving. That is a gift. Philip was a bean counter, he was calculated and he said, Lord, two hundred denarii would not buy these folks food and that wouldn’t satisfy them. Seven months wages would not feed this crowd and anyway, I believe you asked me because I am from Bethsaida and you undoubtedly know that there is no market or store or square that would have this much food ready. Lord, that is an impossibility.

“Philip ran the numbers and decided it couldn’t be done.”

Financial Fear: “We can’t afford to tithe right now… maybe later when things improve.”

Ministry Hesitation: “We can’t start that ministry; we don’t have the people or budget.”

Relational Doubt: “There’s no fixing this marriage—it’s too far gone.”

Health Anxiety: “The doctor said it’s impossible; why pray?”

Church Vision: “We’re too small for that kind of outreach.”

Hebrews 11:6 “6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Do you function in life like Andrew? I have a feeling this might help Jesus. “I found a lad with two fish and five barley loaves, but what are they among so many?”

Now do not allow me to bash Andrew because Andrew was always the guy that carried people to Jesus. Oh that we would be more like Andrew. Andrew carried his brother Peter to Jesus, Andrew carried this lad to Jesus that performed the miracle, and Andrew brought some Greeks to Jesus to bridge cultural gaps in John 12. Oh let’s be more like Andrew.

“Andrew felt hopeful—but still unsure: ‘What are they among so many?’”

Emotional Religion: “I don’t feel close to God, so I must not pray.”

Moral Relativism: “It feels right, so it must be okay.”

Relationship Choices: “I know they’re not a believer, but I love them—that’s what matters.”

Church Involvement: “I don’t feel appreciated, so I’ll step back.”

Forgiveness Struggle: “I can’t forgive them—I just don’t feel it.”

But in this instance, Andrew operated on feelings. Listen to what the word of God says about our feelings:

2 Corinthians 5:7 “7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

When we walk by sight it represents the things we see, sense or feel and dearly beloved, our feelings will mislead us.

Jeremiah 17:9 “9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

Our emotions can be deceptive. What feels right can still be wrong.

Proverbs 14:12 “12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

What often “seems right” is often emotional impulse, not a spiritual truth.

Faith represents trust in what God has said, even when we don’t see or feel it. Application: Feelings change with circumstance; faith stands on God’s character.

Living by faith is rooted in God’s unchanging truth.

Feelings change, but God’s Promises Don’t

2 Timothy 1:12 “12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

3. Grand Act: Jesus as Lord Brings Full Satisfaction VV. 10-14

Well, as you know Jesus took the little the boy had to offer and it was enough. Two fish and five barley loaves.

Let me ask you a question? Are you hungry spiritually today? Do you need answers? God is authoritative.

John 6:10 “10 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.”

“Make the people sit down.” I remind you that sitting down is rest and the green grass is abundance. Do you need rest? Do you want love and blessedness and bountifulness today? Sit down and listen. God is a God of order. In the other gospel He told them to sit them down in groups.

“Jesus said, I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life, no man comes to the Father but by Me.”

Oh dearly beloved, when Jesus called them to sit down, the word states that “Jesus took the loaves and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples...”

The story began with an empty hillside and hungry people — but it ended with satisfied souls and baskets left over. That’s what Jesus does when we bring what little we have and place it in His hands.

For the Lost — The Invitation to Receive Christ

Maybe you’ve come today like that crowd — searching, hungry, restless. You’ve tried the things this world offers: success, possessions, pleasure, even religion — but you still feel empty inside. Friend, you’ll never find wholeness until you find Jesus.

He said later in this same chapter, ‘I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger.’

If you’ve never trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, He’s inviting you today to come and feast on His grace — to receive forgiveness, purpose, and life that truly satisfies. You don’t have to earn it. Just bring what you have — your need — and let Him do what only He can do.

For the Saved — The Invitation to Renew Trust

But maybe you’re already His disciple — and yet you’re living like Philip, calculating what God can or can’t do. Or maybe like Andrew, you’ve let feelings cloud your faith.

Jesus is calling you, believer, to bring your little lunch of faith and lay it back in His hands. That problem you can’t fix, that person you can’t reach, that step of faith you’ve been afraid to take — will you trust Him with it?

When you give it to Him, He’ll do more with it than you ever could. Faith doesn’t always make sense, but it always makes a difference.”

CLOSING APPEAL (Bringing Both Together)

In this story, Jesus didn’t just feed the crowd — He filled them. Every stomach was satisfied, and every basket overflowed.

And He still satisfies today. The Bread of Life stands ready to feed every soul that will come to Him in faith. Will you come? Will you trust Him — not just for salvation, but for every situation in your life?

When you’re faced with a problem this week: Don’t figure it out — faith it out. Don’t fear it out — trust it out.”

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” — Ephesians 3:20

Let’s pray.