Impossibilities are God's Specialties

Introduction

If we think for just a few minutes we all could think of some impossibilities. However, our God specializes in impossibilities. The word impossible isn’t even in Jesus vocabulary. As a matter of fact we are going to see Jesus perform two impressive, impossible feats in John 6. We will see Jesus feed the 5,000 and walk on water. If He can do these, imagine what He can do with your life and your impossibilities! This wasn't merely a demonstration of Jesus's power over the physical realm; it was a profound revelation of God's character and His methodology. Jesus was teaching us something revolutionary about how God operates.

Today, we stand at the intersection of human limitation and divine possibility. Like the disciples on that Galilean hillside, we often find ourselves confronted with situations that seem utterly impossible—financial crises that appear insurmountable, relationships that seem irreparably broken, health challenges that defy medical explanation, or spiritual deserts that stretch endlessly before us. Yet this passage reminds us of a fundamental truth that echoes throughout Scripture: what seems impossible to us is merely an opportunity for God to reveal His glory. The impossibilities in your life are not roadblocks to God's plan—they are the very canvas upon which He paints His most magnificent works.

1. Perception: Seeing Lack, God Sees Limitlessness

Imagine a painter with a blank canvas. While many would see an empty surface, the artist sees potential, a vibrant landscape waiting to come alive. Life can sometimes feel like that empty canvas, limited by our view. But to God, the Creator, the world is a masterpiece in waiting, full of color and possibility. When we trust His vision, we realize He sees abundance where we see emptiness!

a. Human Perception - Webster defines impossible as “incapable of being or of occurring, insuperably difficult.” Many of our circumstances seem to fall into this definition. Philip's response was immediate and calculated: "Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little" (John 6:7). Philip did the mathematics. He assessed the resources. He counted the crowd. And his conclusion was inescapable—it was impossible. This is the human perspective, the natural way we approach overwhelming circumstances. We see what we don't have, we calculate the deficit, and we conclude that the gap is too wide to bridge.

b. Divine Perception - But notice Jesus's response. He didn't panic. He didn't call an emergency strategy meeting. He didn't send the people away. Instead, He saw what the disciples couldn't see—an opportunity to display divine abundance. This is the crucial difference between human perception and divine vision. Where we see scarcity, God sees sufficiency. Where we see limitations, God sees limitless possibilities.

2. Provision: God Multiplies the Meager

Consider the great missionary William Carey, who went to India with nearly nothing. At one point, he had only a few cents, yet he felt called to start a school. Through small donations from friends and hard work, that meager beginning turned into a flourishing educational system. Carey's faith and willingness to step out with little is reminiscent of the widow's mite. God multiplies our meager efforts as we trust Him with what we have, transforming it into something miraculous.

Andrew brought a young boy to Jesus with a report that must have sounded almost comical given the circumstances: "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" (John 6:9). Notice the resignation in his voice—he presented the resource but immediately qualified its inadequacy. Five barley loaves weren't even wheat bread; they were the food of the poor. Two small fish were likely dried or pickled, hardly enough for one person's substantial meal, let alone thousands. Yet this meager offering became the starting point for one of history's greatest miracles.

a. Jesus Gave Thanks - Before the multiplication came consecration. Jesus didn't complain about the insufficiency; He gave thanks for what was available. Gratitude is often the key that unlocks God's multiplication in our lives.

b. Jesus Broke Bread - God often breaks what we offer before He multiplies it. The breaking process isn't punishment—it's preparation. Our gifts must be broken and distributed to reach their full potential in God's hands.

c. Jesus Distributed Abundantly - The text says Jesus gave to the disciples, and they distributed to the multitude "as much as they would" (v.11). This wasn't rationing or scarcity management—this was abundance beyond expectation.

The principle remains constant: God's provision is always proportionate to our need when we trust His timing. He specializes in making much out of little, turning our inadequate offerings into more than enough. The aftermath of the miracle is equally instructive: "Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves" (v.13). Not only did everyone eat until they were satisfied, but there were twelve baskets of leftovers—more than what they started with. This is God's mathematics: He doesn't just meet the need; He exceeds it, leaving evidence of His abundant provision. When God multiplies your meager resources, there will be testimony-producing leftovers that prove His faithfulness to others.

3. Purpose: God’s Power Revealed to Inspire Faith

Consider the story of Thomas Edison and his development of the light bulb—many failures followed his initial attempts. Yet, he famously said, 'I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.' Likewise, when God led the Israelites out of Egypt, they faced numerous challenges, but His power was always at work, revealing His purpose. Edison's journey reminds us that perseverance and faith in God can illuminate our paths, even when the light seems dim.

Perhaps the most overlooked verse in this narrative is verse 6: "And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do." Before Jesus asked Philip where to buy bread, He already had the solution planned. The question wasn't for Jesus's benefit—it was a test designed to reveal Philip's level of faith and to teach all the disciples a profound lesson about divine provision. God often tests us not to discover what we will do, but to reveal to us what He can do.

a. The Test - Jesus presents an impossible situation: feed thousands with limited resources and no apparent solution. This wasn't cruelty—it was curriculum.

(1) The Purpose of the Test

Reveals our Dependence - When we can handle situations with our own strength and resources, we rarely turn to God. Impossibilities drive us to our knees and remind us of our absolute need for divine intervention. They strip away self-sufficiency and replace it with God-dependency.

Demonstrate His Power - God's power is most visible against the backdrop of human impossibility. The greater the challenge, the more spectacular the testimony when God moves. Your impossible situation is the perfect stage for God to demonstrate His sufficiency to a watching world.

Deepens Our Faith - Faith grows in the gymnasium of impossibility. Each time God proves faithful in a situation that seemed hopeless, our confidence in Him increases. Today's impossibility conquered becomes tomorrow's testimony that strengthens us for the next challenge.

Directs Others to Christ - Notice the crowd's response: they recognized Jesus as "that prophet." Your testimony of God's faithfulness in impossible circumstances becomes an evangelistic tool that points others to the power and person of Christ.

b. The Response - The disciples calculated impossibility. They saw lack. They focused on what they didn't have rather than Who they did have with them.

c. The Miracle - Jesus demonstrated His power, not just to feed bodies, but to feed faith. He showed that He is sufficient for every impossibility.

d. The Recognition - "This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world" (v.14). The miracle produced revelation about Jesus's identity and mission.

Conclusion & Invitation

As we conclude this journey through John 6:1-14, we return to our central truth: impossibilities are God's specialties. This isn't mere religious optimism or positive thinking—it's a biblical reality demonstrated throughout Scripture and available to every believer today. The same Jesus who multiplied five loaves and two fish on a Galilean hillside is present with you in your impossibility right now. He hasn't changed. His power hasn't diminished. His willingness to work miracles hasn't waned.