Trusting God With The Impossible

Text

John 6:1–14 NASB95

1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” 6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive 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 fish, but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

One of the things we are able to see in the book of John is the amazing power of Jesus. He is able to show power over the material things, power over life and death, power over diseases. He has power to save and our text is going to show us that He also has the power to sustain.

This miracle is of great significance because all Gospel writers recorded it, we know why John did (Jn 20:30-31). In this miracle we are able to notice how Jesus is able to meet an impossible situation and find a way to still work it all out.

Let this be a lesson to us this morning, that it doesn’t matter how impossible or improbale it seems to you, it is still no match for God.

He caused water to turn to wine as the waiters dipped and served, He healed a noble’s son long-distance, He met a man who was immobile for 38 years and caused the sickness to leave immediately. The situation is never a match for the Saviour.

The mountain might look immovable

The river might look impassible

The obstacle might seem impregnable

IT’S NO MATCH FOR JESUS

Be encouraged to today that this is the saviour that you have: so Trust Jesus with your Impossible!!!

Exegetical Discourse

John 6:1–2 “1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick.”

This is the eastern side of Galilee, less populated and represents the Gentile territory. Jesus would usually go here to retreat with his disciples or be in solitude, But the crowd has followed Him

Notice, that the reason for the crowd following Him was not for the message, but for a miracle. It was not because of who Jesus was, but what Jesus could do for them. It was not to fill their spirits but to fill their hands.

Why are you following after Jesus? Do you seek His presence, His fellowship? Do you seek His face, Do you long for moments of solitude with your Master? Or are you looking for a way to advance your agenda? Is Jesus your corneerstone or your stepping stone to something else? What gets you going and keeps you going? What’s the driving force in your life? - Why are you following Jesus? FOLLOW JESUS FOR THE RIGHT REASON!

John 6:3–4 “3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.”

John is strategic in mentioning the Passover because this was a feast used to commemorate the exodus of Israel from Egypt. It is when they ate the unleavened bread to remember what God did in saving them. It was when the death angel “Passed over” the land striking the firstborn. John is now introducing a New Passover, Saviour of the world, The Lamb of God, that will offer life to the world and His name is Jesus.

This mention is in preparation for what’s to come!

John 6:5 “5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?””

Jesus sees the situation and knows exactly what the situation needs - This must be someone’s sermon today that Jesus sees the situation, he sees the development of the dilemma, He know what the problem is. AND. . .He knows the solution

Psalm 46:1 “1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

God is my shelter and my support to keep standing when I fell like falling

God’s degree of helpiing is abundant

God’s help is just what is needed: it’s the right help, in the right amount, at the right time it is needed

Jesus sees you. . .

Jesus turns to Phillip (the logician, the local boy, he knows where the best bread spots were) asking, “where are we to buy bread” - Acc. to Mk 6:35-37, the disciples wanted to send them away to solve that issue for themselves - they wanted to ask the people to do something that they could not do for themselves.

The nature of the situation is dire - This is a whole lot of people, they are hungry, this place is empty, it is late, the shops are closed, Ms. Shirley the bread lady is not open today. There is an impossible situation on our hands and what do we do? But this is exactly when Jesus raises the question

It is the least likely time to have a solution to such a problem, and this is exactly the time Jesus raises the issue!!!

Why? John 6:6 “6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.”

Sometimes the situation looks darkest, the moment before Jesus does something.

That’s when the money leaves but the monthend is still coming, that’s they walk out on the relationship when you least expected it, that’s when you get an answer you were not preparing for, that’s when the boss gives the promotion to someone else when you have been doing all the work, that’s when the doctor says there’s nothing more we can do - sometimes it’s at the darkest hour Jesus shows up - SO HOLD ON!

It is not too much to beleive that Jesus will do something. Even if the only thing that changes is YOU! He would’ve done something.

John 6:7–9 “7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive 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 fish, but what are these for so many people?””

This is beyond logic Jesus, it’s beyond our financial capabilities, it is beyond our power to do -

Jesus is saying: It is not beyond ME!

Stop limiting Jesus to the ceiling of your capabilities. Not because you think it can’t be done, means, that it can’t be done.

“there is a boy with five barley loaves and two fish”

Barley bread was poor people bread - this wasn’t multigrain, or sourdough, focaccia - this was ordinary bread. Two interesting things:

This boy was found (Mk 6:38) and willinging gave his meal to help feed the masses.

The other interesting thing is, what amazing things happen when you put ordinary things in extraordinary hands.

This is ordinary bread that’s why they asked, “what are these, to so many people” - NOTHING

But to Jesus it was the beginning of something great, now regular bread and two fish is going to feed over 5000 people because it was now in the hands of Jesus - Learn to put the regular, the ordinary, the little bit in the hands of Jesus and watch Him do some great work.

[Levaughn]

If they put it in Peter’s he might have denied it

If they put it in Thomas’ hands he might have questioned it

If they put it in Judas’ hands he might have sold it

If they put it in Nathaniel’s hands he would’ve asked, “can anything good come from this?”

Thank God, they put it in the right hands, Jesus’ hands

When you put it in Jesus’ hands, God gets all the credit when He takes your impossible and works it out.

That’s when you can boast “taste and see that the Lord is good”

“This poor man cried and the Lord inclined to me”

You know God can do it, not because someone told you, but you tried Him for yourself and concluded - GOD NEVER FAILS!

ONE of the reasons you’re still struggling with your impossible, is you don’t want to hand it over to God, you’re still trying to figure it out yourself. How is that working out?

Maybe you’re thinking it will scare God away

Maybe you’re thinking people will look at you differently if they know about this

Maybe you over estimate your competence/intellect

Even on your best day, you still need God!

John 6:10 “10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.”

They’re hungry, it’s late, there are children there. . .Jesus says to “sit down”

The situation is hopless. . .”sit down”

We don’t have enough to solve this problem . . . “sit down”

The peace of this instruction is unmistakeable, there are things going on around me and you just want them to sit down? YES!

Two things happen when they did this (IMPLIED):

They have to look to Jesus

They have to wait on Jesus

[Segue]

John 6:11 “11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.”

Mark 6:41 “41 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all.”

Jesus kept on blessing, kept on breaking and they kept on sharing and folks kept on eating

This happened until everyone ate as much “as they wanted”

Did you notice what Jesus did with an impossible situation?

The text doesn’t just say they were fed, but they were filled.

From only having 5 loaves and 2 fish to everyone being satisfied (Mark 6:42 “42 They all ate and were satisfied,” )

Jesus sustains and He sustains abundantly! And leaves you fully satisfied!

This means that you should not be going anywhere else for any other kind of satisfaction.

Any other, is a substandard and deficient and will leave you wanting.

John 6:12–14 “12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

[Only John mentions this] Supplies from Jesus do not go to waste - John 6:27 “27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.””

The disciples (that were tested) served by picking up the fragments, which amounted to more than what 200 denarii could by.

There were 12 baskets left over - from 5 loaves and two fish, to 12 baskets left over

Trust God with your impossible

Thou anointest my head with oil, and my cup runneth over - God does not just fill your cup, He causes it to run over.

His mercies are new every morning

John 10:10 “10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Philippians 4:19 “19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Some have take this teaching use, abuse and confuse others in their effort make financial profit from the ministry of the gospel

But that reality does not make the teaching any less true. The devil will be happy if you pay no attention this and fail to realize the true nature of the God you serve.

The devil is a liar!!!

Put the impossible in God’s hand sit down, and watch Him bless you ‘til you have some left over.

You will have strength left over

You will have money left over

John 6:14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.””

When God works out the impossible, you ought not to be quiet.

We make noise for family limes, cricket matches, sporting events - we ought to make even more noise when God turns the impossible around.