Go to the Source

Once on a missions trip I visited the head-waters of the Nile in Uganda

Lake Victoria and a shallow rapids, beautiful but not spectacular becomes the longest river in the world.

One primary source of the Missouri River is Madison Lake in Yellowstone Nat’l Park

This little trickle grows into a large river that flows into the Mississippi River.

Rivers are sources of energy, transportation, drinking water, cooking, and a major economic influencer.

Gossip destroys churches, families, and communities

Rumors kill. If you have a question, go to the source. Find out the truth.

Source of information

It’s amazing how much better electric appliances work when they’re plugged in.

Toasters, blenders, vacuum cleaners, power drills.

If they’re meant to be plugged in, the won’t work if they’re not.

Source of power.

If you want things to work and work right.

If you want to have the power to get things done right.

If you want to build things.

If you want to save relationships.

If you want to know what really is going on so you can respond.

Then, go to the source!

Jesus is the ultimate source of everything we need.

He is the source of Life, Power, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Love.

We are designed and built t/b plugged in to Jesus. We don’t work right if we aren’t.

Not only does He provide for each of us individually, He provides for us so that we can help each other, too.

How do we know? Miracle #19. Feeding the 5000.

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Context

Kingdom parables

A king? No. The King.

The King of God’s kingdom.

He teaches things that are extraordinary. Then He performs to prove that what He teaches is true.

Previous miracles

It doesn’t matter if your family and ancestors used to believe or not.

Maybe no one else in your family has every believed in Jesus.

Anyone can live if they come to Jesus as their King, Messiah, and Lord.

Woman w/ the hemorrhaging issue was like Israel. Used to be alive, now dead. But she lived again when she approached Jesus as her King.

Jairus’ daughter had been sickly since birth, now dead. Like all Gentiles, really dead all their life.

But now the girl lives b/c her father approached Jesus as his King.

Jesus healed the 2 blind men so they could see things they had never seen before.

He delivered a mute man who could speak and say things he’ never said before.

Jesus will open your eyes so you can see what you need to see then do what you need to do and say what you need to say.

Now, the next 4 miracles go together to teach a bigger message.

Each one has it’s own point.

The next 4 miracles

Feed 5000+ (today. And, 1 of very few written about in all 4 gospels.)

next 3 weeks:

Jesus walks on water

Canaanite woman’s daughter is healed

Feed 4000+

I’ll wrap up this pkg of 4 on Aug 27 w/ not only the message of feeding 4000, but this entire section.

This is part of Jesus’ message at this point in His ministry.

He has been transitioning His message.

Jesus’ message now

Jesus has been rejected by Israel so now He’s focusing on 2 key points

Preparing the disciples for time when they will be continuing the work He started, building the Church.

Jesus will save anyone who comes to Him. He’s not just the Jewish Messiah. Jew or not, male or female, slave or free, middle-eastern or European or African or Asian, lighter or darker pigmented skin, tall or short, fat or skinny, athletic or musical or analytical or creative.

It doesn’t matter. He will save you if you believe in Him.

Now, let’s get into this first of 4 miracles and see how Jesus communicates this message.

, it was the Passover. This is the 3rd of Jesus’ time on earth. Meaning, this is the end of the 2nd year and the beginning of the 3rd.

He is 1 year away from the cross.

Matthew 14:21 NIV

The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:

As I’m talking about this keep in mind how many people were there.

5000 men, plus women and children.

1 woman for each man.

1.5 children per couple

17,500 people.

Picture a college basketball arena (concerts and conferences, too)

W/ this in mind, let’s get into it.

Suggestions ()

Matthew 14:13–16 NIV

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

Jesus’ 1st: Let’s get away

JB had just been beheaded and there had been long days of ministry.

Emotionally spent, physically, worn out, needed a break.

Jesus showd compassion on the 12 by suggesting they get away for break.

You remember how He’s told ppl not to tell their story, yet. The crowd is growing and it’s hindering what they can do.

No rest for the weary!

They can’t take a break, the ppl follow. So, Jesus shows compassion by healing and helping them.

Another long day of ministry is winding down, it’s getting dark, they’re a ways out of town (no DQ’s or grocery stores), everyone is hungry and tired.

So, after all the compassion Jesus has shown everyone this day, the disciples have a suggestion, and there’s very little compassion in it.

The disciples’: Send them away

It’s practical. There are small towns around but nothing close. They need time to vacate.

17,500 ppl.

But, that this is their first suggestion. The compassion germ hasn’t been caught, yet.

Even if it seems impossible to do anything too compassionate.

And, Jesus challenged them w/ His next suggestion.

This is impossible!

Jesus’ 2nd: You feed them

“You give them something to eat.”

Are you kidding?!

12 men feed 17,500 ppl. On a good day under the best of circumstances that would be a feat!

The ratio is intended to shock.

John 6:6 NIV

He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

John 6:Jesus knew what He was about to do and it’s as if He was exaggerating to make His point.

Jesus knew what He was about to do and it’s as if He was exaggerating to make His point.

Only, He was exaggerating.

He was testing Philip and the disciples.

“How will you feed the people I send to you?”

It was a test and they didn’t do very well.

Just like looking at bowl of flour, some eggs, cup of sugar, some salt, baking soda, a couple of sticks of butter, and some chocolate chips.

Then, telling your child to make some cookies.

If they’ve never done it before it may seem impossible.

But you have. This is easy.

you have. This is easy.

What will they do?

Supplies ()

Matthew 14:17–20 NIV

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

The disciples’ supply

John 6:7–9 NIV

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

John 6:7–8 NIV

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,

Again, 12 men, 17,500 ppl

The assess what they have.

If a cheeseburger costs $1, 17,500 are half/year’s wages.

And, nobody fills up on one little cheeseburger.

If you don’t have the money, what do you have?

One small boy’s lunch, not even a big boy’s lunch.

5 small loaves and 2 small fish

They huddled, emptied their pockets, asked around and came up w/ one c1. happy meal.

Notice, they never asked Jesus. What to do? Can you help?

This is not an exaggeration, it’s just impossible for them.

Think about what the masses see and know. If you’re in a basketball arena you can see a group huddled at mid-court and know they are emptying their pockets and having an animated conversation.

But, other than that, you have no idea what’s going on.

Think of the parent instructing her child to make cookies. What do you have? ingredients.

But, you also have an experienced baker.

Maybe, you should ask for help.

Before you throw everything into a bowl in the wrong proportions, mix it and try to eat it raw.

Maybe the disciples should ask Jesus for help.

They didn’t, but He helped anyway.

Here’s what He brought

Jesus’ supply

Organization

Luke 9:14 NIV

(About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

Luke

He sat them down in groups of 50. Why? don’t know.

Easier to serve. Easier to count.

350 groups of 50.

Sometimes we think organization and planning is ungodly.

Jesus brings order to our chaos. He did it at creation, he does it when we’re saved, and He did it here.

He planned, organized, and helped the men break it down into manageable sections.

The 2nd thing Jesus brought:

Thanksgiving

He prayed. He’s God. And, He prayed to His Father.

If Jesus thinks it’s important for Him to pray how much more important is it that we pray!

He modeled for His disciples.

It was brief and to the point.

Some of us could use that advice when we pray!

He gave thanks for what He had.

He offered no regrets for what He didn’t have.

“It would have been nice if we’d have more, but...”

“Thank you God for my Toyota. It’s no Lexus. But, thx anyway.”

He was honestly thankful for a boy’s lunch.

And, third, He brought:

An abundance

He breaks the bread and starts giving it to the disciples to pass out. Then, the fish.

Routine. Jesus worked thru the organization and routine.

The impact on the disciples thru this routine would have been overwhelming. As they kept going back to Jesus for more, more was supplied.

The ppl had no idea about all this. They just knew they were getting a modest, but free and filling supper.

12 disciples, 350 groups of 50. How many trips would it have taken before it came to you:

“Everything I need for them, I get from Him.” x3

The ppl had no idea about all this. They just knew they were getting a modest, but free and filling supper.

Word would have spread. Excitement.

It was organic and gluten free. Farm fed fish?

Where’d they come from? The Creator.

He didn’t need water or any meal to make fish and bread.

How many times they passed the baskets to each other did it take before it came to them:

“Everything I need I get from Him.” x3

No matter whether you are serving or being served, the source of everything nourishing is Jesus.

They started with 1 small lunch, 2 small fish, 5 small loaves and what did they end up w/?

12 disciples and 12 basketfuls.

Everyone ate until they were filled up.

Jesus took their meager resources and multiplied it until it nourished the masses.

What a rush! I don’t think anybody slept that night!

A mostly private miracle for the disciples to get a very important message.

But, how did the masses respond?

The People’s Response (

John 6:14–15 NIV

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Not only was this a test for the disciples, it was a test for the masses. How would they respond?

A prophet

Like Moses provided manna for Israel to eat

Like Elijah provided grain for a widow to cook with

Like Elisha provided oil for a widow to sell

Jesus is just the next on a short list of great prophets.

Jesus is doing what he’s doing on a much grander scale.

But, no, He’s not the next prophet.

Then, let’s make Him King

A king

Great, they recognize Him as King, but not THAT King.

They were ready to storm Rome and forcefully place Him on the throne.

Imagine, with Jesus as king of Rome no one would go hungry, or have to work even.

Bread and fish every day, a chicken in every pot, a car in every garage.

Jesus met their physical needs to prove He could meet their spiritual needs.

Spiritual needs are much more important than physical.

And, this was a test to see if they got this. They didn’t.

Next, in John, Jesus goes into a discourse.

All this, among other things and most importantly, has been to communicate to all of us, Jesus is the Bread of Life.

The people liked their multi-grain and were disappointed that this did not become a regular occurrence.

Miracles are not regular occurrences. Few happened more than once.

The problem w/ self-righteous people, those who think they are better than they really are, is they don’t believe they need a Savior.

They don’t see their sin as a serious problem.

And, see God as another Who has come to make their lives more comfortable.

But, what Jesus illustrated with this miracle is that we need Him. Everybody needs Him.

We’re all pretty smart. Doctors, lawyers, business owners. Creative problem solvers. White collar, blue collar, no collar.

If we were to pool our resources and compare to Jesus’ resources we would at best, have the equivalent of a small boy’s lunch.

The only reason that anything good may come of whatever comes out of my mouth, is b/c Jesus multiplies it in your life.

By itself, it’s like a sugar donut. Gone in 60 seconds.

Jesus is the source of everything important to us. We may receive a little bit of Him thru someone else. But, the point is to direct us past that one to get to the source.

How will you feed the people Jesus leads to you? Your children, grand children, neighbors and friends?

They are going to ask you for much more than you have to give.

First, go to the source for yourself. Then, when someone is asking for more wisdom or words than you have, go back to source and He will give you what you need to lead them to the Source.

Just like every kitchen appliance and power tool we have, we are designed to be plugged into the appropriate power source.

If not, we’re dead.

Applications

Abundance

If you try on your own you will never have enough.

Ask Jesus first. Don’t even bother inventorying your stuff.

When Jesus supplies for us He doesn’t give us just enough, He gives us an abundance.

He came that we might have life and have it abundantly.

The next time you doubt Jesus, but ask Him anyway, not only will He give you enough to help whomever is asking you, He will leave you holding a basketful.

Thankful

When you do inventory what you have be thankful for every little bit.

Don’t regret what you don’t have. Be thankful for what you do.

God can do more with less than we could ever do if we had it all.

Thank God for your husband/wife, kids, house, IQ, education, your little church in MP.

Don’t compare us to anybody else, wish we were somebody else, or trade us for anybody else.

Part of God’s provision in your life is us, this.

Be thankful.

Routine

Watch for Jesus to do extraordinary things in your ordinary routine.

Sometimes we get too caught up just looking for extraordinary. A burning bush, talking ass, multiplying fish.

They happen. But, they are rare.

Jesus does a lot of great stuff in the ordinary routines in our lives and then occasionally will do something extraordinary.

Don’t regret the lack of extraordinary. Be thankful for your ordinary routines and watch Jesus work regularly in your ordinary.

Even if we get together and pool all of the resources we have and compare it what Jesus has, it will be the equivalent of a small boy’s small lunch.

When I look at myself all I see is that I have the ability equal to a happy meal and I’m not even sure there’s a toy.

We have so little and we have so little to offer.

Everything we need we get from Him.

Everything we need for everybody else in our life we get from Him.

He is the source of everything important in our life.

We are designed to stay plugged in. If we don’t we’re dead.

Ask Jesus first. Don’t even bother inventorying your stuff.