The Feeding of the 5000

Introduction ()

Today we will begin our summer series, “Jesus the Miracle Worker”. Throughout the summer we will build our faith by focusing on the miracles of Jesus. Turn in your Bible to as we read about the Miracle of feeding the 5000.

John 6:1–6 NIV84

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

The feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle during Jesus ministry that is included in all four Gospels. The name, Sea of Galilee is the Hellenistic (Greek) name for the lake, and “Sea of Tiberias” was the Roman name of the Lake. And it is also call, The Sea of Gennesaret” which is its Hebrew name. The location of the miracle is east of the lake which is called the Golan Heights today.

This feeding took place east of the garden which would be called the Golan Heights today.

Holman New Testament Commentary: John A. Faith Is Expectant Obedience (6:1–15)

As we shall see, this chapter is about faith, but these people wanted food. Jesus talked about spiritual relationship, but the crowds were interested in physical showmanship. They focused on the lunch, not the love; on their bellies, not their beliefs.

The Test - Jesus want Phillip to look at this situation spiritually not physically, because he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Open your Spiritual eyes!

So many times we miss spiritual encounters and ministry because we refuse to see the situation with our spiritual eyes.

1. Phillip’s Response () The cost is too much.

John 6:7 NIV84

7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

The Cost is too Big and the results are too small. This is what happen when we depend on our own strength. When we walk by our own understanding.

The results are too small.

The question we should ask is, “What is God’s will?” not “What will it cost?” The cost becomes insignificant when we are in God’s will.

The other question we ask too many times, “What are the results”? The results become insignificant when we are in God’s will.

Too many Christians live there lives looking at a spiritual scoreboard. We must stay focus on Jesus and his will for our lives.

2. Andrew’s Response () The resources are too Small.

John 6:8–9 NIV84

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

John 6:8-9

How far will our resources go? As far as God wants then to go.

How far will our resources go.

One meal of one little boy. Barley loaves were the bread of the poor. the scripture tells us they were also small. The fish were small too. John want the reader to understand the the amount of food provided by the boy was very small, BUT the amount is not significant.

3. Jesus’ Response ()

The resources that were needed was faith.

John 6:10–15 NIV84

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

John

God can turn your little into plenty.

God can use your little to meet all of your needs.

God can use your little to bless others.

The cost is never too much for God, and the resources’ of God never run out.

The Cost is never too much for God, and the resources’ of God never run out.

We should not focus on what we do not have to give, but what we have to give to God.

We should not focus on what we do not have to give, but what we have to give to God.

When we allow Jesus to control a situation our obedience is relevant, but our resources are irrelevant. When we control a situation our resources are still irrelevant, but our disobedience becomes relevant.

When we allow Jesus to control a situation our obedience is relevant, but our resources are irrelevant. When we control a situation our resources are still irrelevant, but our disobedience becomes relevant.

We need to focus on obeying God rather than supplying God. God is not looking for our help, he is looking for our obedience.

We need to focus on obeying God rather than supplying God. God is not looking for our help, he is looking for our obedience.

We need to always consider the spiritual cost of not doing God’s will, rather than the physical cost of doing God’s will.

We need to focus on what we have plenty of rather than what we have little.

4. The people’s Response ()

The Cost is never too much for God, and the resources’ of God never run out.

The cost of the cross and the fountain of blood

There are always plenty of resources.

God’s miracles are not tied to our abilities, but to our obedience.

There are always plenty of

Your faith is base on where or not you believe these statements.

We need to always consider the spiritual cost of not doing God’s will, rather than the physical cost of doing God’s will.

God’s miracles are not tied to our abilities, but to our obedience.