What are these among so many

Reading: John 6:1-15
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9 (NIV)

I.   Jesus loves an Imperfect crowd

     A.  Following the Razzle - Dazzle

           1.  The people followed because of the miracles (v.2)

                 a.  These miracles added a little color to an otherwise dreary life!

           2.  Difference between following and following around. A lot of these people were just following Jesus around.

                 a.  Some folks hang on to Jesus, others are just hangers on.

                 b.  There are those who want to follow Jesus from a ‘safe’ distance

           3.  Jesus loves these folks too. Though He wants more for them than they want for themselves.

     B.  Following to just to Get

           1.  Later Jesus accuses the crowds of following just because they had a good meal. (v.26)

                 a.  They didn’t understand that the miracles were ‘signs’ pointing to God.

                 b.  Jesus knew they would get it wrong but he feeds them anyway.

           2.  Their sights are set too low. Jesus offers a message of eternal life.

           3.  Jesus loves these people enough to jostle them out of their complacency.

                 a.  In this sign Jesus reveals Himself as the one who gives bread from heaven.

                 b.  Later (v.35) Jesus reveals that He is the bread from heaven.

     C.  Following as a Confused disciple

           1.  Even the disciples don’t really know who Jesus is, or what the signs mean.

                 a.  The Gospels are full of examples of the disciples one minute expressing true understanding, the next completely missing the mark.

                 b.  They see and hear but they don’t get it.

           2.  Jesus doesn’t fit their idea of who He is supposed to be.

                 a.  He is constantly coloring outside of their lines.

                 b.  Jesus is constantly helping them expand their understanding of Who He really is.

           3.  Jesus teaches them/us best when they’re most confused.

                 a.  There’s a lot of comfort in that.

II.  Giving what we Can

     A.  Despairing with not Enough

           1.  Phillip is exasperated with Jesus’ question!

                 a.  Phillip was from this area so he ought to know the best places to shop.

                 b.  He responds practically - he does the math. There’s no way to make it add up

           2.  How could they ever do what this question implies. Jesus asks the impossible!

           3.  When we look at the needs of the world, and the supposed solution in our pockets we say “Wait a minute! Get a grip!”

     B.  Offering a little

           1.  One boy, a no-name kid, doesn’t know any better and just says “Here’s my lunch.”

                 a.  5 barley loaves (as big as a large roll really) and two pieces of cooked fish.

                 b.  Barley was the bread of the poor

           2.  But Andrew still has a question: How far will this go among so many? (v.9)

                 a.  Andrew does the math too.

                 b.  They don’t have what it will take, and what they do have is far too meager.

           3.  Jesus shows Andrew the answer to His question.

     C.  Thankful for the little

           1.  Jesus takes the little and gives thanks for it.

           2.  Not: “Hey at least you got something, be thankful!” Not:“Beggars can’t be choosers.”

           3.  Jesus is truly thankful because He already knows what God can do with a little, and that whatever God provides will be enough

III. More than enough

     A.  A little is Plenty in God’s hand

           1.  God, of course, doesn’t need our contribution to make His plan work.

                 a.  God is not short on cash.

                 b.  When he asks for our contribution He wants to show us what He can do.

           2.  In His hands even the little we give can become more than enough.

                 a.  God takes whatever we offer and makes it enough.

                 b.  This is very freeing!

           3.  This makes a big room for humility.

                 a.  It’s not your job to be the savior of the world. That’s somebody else’s job.

                 b.  But the Savior asks you to give what you can to help those who are in need

     B.  Everybody has enough

           1.  “as much as they wanted” (v.11)

                 a.  More than what they needed. More than the minimum

           2.  A poor boys lunch in Jesus’ hands is more than enough to feed the hungry

           3.  When our ability to really do something is questionable, when the math shows how insignificant we are remember this humble offering and what Jesus did with it.

     C.  Caring for the Left-overs

           1.  Just because God has plenty and can make plenty out of little, doesn’t mean He is wasteful. Or that we can be.

           2.  There’s a big reversal here:

                 a.  We often give our leftovers hoping they will be enough

                 b.  Jesus takes the little and produces so much with it that the needy have leftovers!

           3.  Even the most mundane of God’s gifts are treasures.

                 a.  Jesus will not be a party to letting anything His Father blesses go to waste.

The Bottom Line:

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