The World'd Most Famous Picnic

“The World’s Most Famous Picnic”

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Do you enjoy watching children learn things? I enjoy watching my grandchildren experience things for the first time.

· Watching Russ’s face as he was eating Home-made peach jelly for the first time.

· Explaining to McCartney that the little creature leaving a silver trail behind him was a snail.

Teachable moments don’t last for long; soon those opportunities will be lost forever.

Like a good parent, grandparent God looks for those opportunities in our lives where we are attentive and willing to learn.

They come during times when we’re worshiping God in song and the word, and prayer.

They come during hard times, when difficulty knocks us to our knees.

They occur during times when we face impossible situations, that we don’t have an answer for.

It is during these times that God teaches us; that he is control, He is powerful, He is our comforter, He is our provider.

We need to learn this over and over; because we forget so quickly. Every time a new difficult comes, or a new challenge we forget; God is able!

When we come down with spiritual amnesia, we go into spiritual decline.

And unless we draw near to Jesus, and learn how to follow them all over again we will lose our joy, peace, power and effectiveness in serving the Lord.

The apostles had the same problem!

They seem to forget what they learned from Jesus; every time they found himself in a difficult situation. An example of this is found in these verses in , where Jesus feeds the 5000.

This is one of Jesus most famous miracles; one of only two miracles mentioned in all four Gospels (the other is the resurrection).

This is the world’s most famous picnic. This miracle was a teachable moment in the life of the disciples: it taught them that Jesus could do the impossible, that he was able to provide any need they would ever have, in any place they ever found themselves. This miracle is such an encouragement to my heart, because I learn in the feeding of the 5000 that I will never have a need that Jesus cannot meet. And that Jesus can do a lot with a little. So if you feel small, unimportant, you feel like you only have a little to give; well cheer up my brother, my sister, I’m here to tell you that God can take a little, and do a lot.

V:14, Jesus had them sit down…

I want us to imagine that were sitting on that hillside and watching this miracle unfold.

We will learn that Jesus is the great provider and as we watch Jesus provide this miracle meal, we learn three lessons about our great provider.

Lesson #1 there is:

1. No Problem too Big for Jesus to Solve!

V:12-13a-Read.

Jesus takes his disciples across the Sea of Galilee to get some R&R. The disciples had just returned from their first preaching tour without Jesus being with them. They were exhausted, so Jesus was going take them on a retreat. I’m sure they were looking forward to some time alone with Jesus; a little privacy away from the public eye.

They had just got word that John the Baptist had been beheaded. So they are physically tired, and emotionally drained.

Jesus chose a place near the city of Beth-sa-ida. Luke tells us it was a private place, a desert place.

But their private retreat didn’t last long,

V:11-“ when the people knew it, they followed him…

It was a great multitude of people; some say it was 5000 men, plus the women and children.

Jesus received them, and spoke to them about the gospel of the kingdom, and healed them.

Oh the great love, compassion, grace, and hope that Jesus gives to people who come to him!

We’re not told how long Jesus preached and healed, but we’re told that it was getting late in the afternoon, V:12-Read.

The disciples recognize that it is approaching sunset, the people were hot, hungry and tired. The disciple’s solution to the problem, was to send the people away; we need to dismiss this service, and tell the people to go find a place to stay, and get something to eat.

That way everybody could look after their own needs; because there was no way they could meet the needs of the multitude.

The disciples recognized the problem:

The people were hungry, and needed food, there were 5000+ people to be fed. They had no food, no super Walmart, no Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, they didn’t even have a Casey’s nearby.

Luke tells us in, V:12-“it was a desert place.

They were out in the middle of nowhere, and it was late evening; they had a big problem, it was an impossible situation.

They said to Jesus, send them away, this is too big of a problem for us.

Jesus said to them, V:13-“you give them something to eat…

They answered, V:13, all we have is five loaves and two fishes; unless we go into town and buy food for all these people. I wonder if that was a sarcastic response to Jesus. Like, you told us to go on our preaching tour without any money, or bread, and now you’re asking us to go buy some food; with what? The gospel of John adds, that Jesus asked Philip, who was from this area; where they could buy bread to feed the crowd. Can you imagine what Philip thought?

Let me read it to you, -Read.

You see not only did the multitude need food, but the disciples needed faith. They needed to be taught the lesson again; that with Jesus no problem is too big to solve!

Can you imagine Philip, he gets out his calculator and he’s crunching numbers, and figuring the cost per person and how many people there were; and he comes up with the cost…200 Denari.

Philip knows they have a big problem, because the Lord has laid the problem in his lap. Lord it would take a year’s salary to just give everybody here a mouthful of food. Lord it is impossible! Philip knew there was no place around there to get that much food, and they didn’t have the money to buy the food, if it were available.

Was Jesus stumped, was Jesus seeking advice from Philip, did Jesus not know what to do? No of course not, -“The Lord asked this question to test Philip, for He knew what he would do”.

Philip flunked the test royally. Oh yeah, Philip had his facts right; but his faith was deficient.

Philip like the rest of the apostles, left Jesus out of the equation. When you leave Jesus out of your calculations, you will get the wrong answer every time! We are all guilty of using Philip’s calculator from time to time. We have a big problem, a huge challenge; we figure, we plan, we strategize, we think and we say; well it is impossible!

But let’s not forget to include the Lord Jesus Christ in our equation! There’s no problem too big for Jesus to solve; there’s no challenge to huge for Jesus to overcome. When Jesus looked at the disciples and said you give them something to eat:

He was facing them with their own inadequacy, in hopes that they would remember to ask him to supply what they needed. To place their faith in him; they had seen him do miracle after miracle; why not ask him for a miracle that afternoon.

But the disciples were looking at things from a merely human perspective; they were acting like men without a God.

Thinking only about what they had on hand, what they had the ability to provide from their own resources, not considering the power and sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Yes I know, the disciples had never seen a miracle like feeding 5000; but they had seen the power of Jesus demonstrated over and over again. The feeding of the 5000 reminds us that God is not limited by our resources.

They could have at least asked Jesus to supply what they were unable to give.

One day a little boy was trying to turn over a big rock while his daddy was watching him. The little fellow was straining, grunting, and heaving, but he couldn’t turn the rock over. The dad asked with a smile on his face, son are using all your strength; the little boy said yes daddy, I’m using all my strength. The daddy said, no you’re not, you haven’t and asked me to help you, I’m your daddy, and my strength is your strength.

Often we struggle, and wrestle with problems and difficulties that are too big for us; and we say, I don’t know what to do; I’m at the end of my strength.

When we come to the end of our strength and resources. Ask Jesus for his strength, his power, his provisions, his wisdom, his grace.

Whatever problem or difficult you have, it may be to be for you, but it isn’t too big for Jesus!

Think of your biggest problem; you got in your mind? Now double it, double it again; question, is it too big for God? The answer is no!

-“I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?

The problems, challenges we have must be turned over to Jesus. He spoke the world into existence, he flung the stars into space, he cast out demons, healed the sick, raised the dead; he can feed the multitude! When we face an impossible situation, all our self-reliance and self-confidence must melt away. We must be totally dependent upon Jesus and His miraculous power, and provisions.

This story is told of Robert Morrison the famous missionary to China. When Morrison was going to set sail for China, the captain of the ship said to Morrison. “Mr. Morrison do you really expect that you will make an impression on the idolatry of the great Chinese Empire”?

“No sir, Morrison quickly replied, I expect God will”.

And through his ministry God did make an impression on China’s idolatry.

Lesson #1 about our great provider there is:

1. No Problem too Big for Jesus to Solve!

Lesson #2 about our great provider, there is:

2. No Supply too Small for Jesus to Use!

V:13-“we have no more but five loaves and two fishes…

Were told in John’s Gospel that the loaves and fishes came from a little boy. We’re told that Andrew had discovered the little boy, and his lunch.

When Andrew told Jesus about the small lunch; he added… but what difference can this small lunch make with all these people. It’s like he’s almost embarrassed that he brought it up.

It was a small provision, a meager lunch; two small fish, picture sardines. And five barley cakes, flat round biscuits; it was the bread of the poor. It was a small lunch for a boy, much less for a multitude.

This is going to be a teachable moment for Andrew also; yes it is a small supply, and this is a great multitude; but you miss something, someone; Jesus!

No supply, gift, ability is too small for Jesus to use! Little is much when God is in it.

Jesus is ringing the school bell; class is in session for the disciples; He is teaching them, that if they will put into his hands what they have: they will be amazed at what he can do with it!

Some of you here this morning have the Andrew mentality:

I can’t serve God, I don’t have any abilities, talents or gifts.

I don’t have much to offer God, I’m a single mom, what can I do.

I don’t have anything to give, I can’t make a difference for God.

Yes, you do have talents, yes you do have abilities, yes you can give, you can influence others, and you can be used of God!

Often the things and people used by God have been despised and overlooked by man. The Bible says, despise not the day of small things.

The devil and the flesh and the world says: God can’t use him, she is never going to be able to do that, he’s too old, she’s too young, what can they do to meet the needs of the starving multitudes.

Jesus took that small provision and fed a whole multitude. If you will give what you are, and what you have to Jesus, you will be surprised what he will do with it!

I went shopping for Tess the other day; she doesn’t trust me to go shopping for her very often. Because I come back with her stuff; plus all my favorite snacks. But she was making a recipe, and sent me to the store to get the ingredients.

I was picking up all this random stuff, I only had to call her three times to find out where the stuff was in the store. But I thought to myself what is she going to make with all this random stuff? I brought it home, and she made these delicious rollups.

What could Jesus do with 5 loaves and 2 small fish…Just wait and See!!

Jesus took five loaves and two small fishes and fed 5000! This is a bona fide miracle; a miracle is when God interrupts the natural laws for his own sovereign purposes. I know you’ve heard the story many times; and if we’re not careful we can forget how utterly amazing it is.

Jesus took those two fishes and five little cakes and performed a miracle! Imagine trying to feed 5000 people, unexpectedly, with leftovers in your refrigerator! Jesus is God, and if we will place our lives into His hands; He will do miracles through you. Transfer all you have, and all you are into Jesus hands; give him your time, money, talents, energy, influence and watch what he will do.

In the little boy’s hands it was just five loaves and two fishes: but in the hands of Jesus, it was food for 5000.

Have you given all you are and all you have to Jesus?

Transfer what you have to Jesus, Jesus will take it, and Jesus will transform it.

V:16-Read.

Can you picture Jesus looking up to heaven and blessing the food…?

What did he pray? Thank you father for this gracious meal you have provided, we are looking forward to eating it and fellowshipping together; thank you for graciously providing enough food for these 5000 people that are sitting here on this hillside… The disciples must have been thinking… what is fixing to happen?

What a great lesson about the power of prayer.

Jesus wasn’t fretting over what they didn’t have, Jesus was thanking God for what they did have, and trusting God to multiply it.

The disciples were filled with anxiety, looking at the problem, and the impossible situation. Jesus was looking to his heavenly father, maybe when he blessed the food he use the ancient Jewish table prayer: “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth”. Whatever he prayed, he prayed in dependency upon his father to provide for the multitude.

When we find ourselves short, needy, we need to turn to our heavenly father in prayer, trusting him to provide; and use what little we have to accomplish great things for his glory!

Let’s remember to always be thankful people for whatever we have; for God will not do anything with what we have if we’re unthankful people.

We must always remember; it’s not about what you can do with what you have; it’s about what Jesus can do with what you give him.

When you give Jesus your mind, heart, voice, family, money; and Jesus blesses it, great things are going to happen.

Think about the people in the Bible who put what they had in the hands of God and how he blessed and used it.

Moses gave God his shepherd’s rod; and God worked miracles in Egypt.

David gave God his slingshot, and God killed a giant.

A lady gave God a handful of meal and he fed a prophet for months.

A widow put her small coin in the offering and God continues to teach us how to give by her example.

This boy put five loaves and two fishes in the hands of Jesus; and in the hands of Jesus it was sufficient to feed 5000.

Jesus loves to take the ordinary and do extraordinary things with it.

Lesson #3 about our great provider, there is:

3. No Need to Great for Jesus to Meet!

V:16b-17“And gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and that was taken up of the fragments that remained to them 12 baskets”.

The disciples have a front row seat to this miracle; the 5000 people sitting on the hillside didn’t get to see what those disciples saw as they served. Remember Jesus said, you give them something to eat, and they had responded, it can’t be done, but now they’re doing it.

Jesus was meeting the needs of the people through his disciples!

They could not feed the people without him; and he chose not to feed the people without them.

The disciples became waiters; they came to Jesus with their basket, he broke the fish and bread and put in their basket. They took it and distribute to the people; they came back to Jesus and he filled their basket again. And they did that until 5000+ people were fed and satisfied. You and I have the same privileges today; we come to Jesus and receive from him; and then we take what he gives us and we share it with others.

The only way you and I can give anyone anything, is to keep coming back to Jesus.

Jesus is our supplier! The disciples recognize people’s needs, but they couldn’t meet the people’s needs. But Jesus could! And he did it through them.

Jesus is our satisfier, V:17-“ they were all filled…

Jesus is our sufficiency, V:17-“12 baskets full

Every one of those 5000+ people were filled, satisfied by the fish and the bread from Jesus hands! And they had 12 baskets left over.

Jesus performed this miracle of the feeding of the 5000; to set up the sermon he would preach the next day. And the sermon he preached was that He is the bread of life; spiritual bread for man’s inner hunger:

-“Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst”.

There’s no hunger, no need, too great for Jesus to meet! The world we live in is a desert place, and it’s late on the clock of time, and people are starving spiritually. And people are gorging themselves on trash; eating out of the dumpsters of sin; and drinking from the sewers of filth trying to satisfy their spiritual hunger and thirst. But there’s no bread on this earth; that can satisfy the hunger of the human heart!

That’s why Jesus the bread of life came down from heaven; to meet the spiritual hunger of your heart!

There’s only one who can satisfy your heart; and that’s Jesus…He is the bread of life!

Jesus told them, that Moses gave you bread/manna in the wilderness. But that bread didn’t satisfying, and didn’t last. But Jesus, the bread of life satisfies your spiritual hunger forever.

Spiritual life, real life, abundant life is found in Jesus. -“For the bread of God is He which came down from heaven, and gives life under the world”.

Jesus invites the person with a hungry heart to come to him, -“I am the living bread that came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever…

How does Jesus give us life?

-“and the bread that I give is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world”.

Jesus was talking about giving his life on the cross for our sins; Jesus went through the meal and heat of God’s judgment on sin on the cross; that we might experience forgiveness and eternal life.

The provision of eternal life comes by trusting Jesus death on the cross for you. Jesus offered his body as the true and everlasting bread.

Your heart, and a life will never be satisfied with the things of this world. It will always be empty, and hungry, and thirsty, and dissatisfied, until you receive Jesus the bread of life!

Today receive Jesus Christ the bread of life!

Some of us have been reminded today that Jesus is our great provider: and if you put yourself in Jesus hands; you’ll be amazed at what he can do.

Today, step out in faith and come to Jesus!

Step out in obedience, and come and follow Lord in baptism, or join this church.

Let’s walk out these doors today being reminded that for Jesus our great provider there is:

1. No problem too big for Jesus to solve.

2. No supply too little for Jesus to use.

3. No need to great for Jesus to meet.