It Only Takes a Little Bit

Welcome

Intro

Today we are going to dive into the only miracle that is recorded in all 4 of the Gospel accounts, the feeding of the 5,000. This was a fun sermon to prepare for because you can literally go through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to read what each disciple took away from this work of Jesus.

Setting the stage for today’s passage, we find ourselves somewhere in the northeast portion of the Sea of Galilee, more than likely Capernaum. We learn from Luke’s Gospel that Jesus had just learned of his cousins, John the Baptist, gruesome death at the hands of King Herod. Remember that John was the “the man” in the days before Jesus. John was also the one who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River in Matthew chapter 3 so it was a man that Jesus more than likely grew up with.

Understandably so, Jesus was more than likely a little shaken by the news. With his disciples coming back from a time of ministry, He chooses to withdraw and go to a deserted place on the Plains of Bethesda.

That is where we pick up in John 6:1-14

Read

John 6:1–14 ESV

1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

Teach

This passage teaches us 3 “Must Do’s” if you are going to choose Faith over Fear:

1. We must Make a Habit of Coming to Jesus in Faith

The crowds that the passage talks about made the effort to get into the presence of Jesus.

Like we talked about earlier, this mass of people tracked Jesus down with a persistent faith. A faith that wouldn’t be stopped by terrain or turmoil. It is likely that they too had heard about the death of John the Baptist, and would of been upset about this hero of faith. But they wouldn’t let a little bit of bad new stop them from getting in front of the Man that John had so passionately preached about.

If you look in the book of maps, you can find the Sea of Galilee or Tiberias. You can look for a map entitled “Israel in the time of Jesus” and Located in the northwest corner of the lake, you should be able to spot the city of Capernaum. if you trace the north shore of the lake to the east, you will come to a city named Bethesda. That is where many bible scholars believe that this group of people traveled to get to Jesus.

But don’t miss it. These people were not worried about ANYTHING other than getting in front of Jesus. What a testimony.

Psalm 84:1–2 ESV

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

You have to be like my son Titus, He is going to find dad NO MATTER WHAT. It does’t matter if I am using the restroom, hiding so I can take an important call, or anything else. When he puts his mind to it, he will find dad at all costs.

I think that God wants us to be a little more like our children in that regard because note Jesus’ response to seeing the large crowd, he wanted to feed them.

We have a habit of doing so many things in out lives and most of them do not bring us into the presence of God.

2. We Must Choose to Step Out in Faith

a. Philip – He saw the issue for what it was within his own inability.

- Philip was the C.O.O of the group. He kept the books and tracked the spending. He was a realist. He just called it like he saw it.

b. Andrew – He saw the potential of the situation with Jesus involved.

- Andrew was an optimist. I think he is the shining example of what stepping out in faith looks like.

- Let’s put ourselves in the situation for a moment, there are 10,000 to 20,000 people spanning the Plains of Bethesda, looking to Jesus and His disciples for some sort of nourishment, and Andrew brings this boy with some poor man’s bread and some fish. (Philip was probably like, “pffft this guy!”)

But we learn an important lesson from these two disciples. One know what resources he had in the bank, the other know what resources he had in his heart.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

3. We Must Trust Jesus to Demonstrate Works of Faith

Jesus contains all the power and authority within the world, and I believe that He is still in the business of performing signs and wonders.

God can do anything that he desires to do, but I really do believe that he wants us to place out faith in Him and give him the room to work.

So many times in my own life I have prayed and asked God to do something that seemed impossible to me, and in those prayers I said that I trusted him, and instead of giving him the room to do what His Word says that he will do, I try to assist him and expedite the process behind the scenes.

I remember when my wife was pregnant with our first child. That time was terrifying for a control freak like me. I remember thinking, “Man, I have absolutely zero control over what happens to my wife and this precious baby. So I would pray what seemed like 100 times a day, lord please protect my wife and keep her and the baby healthy. amen.

Just like Jesus wanted to take care of the physical and spiritual needs of his people in this passage. I believe that is still his nature today.

Psalm 34:4 ESV

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Respond

James 1:22 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.