John 6:1-15 - Part 1 - The Heart of Ministry
“The Heart of Ministry”
John 6:1-15 Part 1
I. The Feeding of the Five Thousand.
Introduction
Time & Setting.
1. This is the only miracle recorded in all 4 gospels (Matt. 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17).
2. John says it was the Passover, a feast of the Jews (6:5).
The Passover Was The First Of The Three Great Festivals Of The Israelite People. It referred to the sacrifice of a lamb in Egypt when the people of Israel were slaves. They smeared the blood of the lamb on their doorposts as a signal to God that He should "pass over" their houses when He destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt (Ex. 12:13).
Like the blood of the lamb that saved the Hebrew people from destruction in Egypt, His blood, as the ultimate Passover sacrifice, redeems us from the power of sin and death, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1Cor. 5:7).
3. John begins this section with “After these things” (6:1). What are “These things”?
The expression after these things means that a period of time had elapsed since the events in chapter 5 took place. Just how much time we do not know, but lets look at the order in which these events took place.
It Can Be Learned From The Other Gospels that:
q Herod Antipas had killed John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29; cf. John 3:24), John’s disciples came and told Jesus what had happened (Matthew 14:12) [the disciples of John Matt.11:2; 14:12; Lk.7:18; 11:1; Jn.1:35; 3:25; 4:1; Ac 18:25; 19:3]. “Disciple” means “student,” one who is being taught by another. “Apostles” refers to qualified representatives who are sent on a mission. The two terms emphasize different aspects of their calling.
q The apostles had preached throughout Galilee (Mark 6:7-13) & came and told Jesus all things both what they had done & taught (Mark 6:30-31).
q Multitudes of people were curious about Jesus, and Herod Antipas was seeking Jesus (Luke 9:7-11).
q So the time between the events in John 5 and 6 was probably six months or a year.
q In Marks Gospel (6:30ff.) we see that “the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught”. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). Luke says that Jesus “took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida” (Luke 9:10).
Serving God Is A Wonderful Thing but we must understand what it is & how God does it through us.
Ministering for Jesus Christ can be uplifting & exciting, or it can be burdensome & boring. No matter how difficult the work or how many times we feel like quitting, we can keep going and growing if we minister the way God tells us to in His Word.
Definition of Ministry: Ministry takes place when (1) divine resources, (2) meet human needs, (3) through loving channels, (4) to the glory of God.
B. The Example of Jesus.
1. Jesus Seen the Need of the People (v.5)
Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” In Marks Gospel (Mark 6:34) we read that, “Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things (See Jeremiah 3:15).
The Multitude were like sheep not having a shepherd (Mark 6:34)
1) Sheep Need A Shepherd for Without A Shepherd Sheep Will Become:
q Prone to wonder away (Ps.119:176, 67; Is.53;6); Weary and Scattered (Matthew 9:36); in great trouble (Zechariah 10:2-3) & destroyed by wild beast (John 10:12). This is what we were like until Jesus came and rescued us (1Peter 2:23-25).
q Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16) not a hireling (John 15:13; 1 John 3:16)
q The hireling flees because he does not care about the sheep. The hireling takes advantage of other peoples needs to benefit themselves (Ezekiel 34:1-16; Zech.11:15-17). A true servant of God helps others whether they themselves get anything out of it or not.
God Himself Will Give the Flock Shepherds According to His Heart (Jer.3:15)
2) Shepherds Serve Their Sheep. Shepherds Must:
q Lead their sheep to places where they can find food, water and shelter—Pastors are to lead you into spiritual nourishment & refreshment, the Word of God.
q Protect their sheep from enemies—Pastors keep alert lest Satan’s wolves invade the flock (Ac.20:28- 31).
q Enable the sheep to be useful in growing, providing milk & reproducing after their kind—Pastors equip the sheep for being useful in the kingdom of God (Eph.4:11-12).
q Go after the sheep when they go astray—Pastors lovingly go after their sheep (James 5:19-20)
q Apply healing oil when the sheep have been cut or bruised—Pastors apply the medicine of God’s Word (Psalm 107:20; Matthew 8:8; Jesus sent His Word to heal Peter, he was forgiven Mk.16:7).
Loving The People And Maintaining The Heart Of A Servant Is The Basis For All That The Pastor Does.
2. Jesus’ Heart Was Moved With Compassion Because of Their Need.
He saw a great multitude & was moved with compassion—Jesus and His disciples desperately needed rest (Mark 6:31); yet the needs of the multitudes touched His heart.
The word translated “moved with compassion” literally means “to have one’s inner being (viscera) stirred.” It is stronger than sympathy. The word is used twelve times in the Gospels, and eight of these references are to Jesus Christ. In His life, in His teachings, & in His death, Jesus is the perfect example.
q Jesus was “moved with compassion” when He saw the needy multitudes (Matt. 9:36).
q Twice He was “moved with compassion” when He beheld the hungry multitudes without food (Matt. 14:14; 15:32). The two blind men (Matt. 20:34) and the leper (Mark 1:41) also stirred His compassion, as did the sorrow of the widow at Nain (Luke 7:13).
q The king had compassion on his bankrupt servant and forgave him his debt (Matt. 18:21-35).
q The Samaritan had compassion on the Jewish victim and cared for him in love (Luke 10:25-37).
q The father had compassion on his wayward son (Luke 15:20); (Mark 5:19 demon possessed man)
q 1 Peter 3:8—we are to have compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tender hearted.
3. Jesus Met Their Need.
Jesus Did Not Look At These People As A Problem But An Opportunity To Minister & Glorify God. He Began To Teach Them Many Things (Mark 6:34). Luke says, “They followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing (Luke 9:11).
We live in a world filled with people who have incredible needs of all kinds, and we can relate to these needs in one of several ways, we can:
q Be Tempted To Get Rid Of The Very People God Wants Us To Help (Matt.15:21-28; 19:13-15).
That is what the disciples wanted to do (Mark 6:36), but Jesus received them (Luke 9:11). Jesus also knew that they needed Him as their Savior & Lord & even though Jesus receives anyone (Matt.11:28; 19:14; John 6:37; 7:37), not everyone wants to come to Him & receive Him (John 5:39-40)
q Be Blind To The Needs Of Others And Live Our Own Lives (Philippians 2:3-4).
q Take Advantage Of Those Needs To Benefit Ourselves. The Pharisees used the common people to build their own authority instead of using their authority to build the people.
q Know About Them And Do Nothing About It. That is what the Priest and the Levite did when they saw that battered Jew dying by the side of the Jericho road (Luke 10:25-37; Prov.3:27-29; 1Jn 3:17-18).
q Give Them Physical Food But Not The Spiritual. Jesus said, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4 cf. Ps.19:7; 2Tim3:14-15).
q Give Them Spiritual Food But Do Nothing To Meet The Physical (James 2:14-16). We can do as Jesus did (Matthew 25:31-40 cf. Mark 9:41).
q Jesus knew the spiritual need is more important than the physical need (Matt.9:2; Jer.3:15), He met both. A True Shepherd Will Feed The Sheep (John 21:15; Amos 8:11-12)
C. The Disciples
1. They were busy about their Fathers business (Luke 9:1-6, 10)
They were preaching the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:6)… that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them (Mark 6:12). Then the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done (Luke 9:10).
a. We must not cease to daily preach & teach that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:42). In the book of Acts, the disciples were commanded not to preach and teach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:13-31; 5:28, 40-42).
q Today the opposite is true, we have to compel people to get up and preach the gospel
q Paul’ said this about himself, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16); “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (Colossians 1:28-29).
b. Just as the disciples returned to Jesus after they ministered & were alone with Him, we Must Be Alone With God After Preaching. Then the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done (9:10).
q We need to report back to our Commander & Chief. Ministers will give account on judgment day (Hebrews 13:17)
q We see this principle in the life of our Lord Jesus (Mark 6:46; Matthew 14:23).
q Jesus also started His day in prayer & communion with the Father (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16).
2. Jesus took them aside privately (Luke 9:10)
Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place (Luke 9:10). Jesus took His disciples to a secluded place so that they might rest after their labors. He wanted to discuss their ministry with them and prepare them for their next mission. “If you don’t come apart and rest, you will come apart.” Even God’s Servant-Son, Jesus needed time to rest, fellowship with His friends, and find renewal from the Father.
q Mark 3:13-15 – Jesus appointed the twelve that they might be with Him. We must spend time with the Lord before we go out to preach, teach & to do anything for the kingdom of God.
q Luke 6:12-13 – Jesus continued all night in prayer to God before calling the twelve.
q Jesus Himself had a prayer life (Luke 3:21; 5:16; Luke 9:18, 28-29; 11:1; 22:32, 40-46; Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35).
1. The Greatest Need—Worship—Devotions—Quiet Time (Luke 10:38-42)
(The Lord revealed Himself to Samuel by the word of the Lord 1 Sam.3:21) ..\..\..\CCBMS Syllabus with my Notes\Christian Doctrine I.doc pg.10
2. Our Devotion to Christ Must be a Daily Affair (Luke 9:23)
(Psalms 5:1-3; 55:17; Daniel 6:10; Acts 17:11; Deut.17: 19; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3)
3. Spending Time With Jesus Gives Us Boldness (Acts 4:13)
(Uneducated and untrained -Matt.11: 25; [1Cor.1: 26ff.]).
3. Spending time with Jesus gives us boldness (Acts 4:1-13, 14-31).
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.
a. This Is The Same Crowd That Jesus & Peter Were Standing Before (Luke 22:54-62).
What a different man. How can you account for the difference? It's accounted for right there in the scripture (Acts 4:8; 1:8 cf. 1Samuel 10:6).
b. They were amazed that uneducated (In the rabbinical schools) and untrained men (Not professional theologians) could argue so effectively from the Scriptures. That two Galilean fishermen powerfully and successfully argued their case before the elite Jewish Supreme Court was shocking.
q Jesus had boldly and fearlessly confronted the Jewish leaders with His authority and truth. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29 NKJV)
q He, too, had no formal rabbinic training: And the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this Man know letters, having never studied?" Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. (John 7:15-16 NKJV)
q Yet in His sure handling of the Old Testament Scriptures He had no equal: The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" (John 7:46 NKJV)
q This man is the same man that dwells in us: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)
c. 1st Misconception – They Perceived That They Were Unlearned And Ignorant Men. but they were far from unlearned and ignorant men. They had had 3 years of private tutoring by the greatest master who had ever lived. Far from being ignorant and unlearned they were probably the most scholarly of the whole group.
d. 2nd Misconception – Because They Put Their Relationship With Jesus In The Past Tense. What they didn't know is that Jesus was standing right beside them prompting them in what to say.
q Jesus also said to the disciples: "Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. "For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say" (Luke 12:11-12; 21:12-15; Matt.10:19)
This verse is not hear to justify the neglect of study & meditation or laziness in ministry.
q Jesus said: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV)
4. Being Near To Jesus—Peter’s Experience
Being Near to & Spending Time With Him, Transforms Us And Gives Us Boldness (Acts 4:13)
Peters strength was in is always seeking to be near Jesus, when he was near Jesus Christ, he had amazing power