Man's Dilemma - Christ's Solution - the Feeding of the 5,000

Introduction:

Today is communion Sunday- a time were we as the redeemed church of Christ remember and celebrate what jesus did for us 2000 years ago on a cross.

Our passion this morning for each of us to grow in our understanding of our decency on jesus to meet all of our needs including our need for a savior.

As we continue through the gospel of John we now come to the most popular miracle of Jesus. It is the only miracle of that all four of the gospel writers record.

and It is also the Miracle that involved the most people at one time.

Jesus Feeds more than 5,000 people in a miraculous way.

-Illustration:

I dont’ know about you but when it comes to planning a banquet I get really nervous of running out of food.

In fact I think this might be one of my biggest fears in life-to run out of food at a party.

This is a big deal to me. In fact, I worry about it so much that it drives my wife insane. and too many times I rob her of the joy of hospitality because I am so anxious about the amount of food.

She knows that if she sends me to the store I’m going to come back with a whole lot more than what was on her list. Why because I hate running out of food.

You would think that after 22 years of marriage I would trust her a little more but I still struggle with this in my life. In fact, just last Sunday she sent me to Randy’s supermarket to buy hotdog buns for the 10 kids that hang out at our house during the small group times on Sunday night. and I walked back into our front door carrying 4 bagsa of groceries. SHe said “what did you buy” I bcame home with 3 packs of hot dog buns, 24 Corn dogs, 2 packs of hotdogs, chips and cookies.

looks at me and says “what is all this for, are you planning on eating hotdogs yourself this week? and I said “no its for the kids,” (AMY) We don’t need this much stuff, ) AND ALL I COULD SAY WAS “t I don’t want to run out.”

THIS MORNING IN OUR STORY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT AN IMPOSSIBLE FOOD Dilemma.

A crowd has gathered around jesus totally more than 5,000 men plus women and children, scholars estimate this crowd could have been well over 10,000 people in all.

To get an idea of how big this crowd is the population of Clear Lake is only 7600 people.

Put into perspective -this would have been the entire population of clear lake sitting in city park around Jesus watching and waiting to see what he was going to do.

and what jesus Miraculously does is feed them until everyone is full and satisfied.

As we continue this morning in our time of worship together We are going to hear the four accounts of the gospel writers.

Each one gives us a another perspective of what Jesus miraculously did that day for the crowd.

READ JOHN 6:1-15

SONGS....... Mtthew account. Mark Account, Luke Account.

2nd Intro

In our story this morning Jesus has been ministering to the crowds for days, He and his discipels are tired and ready for a break. They are physically exhausted and so Jesus gets in a boat

Man’s Dilemma

John 6:1-5 “After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 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?”

Mark 16:30-37

Solutions For the Dilemma

1st Solution: Disciples: Ignore the Problem: Send the People Away

Mark 16:35-36

Jesus by asking them the question how can we feed this crowd is sayinfg to his followers we cannot just walk away from the problem and act like it was never there.

2nd Solution: Phillip: Look at the Facts: Raise Enough Money to Buy food for everyone

John 6:5-7 “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?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.””

Jesus was testing the faith of His disciple Phillip.

He looked at him and said “this is a huge crowd where are we going to buy enough food to feed them all?”

Phillip was form this area and would have known where to buy food. But in his mind he already knew that even if they could find the food, they had no way of paying the price for it.

His quick response shows his lack of Faith in jesus. was “Lord even 8 months of wages isn’t enough to buy them a little snack to chew on.

What He was saying to Jesus was “Lord there is no way for us to ever be able to meet this need.

The need is too great for us to provide.

1. This was a test for Philip and his response suggests he failed the test. Rather than realizing he was in the presence of the Son of God who turned water to wine, Healed the blind, commanded the lame to walk again, Philip became over whelmed with the dilemma

“ Lord there is no humanly possible way we could ever meet this need.

“Lord it is not only beyond our ability but it is greater than our comprehension. “

Jesus was looking for Faith and got FACTS (repeat)

Jesus wanted to test their faith

He wanted them to look to him for the solution

he wanted them to remember all the miraculous things he had already done and to put their faith in him as the Provider of the need.

But instead of unconditional faith Phillip gave Jesus the impossible facts. “ Lord its just not possible for us to meet this need>”

John Goes on and says Andrew throws out a 3rd Solution into the story.

Andrew comes to jesus and Says John 6: 9 ““There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?””

3rd Solution: Andrew: Here is what we need but it is not enough. (Found a boy with a small lunch and brought him to Jesus)

John 6: 9 ““There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?””

Again we see the disciples trying to solve the dilemma while being limited by human ability.

Andrew brings this boy and his lunch to jesus and says” here is what we are looking for Lord, but there is no possible way that this could ever be enough to satisfy the hunger of all these people

After jesus told his disciples in Mark “we cannot walk away from the need of the people” We now see the disciples trying to find a human solution for their dilemma,

one hand we have Phillip saying” we cant buy enough food to solve our problem,

and now Andrew on the other hand, says “we don’t have enough resources on our own to Solve this problem.

Transition: Jesus in this story is teaching his disciples and us today that there are dilemmas that are too greart for us to ever solve on our own.

and as the disciples come to the realization that they have no solution that would even come close to satisfying the dilemma before them , Jesus steps in with a supernatural solution for their problem .

4th Solution: Is offered by Jesus: he is Sufficient for all your needs

John 6: 10-12 “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. 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. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.””

Jesus Solution to the dilemma was the impossible. Something that would blow their minds away.

Remember Andrews words to Jesus just a few moments before Jesus did this miraculous work ?

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?””

Jesus took this little boys lunch of 5 rolls and 2 fish and after offering up a prayer of thanksgiving for the meal he bagan to break pieces of the bread apart and put them into baskets for the 12 disciples to distribute to the people.

I have got to believe at this point the disciples where still a little confused as to how Jesus was going to feed all of these people. But as they stood there watching Jesus break apart pieces of bread, the baskets began to fill up and the bread never seemed to run out. when a basket was full they would take it to the crowd and distribute and when they got back Im sure Jesus just handed them another full basket to serve the people.

The story tells us that he didn’t just do this with the bread but he did the same thing with the fish.

The miracle took place in the literal hands of Jesus- And the disciples had the joy of taking the finished miracle to the people. and at the end of this miraculous moment the disciples also were the recipients of Jesus Grace.

The story tells us that they collected 12 full baskets of left over food for them to use for future needs.

This story is teach mankind that Jesus can provide for all our needs no matter how great our dilemma may be!

Story wrap up

in this story I believe we see 3 practical lessons for going through trials in our lives.

The first lesson for going through trials is from the Disciples

Even after they had been walking side by side with Jesus for almost 2 years now, watching Him do miracle after miracle.

They still looked for a natural solution for the dilemma before the sought out the supernatural remedy.

Did you catch what is going on in the hearts of these men-

When the need for food was presented to them instead of going toJesus first they looked for other solutions that they could do in their own power.

We are guilty of this same thing in our lives today.

When you have financial problems in your life where do you look for help first?

When your health seems to be fading away quickly where do you look for healing First?

When your family seems to be falling apart at the seems where do you seek counsel from first?

too many times we are just like the disciples and we you run to the bank to see how much money you can borrow before we fall on your knees and seek the Lord?

We look at all the specialty doctors for healing before cast all of our burdens on Jesus the great Physician?

We seek out wisdom form friends and counselors before cry out to our savior?

Understand this this morning church. When you are in a trial in this life Jesus cannot be you last resort He needs to be the first place you run to for help.

Don’t carry the burden of your trial on your own shoulders Run to jesus and let him do what he alone has the power to do.

The 2nd lesson we can learn about trials is from the little boy.

When Andrew found this boy with a small lunch He gave it all for Jesus to use.

he didn’t say well my mom only gave me enough for my supper

He didn’t say you can have a part of it but i need some for myself.

He gave jesus all of it. This is what complete faith in Jesus looks like.

I love the fact that it was just a little boy that jesus chose to use to teach his adult crowd about giving.

This boy gave everything so that others needs could be met.

It wasn’t random or by chance that this boy was the only one with any food at this gathering. it was God’s Sovereign plan that he orchestrated before it ever took place-

Look again at verse John 6: 5- 6 Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.”

Jesus knew that this boy would have this lunch with him and it was through this boys generosity that God would demonstrate his compassion for the crowd.

because this boy was willing to give it all - God used him to demonstrate his compassion for the world.

Just like this boy God has entrusted you as stewards of his resources. And he wants to use you to meet the needs of others in this church in this community and around the world.

I believe this with all of my heart- that if we as a church would give generously our time our talents and our treasures to the work of the Lord there would be a revival in this community.

Too many believers in the American church give a little out of obligation trying to satisfy a debt they think they owe to God.

From this story we know that God doesn’t need our time our talents and our treasure to accomplish his will. bUt he wants to give us the joy of being part of His mission of redeeming the lost and growing his church.

I m telling ya - there was no one more blessed at this event then the boy who gave his all to Jesus. He did not feel cheated or ripped off- because Jesus had just used him to show the world his compassion and grace!

Solomon the Wisest man to ever live wrote about generosity in Proverbs 11:24-25 “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

The point is this - you cannot out give God. Live generously with your time talents and treasure.

When you give to the Lord with no strings attached You get the joy of sitting Back in awe and watching what God can do with your gift.

3rd Lesson is from the Crowd of People.

There are 2 truths about this crowd that we can learn from today.

1st - Everyone had the same problem it was late and they were hungry

2- Jesus’s compassion was for all the people not just a few.

He didn’t search the crowd for the those who loved him most,

He didn’t pull out any non Jews and tell them they were not included.

His offer of Compassion was offered to everyone in the same way.

Bring it Home

Today we are going to celebrate communion together as the redeemed. church.

this is a time for us to remember the gift of compassion the Jesus showed each of us equally through hius death burial abnd resurrection.

Understand this - We are just like the crowds of people that were gathered around Jesus in Gallilee.

We too have a need that is impossible for mankind to solve on our own.

The Bible tell sus that each of us is a sinner and are condemned to an eternity apart form God in eternal punishment.

and there is nothing we could ever do to escape this fate that is upon us because of our own rebellion against God.

The crowd had a choice to make- they could continue to try and find a solution for their problem or they could trust in the finished work of jesus- The bread and fish were right before them, there was nothing more for them to do but to accept the offer jesus gave them.

They did nothing to earn they did nothing to pay for it- it was free gift of compassion from jesus to meet their need,

We like the crowds are in desperate need for jesus to supernaturally step into our lives and provide us a solution to our problem.

ands that is what jesus has done for us.

He chose to take our place and pay our eternal debt for us. so that we could have life in Him.

Jesus died for your debt of Sin

Jesus was buried in the grave that was meant for you

Jesus rose victoriously conquering the death that you deserved.

and now he is in heaven preparing an eternal home for those who accept his free gift of compassion and grace.

and just like the crowd all you have to do to receive Jesus Free Gift of compassion in your life is to accept it and make it your own.

Don’t wait - Accept jesus today.