Much or Little

What’s the difference between a spiritual life of little or much? The answer is in our passage today in one of the most public miracles in Jesus’ ministry.

There are only two miracles that appear in all four gospels. The resurrection of Jesus, and this - The Feeding of The 5,000. If that sounds like this miracle is important, it is! It is likely more profound than you have given it credit for. I pray it is likewise more encouraging as well.

Pray

Mark 6:30–44 NLT

30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. 34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. 36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” 37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” 38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.” 39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred. 41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.

The Meaning

I. Jesus – The One Greater that Moses

a. John 6:14-15 “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!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”

b. Deut. 18:15 “15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—”

i. Leads His people to freedom

ii. Intercedes to protect from wrath

iii. Brings Bread of Life (manna/loaves and fishes) in the wilderness

iv. Gives His life in the ‘wilderness’ of sin that the people might enter the promised land

c. Heb. 3:1-6 “1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

i. When we are obedient to Christ, we pre-figure Him to others.

ii. 1 Peter 2 – We are the ‘house’ or sanctuary that Jesus is building up. Be faithful in it!

iii. Lead, intercede, feed, and serve others. Be living stones, living words, image-bearers of Christ.

II. Jesus – The Bread of Life

a. Declaration of His prophesied purpose

i. John says this was the time of the Passover

ii. The language points us to the Last Supper

b. Jesus:

i. Jesus takes our little and makes much

ii. Jesus turns lack into luxury

iii. Jesus takes our need and turns it to excess

iv. Jesus feeds our souls and bodies…

v. … and asks us to do likewise

The Meal

III. Weary, worn, working? Rest in Jesus!

a. Normal rest – The Sabbath

i. The Sabbath was already taken

ii. A Sabbath rest should be standard

b. Adequate Rest – Rest that refills the tank

i. Be found faithful in the work God has given you

ii. Fall and spring. Some seasons are for rest, others for dedicated effort.

iii. Work that the rest is needful!

c. Prescribed Rest – Rest that meets the need

i. The apostles had taught – Jesus takes over

ii. The apostles had no time to relax – sit on green hillside

iii. The apostles had poured out – they are poured into

iv. The apostles hadn’t time to eat – Jesus provides a miraculous meal

d. Application: What has God called you to? In work? Relationships? Prayer? Ministry? Priorities right? Effort sufficient? Jesus is your reward!

IV. Hungry, Hangry, or Hopeless? Find Strength in Jesus

a. Out on a limb

i. Travelers, followed Jesus rather than the GPS

ii. Apostles, back to work but blessed beyond measure

b. Nourishment from the source

i. Not the store, but the creator

ii. Mark “satisfied”, John “eaten their fill” – A feast

iii. Jn. Pick up the baskets “that nothing may be lost”

iv. Trust Jesus with the work. Even the ‘leftovers’ are valuable to God.

V. Renew Yourself In God’s Provision

a. See what God desires to do for you, and through you

b. Reset your perspective on relationships, work, thoughts, attitudes. From lacking and afflicted to front line missionary.

c. Know you wont outrun your supply line! The King of Glory is at your side!

d. Renewal does not come by self gratification, but by bringing glory to the Lord

Haggai 1:2–6 ESV

2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

God reminded them of their call, their purpose, to Glorify Him. But when they sought their own comfort, they had little.

But when they obeyed, God declared, “I am with you”

They built the house of God. But it was not as splendid as the first temple. But speaking of the future temple of the church of God, He says this:

Haggai 2:6–9 ESV

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”

Life in Jesus is the life lived in this latter glory! As our discipleship lessons reminded us this week, eternal life has already started for those who are saved by faith in Jesus. Why? Because He declares “I am with you!”

God will be glorified when we continue working. He will bless you, nourish you, encourage you. And He will bless and encourage through you.