Jesus Feeds The Multitudes: Part 2

So in saying that let's get started this will be part two of Jesus feeds the multitudes if you have not heard the message from last week.

Please.

Not because I preached it, but please listen to it. It's kind of an introduction for everything. We're going to read here in John chapter 6 verse 1 to 15 and. Also like to I'm gonna put you on the spot this morning.

Let me ask you a question. Can anybody remember the two points?

Amen.

Insufficiency our the sinner's insufficiency and God's sufficiency, amen. So well, we don't need to forget, right? It's so easy for us to forget. Praise God and.

We need to.

Remember. We need to remember. So if you have not already turned to John chapter 6, let me read to you verse 1 to 15. 1 to 15 I'm gonna read the text and Then by God's help and grace. We're going to see what the text says.

It's not what I See the text says or what we see the text, but what does the text say? Right? It's not our interpretation. It's what God says. That's what matters. Context text is King.

Hear God's Word.

After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias then a great multitude followed him because they saw his signs which he performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up to the mountain and there he sat with his disciples.

Now the Passover a feast of the Jews was near. 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. But this he said to test him for he himself knew What he would do.

Philip answered him two hundred denarii worth worth of bread is not sufficient for them. That every one of them may have a little. One of his disciples Andrew Simon Peter's brother said to him There's a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?

And Jesus said make the people sit down and now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down and number about 5 ,000. Jesus took the loaves and when he had given thanks he distributed them to the disciples and the disciples to those sitting down and Likewise the fish as much as they wanted.

So when they were filled he said to his disciples gather up the fragments that remained so that nothing is lost. Therefore they gathered them up and filled 12 baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves Which were left over by those who had eaten.

Then those men when they had seen the side that Jesus did said This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world. Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take him by force to make him King He departed again to the mountain by himself alone Let's stop right there.

May God bless the reading of his word to our hearts this morning and let's pray our Father in heaven. How gracious?

How holy?

You are goodness and mercy.

All.

Hours in Jesus. Lord we Thank you, and we praise you. And as the psalmist says in Psalm 81 10 Lord you said I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

Oh God here we are. We're needy people this morning. We're insufficient sinners and We're beggars begging for bread and Lord, I'm just one beggar. Pointing other beggars where bread is. Oh God help us.

Thank you for your presence with us this morning. Thank you for your mercy Lord. We beg for mercy. We beg for the living bread Lord. Lord only you could truly satisfy us. You can only truly inner satisfy our innermost beings that which we long for.

It's a cavity there Lord that you created that only you can fill. Lord you made us for yourself and yourself alone to worship you and love you. Lord, we thank you for your blessed. Holy Spirit. Lord. Go help us Lord come.

You are the only sufficient sovereign Savior help us. I pray to see with the eyes of our heart this morning in Faith that Jesus Christ and him crucified the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Lord I grant grant this. I pray in your mercy. I pray for your glory and honor. For thy name's sake and in the name of Jesus, I pray amen.

The Bread of Life and Human Insufficiency

John.

Chapter 6 points us to the bread of life and who is that bread the living bread the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only sufficient sovereign Savior, we'll say that again he is the only Sufficient sovereign Savior and in him alone for he is enough and only he can satisfy us and only he can sustain us.

Because we are poor and needy insufficient sinners are in great need of a Savior. This is the starting point blessed though Jesus said blessed are those who are Poor and spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

He said that this is where we start. We must realize our great need and this is the problem that we when we give the gospel to the world that they do not See, they do not see how needy they really are.

But it's our job and duty and command I should say from our Lord to tell the gospel to all those in the world and say You must repent and believe the gospel. You are a needy creature. You are in great need.

Did you know this that Luther? I didn't know this. I read about Martin Luther. His very last words before he left this world the Reformer this is Reformation Month, right? Let me mention Martin Luther who nailed the 95 theses on the castle of Wittenberg in Germany.

This is his last words. His last word says we are beggars. This is true. Then he died his very last words. We we are beggars we are beggars and this is true. And this is what we need to tell the lost and dying world and this is something we never need to forget.

That we just still.

Insufficient and of ourselves we are weak and the longer I live the longer you live I'm sure you see we're weak creatures. We are frail creatures. We are so susceptible to dying. We don't realize how easy it is to die.

But guess what the scripture says we're going to all die. That's a reality. Two things that will we no one would ever escape is death and judgment. Scripture says it is appointed for once man to die and after this to judgment and we will face God.

We will surely die. But how can we be prepared to meet our Savior. How can we be prepared to meet thy God Jesus Christ. He paid it all. The gospel is sufficient. He is sufficient. And this is what this chapter is all about.

Actually, that's what what John chapter 6 the whole Bible is really about but John chapter 6 Specifically teaches us and the New Testament offers ample lot of Evidence I should say for the deity of Jesus Christ and John's gospel the very thing by by which is the old overarching theme.

In John's gospel is Jesus Christ is God. He is God. In a unique and powerful way the miracles of Jesus by the way demonstrate his divine glory that he is God. He's the Son of Man, but he's the Son of God.

He's God in flesh. He's God incarnate the second person of the dead of the deity has come God with us Emmanuel.

And.

The miracles clarify he is God in the flesh. He is the bread of life. He is the manna from heaven. He is the living bread that come down from heaven and condescended here to this earth the living bread.

Lord Jesus himself used the miracles to support his remarkable claims as We saw a couple months ago in John chapter 5 verse 36 Jesus said this the works which the Father has given me to accomplish the very works that I do.

Testify about me that the Father has sent me another time. In response to Exasperated demand of the critics in John chapter 10 verse 24. They asked him How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly.

And.

Jesus replied to them in verse 25 and says I told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in my father's name these testify of me see the works. The miracles the signs are the works now in John chapter 6 verse 1 to 15.

Gives to us as I said last Lord's Day. This is the fourth sign. This is the fourth miracle that Jesus performed. This begins his third year the feeding of the 5 ,000 men by the way. Just 5 ,000 men. This is the only miracle by the way and all the four Gospels which shows its significance.

Yeah, let me give you a good quote by CH Spurgeon this morning in my introduction. CH Spurgeon says this quote. That's in all the four Gospels. Speaking of this miracle that's in all the four Gospels so that we won't forget.

How much the Lord can do with little things that are yielded to him? The feeding of the 5 ,000 precedes Jesus's discourse on being the living bread that comes down out of heaven. To give us life for the world.

John 6 32 to 58. And Spurgeon continues to say this so it's also a miracle that points to salvation. It's also a miracle that points to salvation. End quote. Well the key verse of this gospel as you well know and I've said it many times and you'll hear it time and time again.

John chapter 20 verse 31. So that you may believe That Jesus is the Christ The Son of God and That by believing you may have life in his name folks if we miss that we've missed it all. Beloved if we miss that point we have missed Absolutely everything that Jesus is saying and everything that he is and that he does.

We must believe that he is the Christ the Son of the Living God. That you and I may have life in his name and truly believing means trusting just not intellectual belief. But trusting in him with all of our heart soul mind and strength.

So Jesus is the only sufficient sovereign Savior and we are insufficient Needy sinners that are in great need of a Savior to save us. Jesus Christ the sovereign Savior who is sufficient to satisfy sustain us.

And well, I jotted a few of these points down to get us through this message today, so To help organize some thoughts and points. I'm going first. Let's look at the setting. I've already pointed that out a little bit, but I'm gonna briefly go through it it's found in verse 1 of chapter 6 and The setting is this.

After these things Jesus went over to the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Now I want to point out this. Also, which I did not point out last Lord's Day the last time if you note in John chapter 5 verse 1.

It's it speaks of an unnamed feast of the Jews. We don't know what the feast of the Jews is but Possibly was the feast of the tabernacles and it and the time frame here is literally five to six months that has passed.

So that kind of tells us a little bit what's going on a time period a gap as has happened here. The other Gospels basically inform us that Jesus had sent out the twelve on a ministry tour. They come back reported their experience to him.

I Meanwhile, they got word that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a faithful minister to the very end. He was beheaded actually in prison. Jesus and the disciples were so busy with all the needy people in that time period that they didn't have time to eat.

So their needs was kind of put on the back burner there. Jesus invited them to get away to a desolate place for some much-needed time and rest. Our Lord cares and the master cared for his disciples. He wanted them to have rest.

But if you see Jesus, he gets very little rest. He eats very little he is constantly from Sun up well before the Sun. Let me say that comes up. He was you see him. Before it's the Sun get comes up. He's in the dark for hours.

He's praying to the father and the entire day. He's working relentlessly doing the father's business. And it to the end of the day and there's a time we see him in the boat. He's exhausted. He's in the back and you know the story.

He's exhausted in the boat and then aren't you glad Jesus is in the boat with you the disciples? I wouldn't know what to do if Jesus was in my wasn't in my boat. Be hard will I? But life as hard as it is and life is going to be hard.

But let me say this I'm thankful if it's hard. Jesus is on board with me. He was exhausted at the end of the bow of the boat at the bottom of the boat. Trying to get some rest and the storm comes and the disciples panic Master don't you care that we perish?

Jesus comes up and Gives them a loving rebuke. Oh, you have little faith. Oh. You have little faith. Oh He cares, of course, he cares. And what does he do? He rebukes the storm and says peace be still and immediately.

Suddenly.

There was a calm.

The power of his word. The one that control. They said what manner of man is this. That even the storms the the nature itself.

Obeys.

His word at his command incredible. So. Here in another situation. We have toward this this story. You'll see that he walks on the sea in verse 15 to verse 21. They took a boat across the northern end of the Sea of Galilee.

To a spot in the country, which is north of Bethsaida. Home of Philip. By the way, Bethsaida was home of Philip Andrew and Peter. But there's a problem. There's a problem. What's the problem. The large crowds?

Saw them go and they ran around the lake.

And.

They ran so fast around the lake on foot and they greeted them and you see in mark 633 I'm making reference to this listen to what the scripture says. But the multitude saw them departing and many knew him and ran there on foot from all the cities.

There was a lot of them from all the cities they arrived as I mean just Multitudes like a sea of people they arrived before them and came together to him to him. The disciples must have thought oh.

No, oh.

No, we can't get away from all these needy people. We just can't get away from them. But Jesus had a different perspective. Didn't he the disciples? Perspective said we can't get away from these people.

What they're coming. They're coming after us King. We got it. We got to get rid of them somehow. Jesus perspective in verse 34. He says this. And when he came out and saw the great multitude He was moved with compassion For them.

Why Scripture tells us. Because they were like a sheep. Like sheep not having a shepherd. He had compassion on. And what did he do? So he began to teach them many things. And by the way, Jesus is teaching.

Is it always verbal. It's by demonstration. Demonstration in miracles. Demonstrate. He demonstrated it. He demonstrated what he taught in his life and.

Parables and.

In.

Nature itself that God created he would bring these into focus even while the Disciples would be walking along with him and following him as he taught them as they would go. But everywhere he went he was teaching them.

And is it the way for us the Lord teaches us day by day? Through things in nature that point to the spiritual realities. That's far more of a reality than what we see. Yes, it is. Matthew 14 14 says this.

I told you Mark's perspective. The gospel of Mark. The writer then Matthew says this in the 1414 says. When Jesus went out and saw the great multitude. And he was moved with compassion for them and he healed the sick.

So Matthew includes. He healed the sick. Mark says he began to teach them. So John chapter 2. I'm sorry John 6 verse 2 says this. Keep in mind by the way that these were not following Jesus because they recognized him as the son of The Living God.

Know who could save them from their sins. That's not the reason why.

They.

Followed him they had a different motive. Verse 2. Then a great multitude followed him because they saw his signs. That's the reason why they followed him because he did miracles. How many people in Christendom today?

Follow Jesus just because of the blessings and the miracles. They don't follow him for who he is. They follow him for what they can get out of them, but beloved. Let me say this. The Lord will not be used.

He uses us. He is the Lord of glory. He comes to use us. We are his servants. He doesn't he serves us in a different way because he lovingly serves us. But in the sense of he would not he will not be Bargained for he would not be used in by Worms of men, but he comes graciously to serve us.

He performed these miracles and also he Performed among those who were diseased. Well more to say about that later. People were fascinated that they saw his miracles. They Wonder I just were in all of his miracles.

Others needed miraculous healings for themselves and Their loved ones rightly. So so he was the healer. But the fist even the physical healings that he did points to a spiritual healing just like the song we sung this morning Victory in Jesus if you notice come and heal my broken spirit.

Just not my broken body. Does God care about our broken body. Well, absolutely does. But a lot of times isn't it? So true when we are sick and our brokenness and our affliction God has our attention and you know I like to think of it like this in the God's economy.

Pain and affliction is never wasted never wasted. There's always a divine purpose that he has to bring us down to and humble us to our knees. That we see our need of him. You see what I'm saying? To take us to him to draw us closer to him.

Isn't it? So true each and every one of us would say amen to this. When I'm sick when I'm weak when I'm down I see my need for God even more. You see this. But when we're healthy and prosperous we have a tendency to forget God.

God wants us to see our need of him.

And.

I like to look at it like this as well. I believe affliction and. Those kind of things that that comes on people we look at him say, oh wow, we feel so sorry for him.

But beloved that's a gift.

That's a gift like it it pulls people inward to see who that they are frail and weak and needy and That we need to draw close that they draw close to God.

What a gift.

But overall the reasons of motives here that they follow Jesus was misguided and false and superficial. And we see this and let's read this continue really look at verse 3 Jesus went up on the mountain and verse 3 and there he sat with his disciples.

And verse 4 now the Passover a feast of the Jews was near now. This is a very significant verse now. Let me say this you see the struggle here first to see the The the the setting we see the struggle.

We're not sure. I'm not for sure exactly why John reports the detail here Jesus going up on the mountaintop. But I know this According to verse 3 and verse 4 coupled with the mention of the Passover here.

It tells us something. It tells us something. What does it tell us? Jesus may want us to draw a parallel with Moses. Do you believe that I believe this this parallels we could see Christ in the Old Testament and and and Moses the Prophet says he's the prophet.

There's a prophet that's greater than he and The parallels with Moses who led the people of God the children of Israel out of Egypt after the Passover. So later Moses Went up on the mountain of Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments.

But God God also used Moses to give the needy people of God in the wilderness. Forty years as you know, they went in circles not trusting God being stiff-necked hard-hearted not trusting God and what did God do.

God graciously gave them manna and Provided their needs even though they were so hard-hearted and rebellious God still met their need. He taught him lessons though, and he disciplined them. But but to mention of the Passover here and in this text being in John 6 being near is probably more Than just a time notice.

It's it's John wants us to see Jesus as the new and better Moses. Aren't you glad that Jesus is the better Moses? All the Bible and all that I see Jesus when after he rose again from the dead on the road of Emmaus when he Exposed the scriptures he went back to the Pentateuch and he went through Moses and the prophets and he went through the Psalms and he Exposited the Word of God and it says this text actually says speaking up in about himself the living word exposing you the written word and Teaching these disciples on the road of Emmaus and they said oh did not our hearts burn within us.

And I actually their eyes was open. God Restrained their eyes at the moment and then after the breaking of the bread and and of What we would call the communion their eyes was opened. Jesus opened their eyes and they said oh, it's the Lord.

Only he can open our blinded eyes. Amen. Well, it goes on the quench. Let me bring this into here that the Jesus Christ is That type of that manna he is the Lamb of God, but he's also the permanent manna.

He's the manna from heaven. He said I am that man. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. For he is the prophet whom Moses wrote of. So what's the struggle? Well now in this particular case Jesus could easily call down manna from heaven.

He could have done it He all he had to do is speak the word, right? But he didn't do this.

He didn't do this. I.

Was thinking about this when I was studying this text. But he didn't do that. Why not? That's a good question, but there's an answer. Because Jesus took this opportunity and used this miracle that those that followed him To train them to teach them to test them.

This is the way the master teaches. This is the way he wanted them to get it. So that they would not forget. That this miracle is just not a miracle about feeding people's bellies. But it's about that they're feeding their souls needs to be fed by him that he is that living bread he is the bread of life and He's basically saying that I he Jesus is the only one that can satisfy and sustain us.

He comes to train us. He comes to teach us test us well. In reference to the other Gospels. They report the disciples had asked Jesus to dismiss the multitudes so that they could buy their own food. Did you know that yeah says that?

According to Mark 6 37 listen this Jesus says. But he answered and said to them you give them something to eat and uninteresting you give them something to eat. What did they reply? Well, they replied and said to him shall we go in by 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat.

It's almost like they're saying you've got to be kidding me. We can't be the entire city with even with 200 denarii and Arrested John, but John adds and in his gospel and in verse 6. But this he said to test him speaking of Philip for he himself knew what he would do.

What a great verse. Wonderful verse because Jesus our Lord was showing Philip and the other disciples. They're woeful.

They're.

Insufficiency to meet this need along with all the all-sufficient Savior that he could meet the need only Christ could meet the need. So this is a miracle that teaches is the great truth that Jesus Christ uses weak and Inadequate people who submit and surrender what they have to him to meet the overwhelming needs of others.

You know what? He's trying to teach the disciples here. He wants them to be a part of this that God can use them and as a conduit and a channel. To meet their needs as well we're going to see in a minute that Jesus he does the impossible, but The disciples have a part to do with this too.

And they're wonderful they work. Jesus does his work and they work to Say that's the work. That's the theology of work. There's work going on here. Jesus is doing his father's business. Jesus works as the father works.

Jesus is working. He's doing the miracle and then he passes it to them and say you get part of this you share into this. And that wonderful Praise his name. We're part of this is the body of Christ that we can share into what God gives us.

Jesus said what I believe Jesus said to Paul. It's a very unusual verse. It's the only time in Acts, but he speaks about his grace is sufficient. And then Jesus says to Paul he says but Blessed more blessed are those that give.

Then receive then then they receive he says God loves a cheerful giver. So we are basically born to serve the Lord we're born to love God but to serve him but also serve one another. That's what it's about.

It's not a one-man show. It's all of us together serving one another and loving one another and it's a one another church. Well beloved, that's the lesson for the miracle. Really there was more than just 5 ,000 men as I pointed out earlier.

They're women they're children. They were very needy. They're all of the hungry. Probably 20 ,000 if I were to guess to make calculated a number of a whole city in great need hungry. Needing very needy very needy many came to Jesus for healing came to Christ for the miracle.

And yes, they their motive was wrong. I think of this their motive was wrong, but yet Jesus still cares for them. Shows you his grace and his goodness and the common grace that he has. They were hungry.

There was no place nearby to buy food. Their physical hunger and their inability to satisfy the hungry pictures the deep spiritual needs of The sinful world that in which we live in. Jesus later tells them and John 6 we'll be seeing this later on God willing, but look at verse 26 and 27 in Chapter 6 there Jesus answered them and said most assuredly verily verily I say to you You seek me.

He points out their motives right now he knows their heart right he knows our hearts not because you saw the signs. But because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes.

But for the food which endures to everlasting life. Which the Son of Man will give you. Because God the Father has set a seal on him. God the Father said a seal on his son and God the Father says this is my beloved son and whom I'm well Pleased God the Father said on the Mount of Transfiguration.

This is my beloved son. Hear ye him. God the Father has set a seal on his son. The anointed one the Christ. So they were following him for the wrong motives, but he did. Jesus still cared for them. Following him because they ate and filled they were filled of bread their bellies were full.

But they should have been focused on the food that really matters the eternal Eternal food, you know what he's saying. Because everything here is going to pass away. You see this everything that we see has a short Part of life.

It's it's brevity is short. It's small. We are small our. We was in the gift store yesterday, and I'm thinking about getting. I love those. Oh our glasses that has sand coming down. It was a big hourglass and it tips over and I'm thinking I saw that sand coming down grain by grain.

I think each one of those grains is like Every day we live and eventually that it runs out and it goes to the bottom. It's a neat little gift to give somebody to remind us and the grains of hourglass of sands in the hourglass.

So is our lives? Can you believe there's a soap opera like that the days of our lives and I always use that Emblem and there they are living for the flesh and the world and the lust thereof. But the Bible says that's all gonna pass away, but he that does the will of God will abide forever.

You see God's will God's desire that's really the focal point and this is what Jesus is pointing. The eternal things are what matter. We're creatures of time and with too much settled here on this earth and we should be setting our minds on things above.

And not on the things on earth. Set your mind and your affections on things above where Christ is and where? He is risen. The eternal things and that's what we should be telling others, right? It's what matters is eternity.

I got a reminder of that yesterday when I saw two horrific cars. I mean crushed him. I mean crushed to metal like I can. And I'm thinking what a miracle these people walked away. My own daughter. Walked away because God could easily took our way got the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

I'm so thankful. And she has another day to live. And call on the name of the Lord and to love the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a reminder to all of us isn't every time. I by the way on the way here this morning.

Guess what? I came guess what was in front of me. Yeah, you said it a coffin. A truck carrying what were the things called to carry coffins in they put.

Yes.

Well, it's a hearse, but it's they put the coffins in it when that's what's that called. I Can't think of it, but you know what? I'm saying. It was a sobering reminder. To me. I said look at here another reminder that I'm going to be in that one day.

My body is going to be laid down, but I'm not going to be there. If you're a believer in Jesus Christ, guess where you go. That's it from the body present with the Lord. You immediately in the presence of Almighty God, this is just a house for right now and it's gonna pass away.

But one day a man homecoming and then one day Christ is gonna raise it up. Rather it goes to ashes and yes. Even if it goes to ashes scattered all over this earth because whatever the matter is God can raise it up because he can do anything and He's going to well.

What matters is the eternal things and Jesus is saying that he is the bread of life. He's the eternal life. Jesus himself the bread of life gives himself to satisfy our deepest yearning our deepest need.

These people also was typical so many millions in the world. Who are living for material things the things that will pass away the things that will vanish the things that will perish. But we live for the eternal.

We live for God and we follow Christ. Because he is the king of glory and we set our minds on the eternal things, but that doesn't mean that we're no earthly good. We're here to be channels and conduit to tell people about Jesus Christ.

That's why we exist to worship and love God. First of all to glorify him like it says up here for God. Solid a or glory for God's glory alone, but we also live to tell people about Jesus. Beggars of bread.

Amen. Just like Luther said his very last words We're beggars of we beg. But we tell the other beggars. Here you go. Here's the bread of life. I got bread of life for you. Praise God. Well, they had a real need and there really wasn't a physical issue.

It was a heart issue. They had a soul problem. They Jesus knew this the disciples I don't know, but they were being taught by the master. They don't see their need for the food that endures forever that points out in Verses 41 to 59 and God willing we'll see the rest of that well next to see the miracle.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

We see the miracle. We see the. We see the setting. We see the scene we see the sign. We see the miracle in verse 6 to verse 11. Let me read it real quick to Get our attention here. But this is he said to Philip for he himself knew what he would do.

Philip answered 200 denier our worth of bread. It's not sufficient for them that everyone may have a little one of his disciples. Andrew Simon Peter's brother said to him There's a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish.