Let's Get to Work - John 6:1-14

7 Signs in John • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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In this Miracle, Jesus shows us two things. One that He can supernaturally provide for our physical well being. But, in addition to that surface provision, He shows that He has the power to take a seemingly unimportant person, and if they are willing, to use them to bless many, many people. We can be used by Jesus, if we are willing to believe.

Notes

Transcript

Good morning. Happy New Year’s. A great time for a fresh start. For some, 2022 was amazing. It was a comeback year - getting back to PC days (pre-covid). Babies were born. Couples were married (or engaged). But for others, it was the hardest year ever. In all of our lives there were times of drought and times of rain. We can all be thankful for what the Lord did in each of our lives in 2022. And looking forward into 2023, we can be excited that GOD LOVES TO BE TRUSTED - and He wants to USE US to let the WORLD KNOW that in 2023 they can have LIFE! This year our church will probably have the excitement of more babies, more weddings, more blessing. We will also have more hardship. But in all of it we GET TO LIVE! To LIVE ABUNDANTLY FOR THE WORLD TO KNOW THAT WE BELIEVE IN JESUS.

Passage:

John 6:1–14 NASB95

After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

PRAY

This is the FOURTH Sign Miracle in John:

John 20:30–31 NASB95

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

SIGN - or ATTESTING MIRACLE - A FLAG

And, this is the only miracle, other than The Resurrection, to be included in all four gospels.

Teaching Point #1: The Setting

John 6:1–4 NASB95

WHEN - After these things (vs 6:1)

Jesus had done a miracle in Jerusalem and then taught on His authority over the Sabbath - truth vs tradition

In Matthew 14, we learn that Jesus had recently learned about the death of his cousin, John the Baptist

In Mark 6 and Luke 9, we also learn that disciples had just returned from their initial evangelism assignment to report back - and they had a huge following

Mark 6:31 NASB95

And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

WHERE - (vs 6:1)

Bethsaida - west shore of the Sea of Galilee (not too far from the location of the Sermon on the Mount)

Good topography (beautiful setting), out in the country (desolate - Mark 6), only small villages/towns

WHO - Large Crowd (vs 6:2)

Jesus and His followers/disciples

Large crowd (5000 men, not to mention the women and children) was following Jesus and His disciples because of the signs they were witnessing - mainly healing the sick.

They were people needing/wanting help.

Matthew 14:14 NASB95

When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

Mark 6:34 NASB95

When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

The crowd seems to interrupt Jesus’s itinerary. He was trying to get His disciples away for a staff-retreat, to debrief, rest, regroup and prepare, but PEOPLE KEPT GETTING IN THE WAY

Teaching Point #2: The Problem

John 6:5–7 NASB95

Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”

The Problem

It was getting late (Matthew 14) and there were A LOT OF PEOPLE who needed supper.

No practical means to do so.

The Solutions

God helps those who help themselves: (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) - disciples ask Jesus to send the crowds away w/ enough time to get to a town.

Makes sense - ask Jesus to move others to go find help in a way that we may go find help.

Puts the responsibility on Jesus and others - takes ourselves out of the equation.

It’s on me and I simply cannot do it: (All four)

Jesus replies - “You give them something to eat!” (aorist imperative in Matt)

Jesus asks Philip a leading question, “Where can we get enough bread?”

There are not enough resources at their disposal to meet the need.

Nothing close

Too expensive (cost more than 6 months wages to give each a bite)

What about us? How quickly do we see these same solutions? I think we also can recognize problems, needs, situations/people that need the Lord. We can be quick to pray to Him about it. That’s good!!

We are told all the time in Scripture to pray.

But, do we ask God to take care of the problem expecting Him to do it w/o us being more involved?

TEEN MISSIONS - EACH EVENING AFTER THE RALLY A LEADER FROM EACH TEAM WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I DID NOT WANT TO BE APART OF IT

Why does Jesus ask His disciples the question? Jesus could have done it another way. He could have been more proactive in managing the crowd and the time of the day. He could have set up a clinic closer to a town with resources and organized the people for better, more efficient teaching and healing services. But that wasn’t His main goal.

First, let’s remember that God’s tests are to tempt us to sin

James 1:13–15 NASB95

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Second, we know that tests are how we are refined

Abraham and Isaac (Gen 22)

James 1:2 NASB95

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

1 Peter 1:7 NASB95

so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

His disciples had just returned from a pretty successful mission. He was continuing their lesson. Could it be that this was part of His plan the WHOLE TIME…?

2D vs 3D ministry - Shane Sanders, Critical Mass

Jesus could’ve solved the problem w/o the disciples, but He was building them too.

Two things here

1. He is always working. Remember that. While He does have compassion and sees the immediate physical need (temporal), He also builds His disciples (eternal)

2. We should be doing the same thing.

1. We should always be ready to be working.

2. The more mature should be developing the less mature. This is DISCIPLESHIP.

Teaching Point #3: The Solution

John 6:8–11 NASB95

One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.

Andrew found a boy with a lunch, who apparently was willing to share. What a kid!

It was obviously insignificant, but that didn’t even slow Jesus down.

Jesus worked

gave instructions and tasks (and opportunity) to the disciples (have them sit in groups)

He took what the existing resources

He prayed.

He provided in abundance!!!

Matt 14, Luke 9 - Jesus gave them to the disciples to distribute.

Not the most efficient way, but the most effective.

They ate and were satisfied (Matt, Mark, Luke)

As much as they wanted (John)

Teaching Point #4: The Outcome

John 6:12–14 NASB95

When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

The Disciples - gather the extra -WHY?

Why have leftovers?

Why collect them?

DISCIPLESHIP - I think He was showing His disciples that He can do FAR more than what they expect. They left with more than they had when they arrived!

Future supplies for others? For their own journey? Now it’s not just a boy who has rations, they each do.

12 Tribes of Israel…? Maybe

The People

The Prophet - the one like Moses

Deuteronomy 18:18

‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Supernatural feeding like manna and quail

Teaching and time spent with the people

Leading others to participate

Want to make Jesus their king

Most still not truly believing in Jesus

What now? What about us?

John 20:30–31 NASB95

The Son of God

Miracles FEEDING

The CREATIVE POWER OF GOD

Exodus - Moses

2 Kings 4 - Elisha

The Christ

Mark 6:34 NASB95

When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

Just like the Jews wandering in the desert, hurting, desperate, lost - Jesus saw the people around Him in the same way. And He acted on it.

He was preparing His disciples for work -

Eph 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Eph 4:12 “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

What about you?

There are 3 main types of people in this story - Jesus, the disciples, and the crowd. You are not Jesus, so are you a disciple or are you a part of the crowd? No wrong answer here.

If the CROWD,

Jesus will provide. Jesus has provided. While He can take care of your immediate, physical need - He has provided so much more!!

DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED JESUS? Do you want to be SATISFIED, FULFILLED?

Understand your need - that there is a Creator who made you and loves you. You have not trusted Him, and that is what He calls SIN - and it is your problem. It carries a death sentence as its consequence - to be forever separated from your Creator.

BUT JESUS, the Christ, the Son of God did what NO ONE ELSE COULD DO! He died for you!!

The other miracle that is in all 4 gospels - HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD!!!

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 NASB95

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!!!

If the DISCIPLES

We need to work.

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

James 2:14–16 NASB95

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

GOD LOVES TO BE TRUSTED

We need to see others like Jesus saw the crowd - with COMPASSION.

Our trust/faith in our Savior will lead us to action, to be rich in good works. What are those works - the same as the saints, prophets, and disciples - to be like JESUS. What a blessing. We were created in His image, ano thus our purpose is to reveal that work of Creation to the world. We, who actively follow Jesus, are being renewed to a TRUE IMAGE of the one who SAVED US!

HE WANTS US TO FEED THE PEOPLE! YOU FEED THEM!

How?

Be willing to be apart of the solution. NO COMMIT TO BE APART OF THE SOLUTION!!

Commitment. (10 Second Rule by Clare De Graaf)

See like Jesus sees. This comes with time and effort. We need to spend time with Jesus to become more like Him.

Bring the resources we have been given to Him, be thankful for them, and faithfully use them for service.

Bring Him what we have. 1 Peter 4: 10-11

1 Peter 4:10–11 NASB95

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

b. Get trained on how to share the gospel and use your gift. Start with your Sunday school teachers.

We are to be like Jesus. WE GET TO BE LIKE JESUS! He’s always working. Let’s join Him. Let’s get to work.