God’s Favorite

John 6:1-15

Jesus feeds 5000

CIT: Jesus feeds 5000

CIS: Jesus teaches disciples how to serve the masses

SO: The hearer will be ready to meet the challenge

Follow along at d1.church/notes. 

Intro: This series is designed to show you through the eyes of John, the Person of Jesus, the Jesus of the Godhead, and the key moments of his life. John is not a chronological book. Some things happen out of order compared to the other gospels. The gospel of John is not about exactness; it is about a relationship between Jesus and “the one Jesus loved.”

Today is a $10K Sunday. 

Let’s continue with John Chapter 6.

1. Crisis in numbers (John 6:1-7)

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

EXP: John has been an interesting Gospel. In John’s attempt to show us his relationship with Jesus, I have often said, “This story or passage is not found in the other Gospels.” While many of these stories are found alongside several other Gospels, this one is told consistently in every account of Jesus. There is very little variance in the timeline of events or in what happens. This is a defining moment for Jesus, and the lesson he intended to teach is clear. It is clear because this is a Teaching Moment for them and for us. 

This takes place on the far shore of Gailiee, Luke says specifically in Bethsaida. 

The disciples had just returned from a time of personal ministry and had given Jesus a report, as described in Mark and Luke.

Jesus led his disciples to a solitary place so that he could pour into them, and they could get rest after ministry—a retreat of sorts.

John says this happens just before the Passover festival.

The people (the 5000 men, not counting women and children) had gathered on their own. They left their homes and jobs as a result of the miracles and teachings that Jesus and his disciples had just done in the region. This is a pinnacle moment in the life and ministry of Jesus.

A few things take place to start the miracle: 1. Jesus sees the people and has compassion, as Mark describes. 2. Some of the disciples petitioned Jesus to send them away. (No author of a Gospel takes or assigns credit for this). 3. Jesus specifically asks Phillip about feeding them, John says. Phillip has no answer or means to make it happen.

ILL: We had a funeral some time back in our early ministry here at D1. It was for a very popular member of our church who has a decent-sized family. The individual who passed wanted their funeral at the church, and we were pressed logistically. But we had spoken with the family about providing a dinner for them in the fellowship hall. They had given us about 30 families who would be at the dinner, and we set out to accommodate that number. We recruited some volunteers and prepared food for a number of family members. What happened was that the family was easily double the number, and we were outmanned and undersupplied. I felt all the disciples’ panic. Jesus had just asked me how I was gonna do it? I like Phillip had no answer; we tried to get food and scrambled to make the room work. A miracle did occur; one of their family had ordered food from Irma’s, and it was delivered. Not before I was completely embarrassed and had realized my failure in understanding. This became a teachable moment for our ministers and the church. 

APP: So, like us, we had just had an incredible moment of ministry, and the people just kept coming. Jesus takes the opportunity to share a major teaching moment with his disciples and to show them how to trust and rely on God in impossible ministry times. 

T.S.: Now that the stress level is high. Let’s learn what Jesus wants us to learn.

2. Loaves and fishes (John 6:8-11)

 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

EXP: Peter’s brother, Andrew, finds a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two small fish. John is the only one who calls people by name. Phillip and Andrew. Jesus asks in the other Gospels and is given the same answer, just not so specific. 

Jesus continues his instruction: Have them sit down. Luke tells us in Groups of fifty. This will make it easier to count for numbers, but also to understand how the ministry is effective. 

Jesus, as described in Matthew and John, then gives thanks over the five loaves and two fish, then breaks them into smaller pieces. So, depending on how you interpret the passages in the Gospels, either Jesus broke it once and handed it to the disciples, or he personally continued breaking it into baskets, which the disciples took and dispersed among the people. Either way, the takeaway is that Jesus included them in the miracle. Jesus did not just solve the food issue; he gave instructions, and the disciples followed them, taking part in feeding the masses. The miracle is that the people got all they wanted.

ILL: Jesus taught in a time without sound systems and LED Boards. How did all of these things happen? (I need a whiteboard.) Draw how a speaker would speak from a central location, and the people were divided into sections and groups. Each group or area would have a relayer of the message, who then could be heard by the next group of relayers (some translators of other languages), who would listen for the speaker and then repeat in a loud voice to their designated group. These relayers were also the people whom the group could go to for clarification or questions.

APP: The ministry lesson is that this is how the Jesus revolution succeeds. It is not to get a louder sound system or to have a video board so big that many more can view at once, or to get on TV or more followers, the key is to have the relayers of the message to groups of 50 or so, so that there can be a personal individual who can speak confidently about Jesus. Jesus emphasizes in this moment the necessity of every disciple and minister in the spreading of the miracle and message (the bread of life) to the masses. 

T. S.: Jesus will use us to facilitate his message to the masses. He will intentionally include us in any miracle that has significance. He knows we are more effective when we can spread ourselves in the community and relay his message.

3. The twelve baskets (John 6:12-15).

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

EXP: Jesus is not done teaching even though the miracle is over. The people have eaten until they are satisfied, and Jesus looks out with proud eyes on his ministers and their obedience and ideas. Then he says I have one more lesson. Go and pick up the leftovers. Leftovers?!? When they did, they had 12 baskets of barley bread left. Imagine the amazement of the disciples. John tells us the people were sure he was a prophet and had started a campaign to make him a King by force. 

ILL: Honestly, I had never noticed this part about leftovers as anything other than just God’s abundance. I was just as amazed. But I once heard a missionary share the importance of twelve baskets. Mark, Luke, and John all include this specific number in their accounts of the feeding of the five thousand. It is not an accident that there are 12 disciples and 12 baskets. Jesus commanded them to pick them up. The lesson is that the ministers and agents of God’s will among the masses will not be left with nothing. God will provide for his ministers as well.

APP: Yes, we will pour ourselves out, but the same compassion Christ had for those who gather to be ministered to will be there for those who minister. God will provide abundance for his faithful ministers every time. A basket of food is enough for each disciple and their family. 

You cannot outdo God with your time, talent, and treasure. He will return it to you faithfully.

TS: Today is $10K Sunday. We have talked about it some, but today we will receive a special offering during our final worship song. Our goal is to cover the ministry we discussed at the beginning of this message for the summer.

1. God is not surprised by the amount of ministry needed
2. God is inviting us to do our part in this teaching moment
3. He will return it to us faithfully

The worship Team will come forward. The ushers will also come forward. I am going to pray and give thanks to God for his provision. After the buckets have passed you, you can continue to worship. 

May God bless you richly.