When A Doggie Bag Isn't Available (Jesus Feeds The 5,000) Series

Today, we look at one of Jesus’ most famous miracles. We look at when He feeds the multitudes with a boy’s sack lunch. In just a few moments, we invite all believers in Christ to take the Lord’s Supper with us.

Invitation

After today’s message, you will be invited to respond to Jesus’ offer of a clean, fresh start. You can respond by going to the Encourager’s Room or a virtual room. If you would like someone to pray with you, we are here. We would love to meet with you personally.

The classic name for this story is the Feeding of the 5,000, but there were likely at least 10,000 or more people there that day (Matthew 14:21). The Bible says there were only 5,000 men, so many women and children would have been there too.

Today’s Scripture

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?’ 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.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?’ 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.’ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!’

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” (John 6:1-15).

This is the only miracle during Jesus’ ministry that is recorded in all four Gospels. We learn the hour is late when Jesus suggests feeding everyone in the other gospels.

Sermon Preview

Here are three signs along our journey this morning:

1. He Puzzles You

2. He Tests You

Lastly, 3. He Astonishes You

Jesus refuses to be the king we want, but He’s the king we need.

1. He Puzzles You

“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” (John 6:15).

If this were an American movie, Jesus would be lifted up on the shoulders on the disciples and carried off to rule the world at the end of the story.

1.1 Jesus Puzzles Us

Here is the famous miracle where Jesus feeds the 5,000. It’s a miracle in which Jesus takes a few loaves and fishes and miraculously feeds a huge multitude of people. Jesus withdraws and secludes Himself on a mountain. Why didn’t Jesus drink in the praise? Why didn’t Jesus acquiesce to the plans where He would be king? He would be a better king than everyone else.

Jesus’ actions puzzle us here. To help us understand Jesus, it’s important to “the lay of the land,” or the backstory.

1.2 The Setting

John gives you the place. In verse 1, he says it’s on “the other side of the Sea of Galilee” and that “Jesus went up on the mountain” in verse 3. This is the east side, or probably what is known today as the Golan Heights.

John gives you the time. He says, “Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand” in verse 4. We don’t know which Passover exactly, but this was a holiday for Israel. It’s their “July 4th,” where they celebrate freedom from Egyptian slavery. Although they may not have celebrated with sparklers, fireworks, and hot dogs, this was always a special time for the Jewish people. John gives you the scene. The Bible says there was “a large crowd was following him” at the beginning of verse 2. And it tells us why so many followed Him around at the end of verse 3, “a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.” Jesus “Lifting up his eyes, then, and” sees “that a large crowd was coming toward him,” verse 5 tells us.