Public And Private Miracles

John 6:4-21-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 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 is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

And 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 of the fish, as much as they wanted.

So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”

Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve 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 sign 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.

Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,

got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.

Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.

So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.

But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Verse 5-6-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.

Our Lord often confronts us with questions we can‘t answer, and gives us duties we can‘t do on our own!!

He used what was available (2 fish, 5 loafs)

He used the people around Him (Lad, The disciples)

He did this even though He could have feed that multitude and lots more without any aid.

God’s doing miracles every day, we just don’t think about it, we just don’t recognize it!

Psalm 104:14-15-He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth, And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart.

He takes 5 barley loaves and two fish and feeds over five thousand!

Now the boy, gave to the Lord what he had, you see he could have keep it and feed himself or give to the Lord and feed a multitude!

There’s a lesson in there for us!!!

You can keep what you got and use it for your own benefit, or you can give it to God and not only let Him benefit you (Remember the boy ate too and was remembered for what he offered)

You may not think that what you have is much to offer, it maybe money, it maybe talent, it may be time, whatever it is, give it to Him and see what He does with it, see what He can accomplish with it!!

Little is much, when God is in it!!

Verse 12-So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”

He doesn’t waste anything, what we would discard of, Jesus uses!!

We’ll think someone’s life is worthless, but God has plan for their life!!!

We maybe picking up the fragments of our lives, Jesus says, “I can use, that situation, that circumstance, that problem, that weakness, that failure, to minister to someone!!”

This great multitude begins to follow him because of the healing miracles, and then they are feed by him!

Jesus knows they are going to take Him and try to make Him a earthy king, He departs, the disciples get in the boat to go on the other side sea, a storm arise and Jesus comes walking out to them, He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”