What God Can Do With A Happy Meal!

WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH A HAPPY MEAL

John 6:1-13

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: Euphemisms of a low IQ

1. Elevator doesn’t reach the top floor;

2. 2 bubbles shy of a bubble bath;

3. Not playing with a full desk;

4. Few French fries short of a Happy Meal;

5. Light’s on but nobody’s home;

6. No oars in the water.

7. A sandwich short of a picnic basket.

B. THE BOY’S STORY

1. That morning the rooster crowed, waking up a boy that was perhaps 8-12 years old.

2. He began to see multitudes of people passing through his obscure little town of Bethsaida (Lk. 9:10), on the N.E. side of the Sea of Galilee.

3. Where were these multitudes going? “Up the mountain there to see Jesus of Nazareth, the Prophet.” The thought of such a notable figure intrigued the boy. Soon he begged his mother to let him go and hear the Prophet.

4. Finally, she agreed. But she wouldn’t let him go without something to eat, so she fixed a basket with 5 small loaves of bread and two small fishes. She sent him out with a kiss and the promise he would be careful and come back by dark.

5. There was Jesus! Healing the sick (Mt. 14:14). Miracles were transpiring. He (boy) must get a closer look. So he wormed his way around behind Jesus, in amongst His disciples, who let him get as close as he wanted.

6. Oh! What wonders were performed! Every single sick person was healed (Lk. 9:11). Then Jesus taught the people. The boy was spell bound, listening to the stories.

7. Finally, as evening approached, the subject of food was brought up. The boy tugged on one of the disciple’s robes and said, “Excuse me, sir. I don’t have much, but I do have 5 loaves of bread and two fishes. I would be glad to share them.”

8. After some discussion between the Master and His disciples, the boy overheard Jesus say, “Bring him to me.” A disciple approached, “Come with me young man. Jesus has need of your lunch.” He was led right up to Jesus. The two smiled as the lad offered his lunch to Jesus.

9. Jesus directed the thousands of people to sit down in groups on the grass. It was then that the boy perceived that they were going to feed the entire multitude.

10. But with what? Certainly not with that lunch of mine! It wouldn’t feed two hungry men! Just then, Jesus began praying over his little lunch, asking the Father to bless it.

11. Then He began reaching into the basket. With wondering eyes the boy counted as more than 50 loaves and fish came tumbling out. He scooped out more & more & more!

12. For 30 minutes the Lord raked massive amounts of fishes and loaves from that little basket until all the great multitude had received generous portions. When all were full, He stopped.

C. TEXT

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 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?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 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?” 10 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). 11 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. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

D. THESIS

1. Boy’s mother; “If someone had told her that morning that she was fixing lunch for more than 15,000 people, she would have fainted!

2. Title: “What God Can Do With A Happy Meal!”