Where God Directs, God Will Provide Series

Introduction:

I. In last Sunday’s message we looked at the fact that Jesus did not, in all situations, help every person he came into contact with.

II. My points in that message,

A. First - Sometimes we have to look past the multitude, and focus on the individual, or a smaller group.

B. Second - We have to get rid of the excuses we may have for not being involved someplace, and get up and walk.

C. Third - We must follow up on what we have begun.

III. In an effort to be, as Fox new channel claims, “Fair and Balanced” this week we look at how much Jesus and the disciples accomplished, with only a fraction of what was needed.

A. This week we move to John, chapter 6, beginning with verse one.

B. John states 5,000 hungry men have come to Christ,

IV. How much of an impression did the feeding of the 5,000 make on the gospel writers; consider this.

A. A “harmony of the Gospels” takes every story in the gospels, and will tell you what other gospel writer wrote about it, and where.

B. If you take a harmony of the gospel’s and look for places where all four writers tell the story, there is only one story found in all four, this one.

V. Now all four gospel writers tell this same story, however they also emphasize different components of the story.

A. Matthew states 5,000 men, along with women and children were coming.

1. I suppose that would be what, ten, maybe fifteen thousand or more that Jesus wanted to feed.

B. Mark and Luke state that Jesus instructed that the large group be broken down in smaller groups of about 50 to 100.

C. Although John is the only writer to state the loaves and fish were procured from a small boy, all four agree that the available food was 5 loaves of bread and two fish.

VI. All four writers also agree that if they depended only on the physical, there was no way they could take care of everyone.

VII. All four also agree that, with dependence on Christ, there was more than enough to handle whatever He asks you to do.

VIII. Perhaps we do sometimes need to look past the crowd and focus on the one.

IX. Perhaps we do need to stop making excuses for what we can’t do, and get up and walk.

X. Always we need to follow-up on what we begin, but here is another good rule for walking through life with God, “Where God Directs, There Will Always Be Enough”

See the Problem With Christ Eyes (vs. 1-7)

6:1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 And a great multitude was following Him, because they were seeing the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, *said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 And this He was saying to test him; for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”

I. As John relates this incident, it appears that Jesus and the disciples are just sitting around on the side of a hill.

A. But if we were to take all four passages and place them together, this is essentially what we would see.

1. John the Baptist has just been killed,

2. The disciples have just returned from a preaching ministry Jesus had sent them on.

3. A feast is at hand, and people are everywhere, to the point that not even the disciples can eat.

4. Jesus leads the disciples on a retreat in order to get some much needed rest, but the crowds recognize these 13 men, follow them, and Jesus has just spent the day teaching and healing.

B. Now evening is coming, and the disciples say, “Send these crowds away, so they can find food and lodging for themselves.

II. If these verses don’t sound like a church finance meeting, I don’t know what does.

III. Look Jesus’ question in verse 5 “Where are we to buy bread, that these (people) may eat?”

A. It is logical that Jesus would direct his question to Philip, since Philip was originally from that area.

B. But I draw our attention to the question, because it is so much like when Jesus asked the paralytic if he wanted to get well.