Transcript

Material Bread of Life

John 6:1-15
Sunday, January 12, 2003
Pastor Randy Smith

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During our vacation last week, I had my first opportunity to make a batch of clam chowder-Manhattan style. After shucking over 3-dozen clams and dicing a number of vegetables, I realized how much work and time was required to feed 5 people. This morning we'll study a well-known miracle of Jesus where He feeds over 5,000 people!

The goal of our study is three-fold as the points are identified in the sermon outline contained in your bulletin. First, I would like to explain the miracle itself. Second, once we understand the content of the miracle, we'll seek to discern its theological significance. Third, based on the theological meaning, I would like to provide some practical application.

1. THE MIRACLE - NARRATIVE EXPLAINED

The first verse in John 6 tells us that Jesus and His disciples "went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee." Based on the account in John itself, we may wonder why Jesus and the 12 would travel away from the dominant Jewish side on the West where they had been conducting their ministry. The parallel in Mark provides some helpful background information. Mark 6:30-32, "The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.' (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves." Jesus knew the rigors and strains of ministry. Jesus knew His disciples were only human. Jesus knew they required some much needed rest and relaxation.

Unfortunately the apostolic crew failed to make a quiet get-away. Verse 33 in Mark reads, "The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them." Did you catch that? Jesus and His entourage leisurely begin their retreat by sailing across the scenic Sea of Galilee, while the multitudes jog around the Sea, some 10 miles, only to be waiting on the other side for Jesus' arrival! Put yourself in the Apostles' predicament. You plan a nice vacation at some remote setting away from your "customers," only to find them at your secluded chalet when you arrive- 5,000 men, as it is recorded in Mark (6:44), not including the women and children (Mt. 14:21)!

To make matters even worse, John 6:2 says the people only followed them because of the "signs" Jesus was performing. The Greek word for "followed" (akoloutheo) is in the imperfect tense. This tense denotes a continual action. In other words, this certain sect of people continually followed Jesus for His display of miracles. They didn't care about Him as a person, nor did they desire to submit to His lordship. They were in it for themselves. They followed Him everywhere and simply wanted to be entertained by the "Jesus show." Most likely these are the same individuals mentioned in John chapter 2. "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man" (Jn. 2:23-25). Most likely these are also the same individuals who "withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore" (Jn. 6:66) when they realized the demands of discipleship.

Nevertheless, our merciful Savior had empathy for them. Mark 6:34 says, "He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd." Furthermore the verse says, "He began to teach them many things." Jesus always made time for the people.

However, before He taught the multitude, even before the multitude arrived to their exact location, John 6, beginning in verse 5, records a dialogue that Jesus had with one of His disciples. The disciple's name was Philip. In "seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, (Jesus) said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat'" (Jn. 6:5; c.f. 4:8)? Some people believe that Jesus specifically chose Philip because he came from the nearby town of Bethsaida (1:44). Possibly this is correct. We may never know why Jesus specifically chose Philip, but we do know His reasons for asking the question. According to verse 6, "This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do." Jesus already had planned to miraculously feed the crowd, but His intent was to test the depth of Philip's faith.

And as with Philip, Jesus doesn't test us to learn about our faith. Being omniscient, He already knows all things. Rather He tests us whereby we can realize for ourselves the depth of our faith. One author rightly remarked, "The devil tempts us to bring us down; God tests us to bring us up" (Jerry Mixon).

So Jesus tested Philip and asked him, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat" (Jn. 6:5)? Would Philip rely on the supernatural abilities of Jesus or would he rely on his own human intuition and carnal understanding? Would Philip pass the test?

Verse 7 in John 6, "Philip answered Him, 'Two hundred denarii (1 denarii equaled approximately a day's wage) worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.'" Suffice it to say that Philip did not pass the test! Rather than concluding that Jesus was the only hope to feed an upward of 20,000 people, Philip opted for the humanistic approach and calculated that 200 denarii would not even be enough money to afford each individual a few nibbles. Furthermore, Philip never even answered Jesus' question. Jesus asked "where" they were to buy bread; Philip answered with "how much" the bread would cost.

Philip was realistic. He was practical. He was concerned about human resources, things like money and supermarkets and manpower, while failing to remember that he saw Jesus turn water into wine, heal the Nobleman's son from a distance, and command a paralyzed man to spring to his feet.

Apparently after this dialogue with Philip, Jesus taught the multitudes. Evening was approaching. The disciples had been without food (Mk. 6:31) and the crowd itself had gone through the day without food as well. It was getting late and the disciples once again felt they were wiser than Jesus. Beginning in Mark 6:35, "When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, 'This place is desolate and it is already quite late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat'" (Mk. 6:35-36). In other words, "Jesus, it's getting dark, these people are hungry, so quit teaching them. Send them away so they can get for themselves something to eat!" I can imagine Jesus replying, "I don't want them to leave because the spiritual food of My word is more important than material food for their bodies! They have come here to be with us; we have a responsibility to provide for their needs."

The response of the disciples in Mark 6:37 echoes the private dialogue that Jesus had with Philip. "But He answered them, 'You give them something to eat!' And they said to Him, 'Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat' (Mk. 6:37). Sound familiar? It's easy to criticize Philip, but all of the disciples failed to demonstrate any greater faith.

It was time for Jesus to do what He intended. All of the disciples at this point realized the sheer hopelessness of the situation. They realized their own resources added nothing to solving this dilemma. In Mark 6:38 Jesus said to them, "'How many loaves do you have? Go look!' And when they found out, they said, 'Five, and two fish.'" John 6:8 provides some additional information. In that verse we learn that it was Andrew who discovered the little boy's lunch. We learn that the loaves were barley loaves, a cheap and inexpensive bread. And we learn that Andrew's faith was consistent with the rest of his fellow disciples when he said, "But what are these for so many people" (Jn. 6:9)? Andrew logically concludes that 5 loaves of bread and 2 small pickled fish would be insufficient to feed the mass of people. Therefore in the minds of the disciples, common sense prevailed. "Jesus, you must send the people away!"

Jesus was not about to send them away. Rather in verse 10 of John He said, "Have the people sit down." Both accounts reveal that the area was a grassy place and the crowd, counting the men only, numbered 5,000. However, Mark records (in verses 39 and 40) that Jesus instructed the people to sit in groups of hundreds and fifties.

The disciples were probably frustrated that their suggestion was slighted. The crowd was probably cautious, yet anticipating something special. But Jesus was fully in control. He had the situation perfectly managed. Everything was happening according to His perfect timetable with order and precision.

After the people were seated in the groups, John 6:11 says that "Jesus then took the loaves and (gave) thanks." In other words He "said grace." I'm sure a few inquisitive eyes were open during this prayer! Mark adds that He "look(ed) up toward heaven" and "blessed the food" and "broke the loaves" (6:41). His formula was simple and reverent, unlike the so-called "miracle workers" of today. There was no razzmatazz, no theatrics and no dramatic pleading.

Instantly, according to the inerrant Word of God, the food appeared and it appeared and it appeared! What began as 5 loaves and 2 fish miraculously became enough food to feed 20,000 people! Try to imagine the shock on the face of the people in the first row. I can picture them jumping to their feet in amazement and celebration! Then I can picture each successive row following in suit. I picture a sporting arena where a dramatic play brings the crowd off their seats as people sequentially rise to see over the heads of those who stand before them. And if we see this excitement when a goal is scored or a home run is hit, how much more should we expect it when the living God chooses to perform a miracle!

The disciples were faithless and stingy in their dealing with the situation. At best they had hoped that each bystander would be afforded a small portion. However, God is never stingy in His solutions. God is marked by the words: liberality, generous, abundance. John says the people ate "as much as they wanted" (Jn. 6:11) and "they were filled" (Jn. 6:12). Mark says "They all ate and were satisfied" (Mk. 6:42).

After the crowd enjoyed feasting to their heart's delight, Christ commanded the disciples to gather up the remaining food. Any waste of the food would be an insult to the divine Giver! Both Mark and John record that 12 baskets were filled with just the leftovers themselves (Jn. 6:13; Mk. 6:42). Interestingly, Christ's supply was so abundant that the unwanted portions at the end well outnumbered the coveted portions that the crowd had to begin with. There is no doubt. When Christ decides to bless, the cup surely does "runneth over."

2. THE MIRACLE - THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Hopefully by now you have a general idea of what took place that afternoon almost 2,000 years ago. Now, as we move to the second point of this sermon, we must consider the theological significance of this account. If we rightly understand the actions of Jesus Christ to be a miracle, or a "sign" as it is often called in the gospel of John, we must determine the underlining intentions of Jesus Christ. In other words, what theological truth did the sign point toward?

Before I provide you with what I believe to be the correct answer, allow me to share how others have attempted to interpret this text.

Based upon the thousands of eyewitness (many still alive at the time of Mark's writing), it's impossible, even for the most radical critic to deny that something took place that evening with Jesus, the food and the multitudes. Nobody can deny the event, but liberal scholars attempt to deny the miraculous nature of the event. Here's how they would both explain and teach this account in John 6.

Some have said: "Jesus never produced enough food to feed thousands of people! That's ridiculous! Rather the point of this story is that Jesus taught people how to share. Once he persuaded the young boy to share his lunch, others followed in suit. Eventually, as everybody sacrificed some of their food for the sake of others enough food was produced to feed the 20,000 people. The miracle is not found in Jesus supernaturally producing an abundance of food, rather the miracle is found in everybody's heart as they learned the valuable lesson of sharing!"

Do you believe that? Is that what really happened? Was sharing Jesus' major theological point of this event? I don't think so! (I would estimate that over 90% of evangelical children's curriculum believe it was!) Did Jesus fail to perform a miracle? That's not what the Bible says! The text is clear that the multitudes followed Jesus in haste, bringing no food. The text is clear that the disciples told Jesus to send them away to buy food, obviously implying they had no food of their own currently with them. The text is clear that the disciples, after canvassing the crowd, appeared only to find 5 loaves and 2 fish, which they themselves considered an insufficient meal for thousands.

Others who seek to deny the miracle say: "There was no miracle! Sure, Jesus only had a small portion of food to work with, but the goal of this event was not to feed everybody. The goal was to foreshadow Christ's time in the upper room with His disciples where He instituted the ordinance of Communion. Jesus simply took the 5 loaves, gave thanks and broke the bread into 20,000 pieces. Each person then received a tiny portion of this sacramental meal."

Do you believe that? Is that what really happened? Was Communion Jesus' major theological point of this event? I don't think that's correct either! Again, did Jesus fail to perform a miracle? That's not what the Bible says! The text is clear the people ate as much as they wanted. John says they were "filled." Mark says they were "satisfied." The text is clear that even 12 baskets of leftovers were gathered!

The author of this Gospel viewed Christ's actions as a miracle. Christ performed many other miracles that are recorded in the Scriptures. The "Feeding of the 5,000" is the only miracle, apart from the resurrection, that is mentioned in all 4 gospels. Obviously it bore much significance in the minds of the early Christians. Furthermore, if Jesus was involved in creation as the Bible declares, is feeding a large crowd beyond His abilities?

Therefore I do believe, as do all of you, that the only explanation of this event is due to Christ's nature to perform the supernatural. Now I am back to my original question. What did this miracle, or the sign as John calls it, attempt to signify? I believe it pointed both backward and forward. Let me explain.

When these Jews miraculously saw the ample production of bread what do you think naturally would have come to mind? Manna! And not only manna, but also its connection with Moses. You'll remember that Moses was the man used by God in the wilderness to provide manna (or bread) for the Israelites for 40 years (Ex. 16:35). Exodus 16:4, "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.'" According to Exodus 16:18, "Every man gathered as much as he should eat." Exodus 16:19, "Moses said to them, 'Let no man leave any of it until morning.'" There are tremendous similarities between this account and the miracle of Jesus we have been studying this morning.

You'll remember from John chapter 5 that the people in Israel greatly revered Moses (Jn. 5:45-46). Jesus wanted the people to see now in chapter 6 that He was better than Moses. Jesus was now the new-lawgiver. Jesus was now the leader of the nation. Jesus was now the One in whom people should "set (their) hope" (Jn. 5:45). God the Father even confirmed Jesus as the preeminent One when He told the 3 disciples in the presence of Elijah (see 2 Ki. 4:42-44) and Moses, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him" (Mt. 17:5)! Don't listen to Moses anymore; listen to Jesus!

We need to wonder if the Jewish people saw this connection. Based on the text we have to believe they did. Look at John 6:14. "Therefore (a word of inference) when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, 'This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.'" The people realized the miracle. They perceived it as a sign and concluded that the sign identified Jesus as "the Prophet."

Our connection with Moses and the miraculous production of bread now gets even more intriguing. While their minds made the instant connection with Moses, they recalled his popular teaching about a coming Prophet, the One that would even surpass him in greatness. In Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Moses said, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. This is according to all that you asked of the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.' The Lord said to me, 'They have spoken well. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.'"

The Jewish crowd knew there was something special about Jesus. They saw the miraculous bread. They made the connection with Moses. They remembered the teaching of Moses and concluded the long awaited Prophet had arrived!

Now, how would the people react to this revelation? They concluded, "Would not this Prophet restore great nationalistic pride like Moses? Would not this Prophet deliver them from foreign oppression like Moses?" That is exactly what happened! Look at John 6:15. "So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone."

Based on the miracle, the people had reached the proper conclusion, but reacted to the conclusion in an improper way. Their eyes bugged out and they said, "At last our deliverer has come! Our long oppression by the Romans has ended! He will slay the hostile enemies ruling in our Promised Land that Moses brought us to. Once again our nation will be great! And if He refuses to be king, we'll make Him a king by force and manipulate Him to respond to such evil tyranny."

Now there is no doubt, Jesus is King, but He was not a king of the kingdom they were expecting. They wanted a revolutionary to deliver them from the Romans, not a Savior to deliver them from sin. That is why it should not surprise us that the crowd in the end chose the release of Barabbas (a political savior) and demanded the crucifixion of Jesus (a spiritual Savior) (Lk. 23:18).

The second significant aspect of this miracle is spoken of later in verse 41 of John chapter 6. "Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, 'I am the bread that came down out of heaven.'" When the crowd began to realize that Jesus was not the man they expected, when they began to seek Him out only for a sign (vs. 30) or food to eat (vs. 26), Jesus revealed the main point of His miracle. In other words He said, "The sign which you saw in actuality was a picture that pointed to me. Sure Moses gave you miracle bread out of heaven, but the bread that I produced pointed beyond the physical bread to something greater! The miracle pointed to Me as the spiritual Bread of Life!"

Verse 32, "Jesus then said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread (Jesus!) out of heaven.'" Verse 33, "For the bread of God (Jesus!) is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." Verse 51, "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven (Jesus!); if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh."

The whole point that Jesus will make for the remainder of John chapter 6 is that He is the true Bread of Life out of heaven that is able to meet all of our needs. Jesus produced the physical bread of life to point to Himself as the spiritual Bread of Life. The crowd was focused on physical food which feeds the body that will die. Therefore, they missed Christ's intentions. Jesus was concerned about spiritual food that feeds the soul, the part that will never die. As the Bread of Life, Jesus offers Himself to those who are spiritually hungry and desire to be eternally satisfied. Therefore there should have been no doubt in the mind of the Jewish crowd who observed the miracle that Jesus, the new giver of the bread, surpassed Moses, the old giver of bread, and the Bread itself surpassed manna.

3. THE MIRACLE - PRACTICAL APPLICATION

If the overall point of the miracle is to look to Jesus as our Bread of Life, our benevolent Provider who supplies all things for life and godliness, you may be wondering what practical application pertains to this account.

There are many directions we can go with this one, but I'd like to keep the application within the confines of the text. As I was meditating on this miracle this week, I was amazed how Jesus' own disciples failed to trust their Master for His provisions. And as I began to become critical of these men, the Spirit reminded me of my own similar shortcomings.

Let's take Philip for example. When asked by Jesus as to where bread for the multitudes could be purchased, he replied that 200 denarii were insufficient to feed such a mass of people.

Now think about that. The man was called to be an Apostle of Jesus. The man had already witnessed many miracles by the hands of Jesus, one that included turning water into enough wine to delight a large wedding banquet. This man who had walked intimately with Jesus for already 2 years, basically told Jesus to His face that there was no hope. Let me ask you, would an unbeliever have responded any differently? As illogical as it sounds, often I've seen Atheists demonstrate more faith than a Christians!

How many times have you and I put Jesus in a box? How many times have we felt there was no hope for a problem? How many times have we trusted solely in our own human logic and understanding? How many times have we failed to realize that His wisdom, power and grace are better supplied through the "impossible" situations? How many times have we walked by sight and responded with a similar lack of faith? Philip basically told the second Person of the Trinity, "Jesus, the problem is even too big for You!"

Other times we respond to the Bread of Life in a way similar to Andrew. Andrew found the young boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish and said, "But what are these for so many people" (Jn. 6:9)? In other words, "Jesus, I've seen You do miracles, but how in the world do You expect to feed 20,000 people with a little boy's lunch?

How many times have we failed to realize that the Lord uses our weaknesses, our feeble attempts, our frail humanity to accomplish great things? How many times have we failed to remember that we are "clay pots," broken vessels that God chooses to work through whereby He might receive greater glory? How many times have we responded like Andrew and said, "I know I need to be serving in the local church, but how can I possibly contribute?" "I know I need to be financially supporting the Lord's work, but how can my 'widow's mite' make a difference?" "I know I need to overcome this sin, but how can I have any hope for change?"

Beloved, the Bread of Life has the ability to exceed what we expect of Him. He will not be bound by our limitations! He produced food that far surpassed what 200 denarii could have provided. Remember, even the 12 full baskets of leftovers exceeded the 5 loaves and 2 fish He began with! Jesus surpasses our expectations! His blessings are bountiful! Miracles for Him are recreational activity! It was R.A. Torrey who said, "Expect great things (from God)!" The problem is never His ability. The problem is always our lack of faith in His promises!

Allow me to get even more specific. We have a serious issue before us as a congregation. If the Lord continues to bless us proportionately with the new people He has been bringing to our church, we will outgrow our current facilities.

We can act like the disciples and say, "Lord, send them away!" We can act like Philip and say, "Lord, You can't provide such a facility to accommodate the needs." We can even act like Andrew and say, "Lord, we have some limited resources, but what are these for such an addition?" And the Lord would respond to us, "Don't you trust that I will provide for the people I am sending your way? Don't you want the blessing of seeing more lives transformed for my glory? Don't you believe the works I've done and the promises I've recorded in the Bible? Don't you believe that through Me you can do all things? Ye children of little faith! Dream big! Expect great things! Trust Me for the impossible!" The great missionary Hudson Taylor once said, "Depend on it; God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply."

The miracle in John 6 reminded me that Jesus is my Bread of Life. He is the preeminent One. He is the One who can do all things and supply all my needs often in a way that is unexpected, different and better that I ever would have dreamed up myself!

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen" (Eph. 3:20-21).