The transcript of the service is below.
John 6:1-13
1 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.
Revelation 2:7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
John 6:1-13 GOD’S LOVE IN FEEDING THE HUNGRY
Springford Baptist Church: February 14, 2021.
On this Valentines Day,
when we are celebrating the gift of love
and being grateful for
the loving people we have in our lives, I want us to give thought to
another way that God communicates His love for people. Last week we
witnessed the love and compassion of God expressed through Jesus
speaking words of healing for a man’s son who was very sick and
close to death. (John 4:46-53). Jesus
healed that boy and we could listen for God’s love in bringing
healing.
Today we are LISTENING FOR GOD in this miracle of feeding a huge crowd of people. In this instance, we can hear God speaking His love through feeding those who are hungry.
This miracle confirms that Jesus was not only concerned about satisfying the need for healing and the hunger that people had for spiritual nourishment. Jesus was concerned that this crowd of people would need food to eat to satisfy their physical hunger. Know that Jesus in His love does care about all of our needs. This miracle also confirms for us the truth that with God, “a little can go a long way.” A LITTLE IS LOTS WHEN GOD IS IN IT!
As we examine this powerful story of God’s loving provision, I want us to give attention to the young boy in the crowd with a simple lunch. Jesus is told “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish… (vs.9a)
Now the details are not spelled out for us in this Scripture, but here is what I imagine may have happened leading up to what is recorded here. I think that this boy may have gotten up early that morning and wanted to go and see and hear this Jesus that everyone was talking about. I can hear his mother calling out to him as he was leaving the house, “Did you take something for lunch”? Isn’t that the kind of thing mothers say? She would have carefully wrapped up some small barley loaves and a couple of small fish- plenty of food for a young boy to eat when he got hungry. She would have done this out of her love and concern for her son. She didn’t want him to be hungry and to have nothing to eat. Never could this mother have imagined what God would do with her simple act of love. Likewise, God can do remarkable things with our simple acts of love when we are listening intently for Him.” A LITTLE IS LOTS WHEN GOD IS IN IT!
The disciple Andrew’s
question is a reasonable one in reference to this tiny lunch and an
immense crowd of over 5000 people. He says to Jesus, “How
far will they go among so many”? (vs.9b)
Obviously,
Andrew doesn’t realize either how God can multiply a simple act of
love to meet needs.” A LITTLE IS LOTS WHEN
GOD IS IN IT!
Jesus has a practical approach to how these people will be fed. He says, “Have the people sit down.” (vs. 10) They can be comfortable as they wait for the food to come to them. And keep in mind that this was a vast crowd (5000 men plus the women and children). The people do not protest and suggest a better way of doing things. They listen to the instructions that Jesus gives. How carefully do we listen to Jesus’ instructions for us in how needs will be met? A LITTLE IS LOTS WHEN GOD IS IN IT!
We read, “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.”
(vs.11)
Jesus
acknowledges and gives thanks to God for what has been provided.
This
is a generous meal. People are able to have as much as they want and
can be completely satisfied. God in His love is generous.
A LITTLE IS LOTS WHEN GOD IS IN IT!
When we are planning a meal, we think about how many people will be eating and plan accordingly. If there are a few more than expected, we can usually stretch to accommodate. This was clearly a miracle of God’s provision when over 5000 people have as much as they want to eat from what began as a boy’s tiny lunch of 5 small barley loaves and 2 small fish. A LITTLE IS LOTS WHEN GOD IS IN IT!
And did you notice that there are leftovers?
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.
I like having leftovers! Not only is it convenient for the next meal, but it is evidence that people really did have all that they wanted. Jesus does not want anything to be wasted. (vs. 12) Our loving God can provide more than just enough for the occasion. This reminds me that God looks ahead to when we will be hungry again. And to think that this incredible miracle began with a boy’s small lunch. Doesn’t this make you wonder what God can do with what we are willing to give, however seemingly small or insignificant.” A LITTLE IS LOTS WHEN GOD IS IN IT!
We might be inclined to regard big needs like we are seeing now with several people not able to work and businesses closing and people struggling to feed themselves and their families and think, “What can I do”? Know that our loving God can take our donations to local food banks, the support of Friendship House in Brantford, and the seemingly small amounts of money that we can give to share what we have and God can multiply these to meet needs.
Valentines Day and Family Day can be a cozy times when we are grateful for the love and care of those close around us. How will we look further to see each person that God sees and loves and cares about? As we are LISTENING FOR GOD, how might God want us to respond to give what we have to meet larger needs as only He can? A LITTLE IS LOTS WHEN GOD IS IN IT!