The One Jesus Loves, Part 13: Feeding the Five Thousand

THE ONE JESUS LOVES – 13

The Gospel of John

 

 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand   

(John 6:1-10) After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.

 

·     People are drawn to Jesus.

·     Andrew brings resources and a person to Jesus.

·     The little boy showed a child-like faith to participate in the ministry of Jesus.

 

(John 6:11-15)

 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

 

7 Principles from the Story:

 

1.   Be thankful for what you have.

 

(John 6:11) Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

 

2.   God sees and cares about your physical and spiritual needs.

 

(John 6:5) Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”

 

3.   God can multiply what you give.

 

4.   God does big things with little things.

 

5.   Seek to be a steward.

 

3 Attitudes Toward Our Stuff:

·     What’s mine is mine – selfishness.

·     What’s yours is mine – stealing.

·     What’s mine is His – stewarding.

 

(John 6:12) And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”

 

6.   Start generosity young.

 

(Acts 20:35) In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

 

 

7.   Jesus is His own King.

 

(John 6:14-15) When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.