Part two of my "Miracles of Jesus" series for youth group.
John 6:1-13
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
Jesus was out and about doing miracles. He is CONTINUALLY doing miracles, healing people. I liken the idea to a celebrity who is starting out – they are all over the place. Facebook, twitter, Jimmy Fallon – everyone wants a piece of Jesus. So much so, that people have followed him to this small town near the Sea of Galilee. I love the word “fangirling” – people were fangirling Jesus. Everyone wanted to be around him.
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?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Why do you think Jesus was worried about the crowd getting something to eat? I mean, shouldn’t they have brought their own food? Planned ahead? Why is it Jesus’s job to feed everyone? I bet there are times when you invite friends over and your folks are like “we have to feed them!” Jesus wanted to meet their needs. He CARES about us, and he knew that this crowd of people would be hungry. He also knew that the town was not equipped to feed everyone. There is a difference between taking a group to an all-you-can-eat buffet and asking a group to share your dinner plate.
Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Jesus knew there was not enough food for everyone. But he wanted to see what the disciples would say – how they would respond. Would they freak out? Worry? Would they come up practical solutions? I think sometimes God is curious how we’d respond to crisis. I know my boss does!
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
Wow. A kid saved the day! Would you share your lunch? How is it that the only person who thought to bring a lunch was a child? God uses the young and the old! I imagine, that even the fact that the kid is FOUND amounts the thousands of people is a miracle.
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). 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.
Jesus gave direction. “Have them sit down.” I bet he was like “Sit down folks, and let me show you what I can do!” Its hard for me to imagine the logistics of all this. Did they get into lines? Did the disciples walk around, distributing the food? And how did it happen? How did two fish and five loaves of bread become such feast? Its hard to wrap our brains around it! How did he do it? How long did it take? It’s a miracle! The Bible is full of stories where God’s gift to us is FOOD. Yum!
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
This blows my mind. ENOUGH! Jesus knew when the crowd was satisfied. He knew how much food the men would need, how much the kids needed. He provided exactly what every person needed. I bet all the Cocoa’s and Elwoods got fed too. Haha! When everyone was done, when they were no longer hungry, then Jesus told the disiples to collect all the leftover food and filled baskets. I wonder if this is an example of Jesus providing for the disciples- he not only made sure the crowd was taken care of, but he did not forget about those who were following him closely. He took care of his people. And there was overflow.
This story is found in all four gospels. It’s a story that demonstrates that jesus is the supplier of all human needs. It shows so clearly that God do incredible things with very little.
When we give little, God gives much. He doesn’t want us to be stuck with the math that 5 +2 = 7. He wants us to remember that WITH GOD, 5 + 2 = 5000 R12. This story shows an “only God” moment. Do you have your own example of an “Only God” moment? Maybe you didn’t know how something would work out? And then it did, and it only by God’s grace and provision!
Jesus also demonstrates a thankful heart. The simple act of gratitude sets up a miracle. I want everyone to take a moment to think of something they are grateful for right now- share it.
Nothing is too big for God. NOTHING! Jeremiah 32:17 says “Ah Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Like I said last week, God is able!
We have a tendency to ask God to do things that are just outside our ability. Is there an impossible situation in your life that “only God” can solve? An impossible person? An impossible dream? Write it down! And start believing God is bigger than your mistakes, biggest fears and biggest dreams.
John 6:1-13
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
Jesus was out and about doing miracles. He is CONTINUALLY doing miracles, healing people. I liken the idea to a celebrity who is starting out – they are all over the place. Facebook, twitter, Jimmy Fallon – everyone wants a piece of Jesus. So much so, that people have followed him to this small town near the Sea of Galilee. I love the word “fangirling” – people were fangirling Jesus. Everyone wanted to be around him.
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?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Why do you think Jesus was worried about the crowd getting something to eat? I mean, shouldn’t they have brought their own food? Planned ahead? Why is it Jesus’s job to feed everyone? I bet there are times when you invite friends over and your folks are like “we have to feed them!” Jesus wanted to meet their needs. He CARES about us, and he knew that this crowd of people would be hungry. He also knew that the town was not equipped to feed everyone. There is a difference between taking a group to an all-you-can-eat buffet and asking a group to share your dinner plate.
Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Jesus knew there was not enough food for everyone. But he wanted to see what the disciples would say – how they would respond. Would they freak out? Worry? Would they come up practical solutions? I think sometimes God is curious how we’d respond to crisis. I know my boss does!
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
Wow. A kid saved the day! Would you share your lunch? How is it that the only person who thought to bring a lunch was a child? God uses the young and the old! I imagine, that even the fact that the kid is FOUND amounts the thousands of people is a miracle.
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). 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.
Jesus gave direction. “Have them sit down.” I bet he was like “Sit down folks, and let me show you what I can do!” Its hard for me to imagine the logistics of all this. Did they get into lines? Did the disciples walk around, distributing the food? And how did it happen? How did two fish and five loaves of bread become such feast? Its hard to wrap our brains around it! How did he do it? How long did it take? It’s a miracle! The Bible is full of stories where God’s gift to us is FOOD. Yum!
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
This blows my mind. ENOUGH! Jesus knew when the crowd was satisfied. He knew how much food the men would need, how much the kids needed. He provided exactly what every person needed. I bet all the Cocoa’s and Elwoods got fed too. Haha! When everyone was done, when they were no longer hungry, then Jesus told the disiples to collect all the leftover food and filled baskets. I wonder if this is an example of Jesus providing for the disciples- he not only made sure the crowd was taken care of, but he did not forget about those who were following him closely. He took care of his people. And there was overflow.
This story is found in all four gospels. It’s a story that demonstrates that jesus is the supplier of all human needs. It shows so clearly that God do incredible things with very little.
When we give little, God gives much. He doesn’t want us to be stuck with the math that 5 +2 = 7. He wants us to remember that WITH GOD, 5 + 2 = 5000 R12. This story shows an “only God” moment. Do you have your own example of an “Only God” moment? Maybe you didn’t know how something would work out? And then it did, and it only by God’s grace and provision!
Jesus also demonstrates a thankful heart. The simple act of gratitude sets up a miracle. I want everyone to take a moment to think of something they are grateful for right now- share it.
Nothing is too big for God. NOTHING! Jeremiah 32:17 says “Ah Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Like I said last week, God is able!
We have a tendency to ask God to do things that are just outside our ability. Is there an impossible situation in your life that “only God” can solve? An impossible person? An impossible dream? Write it down! And start believing God is bigger than your mistakes, biggest fears and biggest dreams.