Trinity Baptist Church

 

We are considering the subject, "The Things Jesus Took," by looking at various occasions where we are told that our Lord "took" something. Last week we saw how Jesus "took a child" to show the secret of success.

 

In John 6, we find one of the most familiar miracles that Jesus ever performed. It is the miracle commonly referred to as "The Feeding of the 5000." Someone referred to this as "The miracle of the saltines and the sardines." This is the only miracle of the Lord Jesus that is found in all four gospels.

 

I read about the preacher that announced that the next Sunday he was going to preach on Noah and his Ark. The next Sunday he got up to read his text not knowing that some boys had glued some of the pages of his Bible together. He began to read, "Noah took unto himself a wife and she was," he turned the page and continued to read, "three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high." He paused and then read it again. He then looked up and said, "You know, I have been studying the Bible for almost fifty years, but there are still some things in that are hard to believe."

 

In verse 11 we are told that "Jesus took the loaves."

 

Last week, He took a little child and taught us the secret of success. Today, He takes a lunch and gives us the source of sufficiency. 

 

This is a story that demonstrates the sufficiency of our great God, and what He can do with a small lunch once it is put into His hands.

 

I heard about a Sunday school teacher who was trying to illustrate to her boys and girls the dangers of drinking alcohol. So she filled up two glasses, one with water and one with alcohol. Then she pulled out some earthworms she had dug up and dropped some of them into the water. The worms just swam around that water; and had a great time. 

 

Then she dropped some earthworms into that glass of alcohol and, before long, those earthworms curled up and died. She said, "Now boys and girls, what does this teach us?" One little boy spoke up and said, "I know what it teaches. If you have the worms, drink a lot of alcohol."

 

As we study this miracle, if we're not careful, then, like that little class, we too can miss the point all together. This miracle has a two-fold purpose. 

 

On the one hand, it illustrates a LACK of Faith

 

There are 2 examples of unbelief provided in Philip and Andrew.

 

Verse 5

 

This "great multitude" is referenced twice in these verses (v. 2, and 5)

 

In verse 10 we're told that there were 5,000 men. Many estimate the crowd, including women and children, at anywhere from 7,000 to 10,000 people there that day. 

Jesus asked Philip where they could buy bread to feed the multitude, and Philip answers:

 

Verse 7

 

Now Phillip focused on the cost. He began adding up what it would cost to feed so many people and he came to the conclusion that if they had more than 200 days wages (two hundred denarii) it would still not be enough. 

 

Philip reminds us of those who look at budgets, bank accounts, treasury reports and weekly offerings, and say, "It cannot be done." All they see is dollars and cents, and like Philip they focus on the cost.

 

Then, there is Andrew who is focused on the crowd. It's interesting to note that whenever we find Andrew, in the Bible, he is always bringing someone to Jesus. This day was no different, for somewhere in this huge crowd, he had found a little boy with a small lunch. 

 

Verses 8-9

 

Andrew looks at the crowd, then looks at the lunch and says, "Lord, I don't think it will be enough to feed so many people." 

 

Andrew reminds us of those who look at situations in their life and come to the conclusion that since it is beyond their ability, it cannot be done.

 

Actually, Philip and Andrew are practicing atheists. They are not theological atheists; they knew Jesus too well to deny He wasn’t who He claimed to be. But it just made no difference. 

Therefore, they are living their lives and making their decisions and coming to their conclusions as if there is no God.

 

But this story reminds us that while there are things beyond our ability, there is nothing beyond His ability. Unlike Philip who looked at the cost, and Andrew who looked at the crowd, we, like the little lad, must look at the Christ who can take five loaves and two fishes and do what no one else could do.

 

Notice what Jesus teaches here about the Source of our sufficiency. We learn how to:

 

 

We find an interesting piece of information in verse 6. Jesus has just asked Philip where they could buy bread to feed the multitude, and then we're told:

 

"And this he said to test him: for He Himself knew what He would do."

 

Jesus was putting Philip's faith to the test. As we have already seen, Philip did not pass the test. I love that phrase:  

 

"For He Himself knew what He would do."

 

Some believe that verse means Jesus knew what Philip was going to do. I don’t think that’s the right understanding of this verse. Before the question was ever asked, Jesus did know how Philip would handle the situation. Before Andrew ever brought the lad to Him, Jesus already knew that the lad was in the crowd with his little lunch. 

 

But what this verse is telling us is that long before the feeding of the 5,000 was ever discussed, Jesus had a plan.  The lad and his lunch was all a part of the will of God. And Jesus knew what He was about to do.

 

We don’t need the Bible to teach us that sometimes men doubt God and live by sight. We didn’t need this story to tell us that we lose focus on the power of God. What we desperately need to know is how big our God is!

Isn’t it amazing that here is this lad. We don’t know much of anything about him. We don’t know his name. We do not know if he was with family or friends. We do not know where he came from. All we know is that he had a lunch that consisted of 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fishes, but the Lord had a plan for his life and his lunch.

 

This reminds me that God has a plan for each of our lives. There is something that He wants to do, not only for you; but, WITH you, IN you, THROUGH you and BY you. You may feel like just a "lad," with very little to offer, but I remind you that you are a "lad" who is a part of the will of God, and God knows exactly how He has resourced you to be involved in His work..

 

Listen, God has a will for your life. If that is true, then the single most important pursuit of your life should be to know His will. In other words, if God desires for me to know His will then I should desire for Him to show His will.

 

 

 

 

We should never be content to go through life without finding God's will for our life. If there is something God wants to do with our life, then it ought to be the pursuit of my life to find out what it is.

 

I think of an overweight man who always stopped by the bakery on his way to work and picked up a box of doughnuts for the day. One day, he went on a diet. The next day as he was driving by the bakery, he said to himself, "Maybe God wants me to stop by the bakery this morning and pick up some doughnuts." 

 

He prayed, "Lord, I will know it is your will for me get to a box of doughnuts today if you make a parking spot available right in front of the bakery." Sure enough, he found a parking spot right in front on the bakery the eighth time around the block.

 

We can know His will if we desire for Him to show His will, and that should be the desire of our hearts.  And then when we find God's will, we must then follow God's will. Many discover God's will, but because it may not have been what they planned, or mapped out for their life, they refuse to do God's will. However, it is not enough to find His will; we must also follow His will. 

 

I love the story of the architect of the Brooklyn Bridge. During the construction of the bridge he was injured and confined to his bed. Day after day he sent his instructions to his workers. Then, the day came when the work was done. He was carried out to where he could see the magnificent structure. His eyes scanned the gigantic piers and cables. 

 

Then, when the realization that his dream had become a reality, he cried out, "It's just like the plan! It's just like the plan!"

 

When our life's work is ended, and we cross the swelling tide, may we stand before our Blessed Redeemer, and hear Him say of our life, "It's just like the plan! It's just like the plan!"

 

Finding His will should be the personal pursuit of our life. If you do not know yet God's will for your life, you should begin today to find it. Then, following His will should be the passionate pursuit of our life. Once we have found His will, may God help us to follow His will.

It matters not what else we may accomplish in this life, if we have not found, and followed the will of God, then we have failed to know the true joy of living.

 

The second thing we see about the Source of our Sufficiency is that Jesus teaches us how to

 

 

In verse 11, we find the focus of our study, that which Jesus "took." 

 

The word "took" is quite an interesting word. We find the same word used in Matthew 7: 8 where we read:

 

"For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened."

 

 

 

The word "receives" is the same Greek word translated “took” in our story. The implication of the word leads us to believe that when Jesus "took the loaves" He did not forcefully take them from the lad. The picture is of Jesus reaching out to take the loaves, and the lad willingly giving them to Jesus.

 

The word "took" informs us that his lunch was not forced from him. He did not kick and scream when it was taken from him; but, he willingly offered it to Jesus.

 

Thus, from that standpoint, the lad teaches us how we are to encounter God's work in our lives.

 

Now the focus shifts from the boy to the crowd. 

 

And they crowd reminds us we need to listen when He speaks. 

 

Phillip was focused on the cost. Andrew was focused on the crowd. But, there were those who focused on the Christ.

 

Verse 10

 

In an act of faith, even before He "took" the loaves, Jesus told all the men to sit down. We do not read that they went into an emergency business meeting to take a majority vote on whether they wanted to sit down. Jesus said, "Sit down;" and they sat down.

 

Could the same be said of us? When the Lord speaks do we respond? If so, how do we respond? There are two ways in which we can respond; we can respond immediately, or hesitantly. We can respond obediently, or disobediently. 

And, remember that delayed obedience is disobedience.

 

Many are like the man that was concerned that his wife was losing her hearing. He shared his concern with his doctor and asked for advice. The doctor wrote out some steps to take to find out if his wife was having hearing problems. When he got home, his wife was in the kitchen preparing dinner, so he thought this was an excellent time to try the doctor's instructions.

 

He walked over and stood about 10 feet from his wife and asked, "Honey, what's for dinner?" There was no reply. He moved to about 8 feet behind her and asked again, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still, there was no reply. He moved 5 feet behind her and asked again, "Honey, what's for dinner?" 

Yet, still, there was no reply. So he stepped right behind her and asked, "Honey, what's for dinner?" His wife turned around and said, "FOR THE FOURTH TIME, WE'RE HAVING CHICKEN!"

 

Many Christians would fall into the category, and be classified as spiritually "hard of hearing." The Lord speaks, but they do not hear His voice. There are others that hear His voice, but do not heed His voice. They do nothing about what God says to them.

 

That is why it is of the utmost importance if God is speaking to your heart today you must respond to Him. The purpose of an invitation is not to embarrass you, trap you or manipulate you. The purpose is to help you hear His voice, and then to heed His voice. 

 

 

We need to hear Him when He speaks, and we need to be obedient to what He says. 

 

Andrew identifies the lad and the lunch in verse 9.

 

Now obviously Jesus knew about the lad and the lunch even before He showed up. When He saw the hungry crowd, there was something He wanted from the lad. He wanted his lunch. He wanted the 5 loaves and 2 small fishes. 

 

The lad handed over his lunch to Jesus. He heard Jesus when He spoke, and he handed Jesus what He sought. As I said earlier, there is nothing to suggest that the lad was reluctant is giving his lunch to Jesus. Jesus revealed what He wanted, and without a moment's hesitation, the little lad gave it to Him!

 

 

When the Lord speaks do you respond? Do you hear His voice and heed His voice? What the Lord seeks do you render? Like Moses, when He asks you, "What is that in your hand?" Will you throw it to the ground and let Him have it? 

 

Like Abraham, when He asks you for the most precious thing in your life, will you take it to the top of the mountain and be willing to give it back to God? Like Noah, when He asks you to build an ark, though it has never rained and there is no rain in the forecast, would you do it?

 

It stands to reason that if I am unwilling to respond when God speaks, then I will miss out on God's work in my life. If I am unwilling to give Him a few hours a week to worship Him or serve Him, then why should I expect Him to work in my life? 

If I only turn to Him in the bad times, and turn from Him in the good times, what gives me the right to expect Him to work in my life?

 

 

If I reuse to return to Him in my tithes and offerings, in trust, why should I expect Him to bless my life? 

 

Do you want to encounter God's work in your life? Then, listen to what He says, and be obedient. 

 

There’s another thing Jesus teaches us about the Source of our Sufficiency,, and that is how to

 

 

For some reason people tend to think that in order for God to use them they must possess impressive qualifications. Yet, God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Many times achievements, accolades, and accomplishments hinder us, rather than help us to be used of God.

 

You may be thinking, "The Lord could never use me. I have nothing to offer Him. I haven't been called to preach, or gifted to teach, sing, organize or administrate." But I remind you, as the songwriter penned:

 

"Little is much when God is in it.

Labor not for wealth or fame.

There's a crown and you can win it,

If you go, in Jesus name!"

 

 

 

As we see how the Lord used the lad and his lunch, we are reminded that if we will let Him, He can and will use us; and, we will experience His wonder through our life. And I would remind you that what He provides is more than adequate.

Verse 11

 

Now lest we forget, I will remind you the “lunch” was five loaves and two fishes. And when you think of loaves, don't envision a loaf of Wonder Bread or Mrs. Baird’s sandwich bread. These loaves were made of "barley," which was the least of all breads. Barley bread was the bread of the poor, and it was no bigger than a pancake. 

 

Also, it is believed that the "fishes" were about the size of sardines. Thus, you can see that it was not a very big lunch.

Adequate for a boy, but hardly sufficient for a crowd of thousands, and yet the Bible says that Jesus took the lunch and gave thanks and

 

Verse 11

 

In verse 12, we're told that they were "filled." The word literally means, "To fill up to capacity." I can just see the people rubbing their tummies and saying, "I can't eat another bite."  

 

After the people ate all they wanted, to put the icing on the cake:

 

Verse 13

 

I submit unto you that only Jesus could have done what He did. 

 

Who else could have taken the size of this lunch and made it sufficient to feed 7-10,000 people? As long as this lunch was in the hand of the lad it was only 5 loaves and 2 small fishes. But, as soon as this lunch got into the hands of Jesus, it was more than enough to feed the multitude.

 

You may only have a little lunch, and as long as it remains in your hand, it will only do what you can do with it. But if you will put it in the hand of Jesus, He will do with it what you could never do. 

 

Then notice verse 14

 

What Jesus did with the lunch left the people amazed at His mighty power. I can just see people walking away that day scratching their head in amazement, and disbelief asking, "How could 5 barley loaves and 2 small fishes feed so many people? How could there be 12 baskets of leftovers?"

As long as it remained in the hands of the little lad it was never enough; but, as soon as it got into the hands of the Lord it was MORE THAN ENOUGH! It was all a matter of whose hands it was in.

 

Verse 13 intrigues me. There has been a lot of speculation on those leftovers. Why 12 baskets full? Some suggest so each disciple could have one to underscore the power of God.

 

Others believe they were divided up and sent home with the crowd. Maybe they stored them away for the next gathering.

 

We honestly don't know what happened to the leftovers, but while we’re speculating, let me offer my idea:

I believe Jesus handed those 12 baskets of leftovers back to the little lad who was willing to give His lunch to Jesus. The little lad learned firsthand that you can't out give God.

 

I would like to imagine how it was when that boy got home with those big baskets. Now the Bible doesn't say he took them home but I'm convinced he did. When I get to heaven I fully expect that little boy will come up to me and say, "Preacher you told it right." 

 

He starts off the day with a little lunch - just five pieces of bread and two little fishes. His mother said, "bye, bye, son, have a good time listening to Jesus preach." 

 

Then at the end of the day mother looks down the road and here comes that little boy and he's out of sight because he has a big basket in front of him. And eleven of his friends are following with baskets.   They’re just loaded up with food and bread and fish. 

 

She says, "Son, what have you done? Have you robbed a bakery?" "No, mother, I've been to hear Jesus and you should have seen it. 

 

There were 5,000 men there and then little boys and girls like me and women and we were all there and everybody was hungry and all I had was just this little bitty lunch. I didn't know what to do. All I knew was just give it to Jesus. You should have seen it. 

 

Jesus started breaking my little lunch and the disciples started passing it out and there was more than we knew what to do with. We had twelve

baskets left over. Let's have a party." 

They invited all the neighbors in, had a big banquet. When it was all over I have a feeling that boy said, "Mother, do you think it would be this way with anything you put in the hands of Jesus?" 

I have a feeling the mother said, "Son, I have a feeling that anything you put in the hands of Jesus He will take and multiply it and make it a blessing."

 

And forever, the little lad and his lunch remind us that when we give Him what we have, He gives back what we didn't have. When we get interested in His business, He gets interested in our business. 

 

When we honor Him, He honors us. When we turn loose of what is in our hand, He turns loose of what is in His hand. It's only a matter of whose hands it is in. As long as our problems stay in our hands, there is never a solution; but, as soon as our problems get into His hands, there is always a solution.

 

Can Jesus have your lunch?

 

I have always admired the ministry of J. Hudson Taylor. Taylor was a missionary to China and founded the China Inland Mission. I think of an entry he recorded in his journal testifying of God's provision:

 

"Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning... He sustained 3 million Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. We do not expect He will send 3 million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all... Depend on it. God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply!"

 

One day, a little boy came into a flower shop. He had his fist doubled up and some unsold newspapers under his arm. 

 

He walked up to the counter and said, "I want the biggest bouquet of flowers you have. I've been selling papers all day, and I've sold 37 cents worth. Today is my mother's birthday, and I want to buy her the biggest bouquet of flowers in this store with my 37 cents."

 

This moved the lady in the flower shop. She grabbed the biggest bouquet of flowers she could find, brought it back to the young boy. He asked her, "How much?" She replied, "Only 37 cents!" He shouted, "Wow, that's exactly what I have. I have 37 cents!" He grabbed the flowers and went bouncing out of the store, proudly toting the bouquet under his arm.

 

Within a moment, the clerk heard an awful crash outside her store. She rushed outside and found the little boy under a big truck. He was taken to the emergency room, but the situation was hopeless. 

A Christian doctor, who knew the boy, attended to him but there was nothing he could do.

 

The little boy asked, "Doc, I'm going to die, aren't I?" The doctor said, "Yes son, you are going to die." The little boy said, "Doc, I know Jesus, and I'm ready to go, but there is something that I want you to do for me." The doctor said, "Sure son. I'll do anything I can for you." The little boy said, "Take these flowers to my mother. It's her birthday. And I want you to tell her that I love her. And tell her that these flowers are only 37 cents worth, but it's all I've got!"

I wonder have you ever said that to the Holy Spirit. Have you ever said, "Take me, I'm only 37 cents worth. I'm not much, but if you can take and use me you can have me!"

 

If you want to embrace God's will for your life, and encounter God's work in your life, and experience God's wonder through your life, then give Him your lunch. 

 

Allow Him to have it; and, He will take it, break it and make it more than you could ever imagine, for your good and His glory. It may very well be that the only difference between the way it is now, and the way it could be then is who is holding your lunch.

 

Some of you brought a hunger to church today. Have you ever been hungry for something you didn't have? About 10:00 at night you get hungry for a

peanut butter and dill pickle sandwich? And you’re out of pickles? I wonder if there's anybody here tonight who is hungry for something you don't have? 

 

There's a deep hunger in your life and you have gone into every store this old world has to offer and it's been a bad meal everywhere you've gone. Is your heart hungry for something you don't have?

 

 I have good news, you've come to the right restaurant. You are in the right store. And this Lord Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, can satisfy every hunger of your life.