New Math

Gospel of Mark: Jesus a life to serve   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Much can be learned in this miracle about Jesus and about man.

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5 + 2 = 12?

This well known miracle of Jesus introduces Jesus provision because of Jesus compassion for the people. Whereas we see 5 loaves and 2 fish equate to 12 baskets of leftovers. This morning I would like to focus on what we can learn beyond the details of this passage. What we can see about the compassion, the power of Jesus and the view, the misunderstanding and materialism of man.
For your reference this miracle is found in all 4 of the gospels; Mt14:13-21, Lk9:10-17, Jn6:13 and our passage before us today.
5 loaves, 2 fish but 12 baskets of leftovers, new math, or new teaching?
Mark 6:34–35 NASB95
34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. 35 When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late;
Mark 6:36–37 NASB95
36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 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?”
Mark 6:38–39 NASB95
38 And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass.
Mark 6:40–41 NASB95
40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. 41 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all.
Mark 6:42–43 NASB95
42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish.
Mark 6:44 NASB95
44 There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.
What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?
Beyond the obvious of the miracle itself there are things to learn as mentioned before so may we press on and see what this reveals about Jesus, then what it reveals about man.

What it reveals about Jesus

Jesus never misses a teaching opportunity does He? Here is a time to again prepare the Apostles for their long term mission. They had returned from the short trip (Mk6:7-13; 30) but Jesus is preparing them for what is to come when He is no longer with them. We can glean for our own application from this passage too.
It reveals the compassion of Jesus (Mk6:34; Mt9:36; Mt15:32-38)
Mark 6:34 NASB95
34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
Before I get into discussing the compassion of Jesus what do you see, notice about the compassion of Jesus throughout the passage, not just (v.34)?
Let me bring in a couple of other passages
Matthew 9:36 NASB95
36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
How about if we looked at Mt15:32-38: Compassion was a lifestyle for Jesus for it would lead to the feeding of 4,000 there. Now let me expand on the compassion of Jesus.
Compassion for the large crowd who sought Him out, who ran from all over the cities to be with Him (MK6:33)
Compassion for a crowd who were like sheep without a shepherd
Compassion that took time out from what was going to be a time of rest (Mk6:31) to teach them what they needed to know (Mk6:34)
Matthew 9:36 NASB95
36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.
Compassion that leads to qualification as High Priest (Heb4:14-16; Heb5:1-2)
Hebrews 4:14–15 NKJV
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:16 NASB95
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Add to that
Hebrews 5:1–2 NASB95
1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;
Heb4:16
Jesus can have compassion because He went through all things!
This leads me to the power of Jesus
Power to feed 5000 on 5 and 2 = 12 baskets of leftovers (Mk6:38-44; Mt14:21; Mk6:43)
Power that is more than we can ask for think (Eph3:20)
In Mark it says 5000 men, but in Matthew it elaborates a little more
Matthew 14:21 NASB95
21 There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.
Both tell us about the 12 baskets, but do you wonder why 12 baskets? Do you think:
It is teaching the apostles that He would always provide abundantly?
Or maybe even 12 representing the 12 tribes of Israel?
So we have seen the miracle reveals the compassion of the Lord and the power of the Lord, but it also reveals that the Lord is the Lord of order too.
Jesus arranged groups (Mk6:39-40)
Orderliness is nothing new, it has been since creation (Col1:16; Rom1:19-20)
Colossians 1:16 NASB95
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
So all things created, now look at Rom1:19-20
Romans 1:19–20 NASB95
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
All things created, and made evident.
Romans 1:19–20 NASB95
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
ll things created by
Sets and example for us to have orderly worship too (1Cor14:33, 40)
God is the God of order
1 Corinthians 14:33 NASB95
33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:40 NASB95
40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
So we have the compassion, the power and the orderliness of Jesus and now we want to turn to John’s account to see what we can learn (Jn6:1-13)

What it reveals about man

Can man have a good view but still the wrong view of things? Maybe a misunderstanding because of a miscued view, maybe it is because of a misplaced trust or even a wrong reason. May we see what we can learn from the John passage.
It reveals that man can misunderstand (Jn6:14; Deu18:15-18; Jn6:15; Lk17:20-21)
Man had the right reaction at first
John 6:14 NASB95
14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Jesus had just fed the 5000, they could not deny the sign that was performed and they thought this is the prophet spoken of by Moses.
Deuteronomy 18:15–16 NASB95
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. 16 “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.’
John 16:15 NASB95
15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
Deu
Deuteronomy 18:17–18 NASB95
17 “The Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well. 18 ‘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.
John 6:15 NASB95
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.
They were looking for a literal king, for a literal kingdom (Israel) but Jesus kingdom was the fulfillment of the one Moses spoke of, and was bigger than what they thought.
Luke 17:20–21 NASB95
20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
May we remember God’s ways, thoughts are not the same as ours (Isa55:8-9)
May we remember God’s ways, thoughts are not the same as ours (Isa55:8-9)
May we remember God’s ways, thoughts are not the same as ours (Isa55:8-9)
Isaiah 55:8–9 NASB95
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
God told them, they missed it, God’s ways are bigger than our ways, but we need to pay attention and look for God’s ways.
It reveals that we should be quick to listen, slow to speak, so there is no misunderstanding (Ecc5:1-2)
Ecclesiastes 5:1–2 NASB95
1 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. 2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
Though they had good intentions, it was not God’s intentions and it led to a misunderstanding of God’s will.
It reveals many sought Jesus for wrong reason (Jn6:26)
John 6:26 NASB95
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
They came and sought him because He provided physical food.
Do we know people who come for the physical and don’t care about the spiritual?
What He came to offer was better (Jn6:27, Jn6:32-35)
John 6:27 NASB95
27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”
and add to that just a few verses down
John 6:32–33 NASB95
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 out of heaven. 33 “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”
John 6:34–35 NASB95
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
Still they look for something physical when He is trying to give them the eternal, the spiritual.
May we be looking for the better things (Rom14:17)
Romans 14:17 NASB95
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Today many chose things for the wrong reasons, for what they can get out of it in the physical, vs. what they have to give in the physical and what they receive in the spiritual.
People chose churches for entertainment and programs vs. Word of God which saves souls and sacrifices the believers to grow the maturity of Christ.
Material things, physical things are not bad, but they are not eternal things, spiritual things that can save the soul.
It reveals man’s complaints, and dullness of hearing regarding Jesus (Jn6:41-42)
John 6:41–42 NKJV
41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
They complained because Jesus said He is the bread that came from heaven.
They have the wrong view, they saw Him as the son of Joseph and Mary
It revealed they were dull in hearing because of what Jesus had to say (Jn6:52; Jn6:60, Jn6:66)
Look at
John 6:52 NASB95
52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
They were thinking literal, and Jesus is speaking spiritual. And because of their literal view it detoured many.
John 6:60 NASB95
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”
And many stopped following
John 6:66 NASB95
66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.
Do we know, or can we be too literal at times and have similar dullness in hearing? Look at what happened next though.
John 6:67–68 NASB95
67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.
May we have this response! and add to that the next verse
John 6:69 NASB95
69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Where there are many who are dull of hearing, who are relying on the material things in this world or who have a misunderstanding, we need to stay the course of the Truth, what we know, what we have come to believe.
What we have seen today is
The compassion of Jesus for both the physical and the soul of man
The power of Jesus to provide for the need of every man
The order of Jesus so there is no confusion
The orderliness of Jesus
So, don’t misunderstand the will of God
Do not seek after the material things of this world to provide what you need eternally
Finally, do not be dull of heart, or have a hardness of heart!
May this miracle, a story we may have read or heard of 100 times lead us to increase our faith and grow knowing that the teaching was that the Lord will always provide for our needs!
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