The Sign of the Twelve Baskets
Notes
Transcript
The Sign of the Twelve Baskets
The girl is in tears when she calls her father,
"Dad, you gave me some terrible advice!"
"What did I tell you?" asks dad.
"You told me to put my money in that big bank, and now the bank is in trouble."
"What are you talking about? That’s one of the largest banks in the
world," he said. "Surely there must be some mistake."
"I don’t think so," she sniffs. "They just returned one of my checks with a note saying, ‘Insufficient Funds.’"
It’s a troubling thing not to have enough, isn’t it?
They tell us most of the people in the world don’t have enough to eat.
That is certainly not the problem with us is it?
But you may have times when you don’t have enough money to pay your bills.
Age and sickness can rob you of enough strength to do what you used to do.
While many of us have plenty, sometimes we feel like it’s not enough.
As if there is something we lack...
Something you can’t quite put your finger on.
A hunger for more.
How do you figure out what is missing?
More importantly, how can you satisfy this desire?
This morning we’re going to go beyond enough...
We’re going to look at how to have more than enough.
The answer is in the sign of the twelve baskets.
The story is found in
1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” 10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
PRAYER
Search the Gospels and you’ll find…
Jesus Christ is never in a hurry.
He never speeds from place to place on a fast horse.
He walks almost everywhere He goes.
He seems to take His time.
Jesus is never in a hurry.
But He is a very busy Man.
He’s busy because a crowd is always following Him.
You can understand why.
Here’s a Man Who gives sight to the blind.
Who gives cripples back their legs.
He orders demons around like whipped puppies, and they slink away in terror.
2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.
2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.
Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. (v. 2)
But even a Man as busy as Jesus needs down time.
This is why He takes His disciples across the Sea of Galilee.
It’s why vs. 3 says He takes them up a mountain to sit and rest, to spend some one on one time with His friends.
It doesn’t take long for the crowds to find Him.
You’d think He may be a little frustrated.
Can’t I ever get away from all these needy people?
But Scripture says Jesus sees them not as a bother, but as an opportunity.
14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
He sees people through eyes of compassion.
And this compassion moves Him to shows us that His power is
1. More than enough to solve every problem you face. (v. 1-7)
1. More than enough to solve every problem you face. (v. 1-7)
(v. 1-7)
(v. 1-7)
(v. 1-7)
(v. 1-7)
This problem is an opportunity…
An opportunity to demonstrate His power to His disciples.
He sets up the demonstration by asking Phillip a question.
5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”
… “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (v. 5)
Jesus points out an obvious problem.
This crowd is hungry.
Where will they get food?
That’s a reasonable question to ask Phillip.
After all, he is from this area.
He’d know the best places to buy groceries.
This is not why Jesus asks this question.
6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. (v. 6)
Jesus already has the solution.
This problem is no problem for His power.
But Phillip can’t see it.
7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii [eight month’s wages] worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” (v. 7)
To Phillip the puzzle looks unsolvable.
There is no way to resolve this dilemma.
But our Lord wants Phillip and us to understand
Jesus is more than enough to solve any problem.
Phillip should know that.
He’s seen Jesus turn water into wine.
He’s seen Him heal the blind and deaf and lame.
He’s seen plenty of examples of Jesus’ power.
But this problem…
This problem looks too big even for Jesus.
That’s what we do, isn’t it?
Your problems look so big.
Too big.
The more you look them the bigger they appear.
You figure from every angle you can think of…
But you are powerless before your problem.
That’s when you need to remember what Phillip needs to remember.
Jesus Himself knew what He would do.
No problem you have takes Jesus by surprise.
Your problems are tests to help you realize…
Any problem you face is no match for His power.
A wise Bible teacher once said, “Sooner or later God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource but Him – no strength, no answers, nothing but Him. Without God’s help, they are sunk.”
A man who comes to his pastor in a panic,
“My life is really in bad shape.”
“How bad?” the pastor asks.
Burying his head in his hands, he moans, “I’ll tell you how bad –
All I’ve got left is God.”
The pastor’s face lights up.
“I am happy to assure you that nothing but God is more than enough…”
Jesus’ power is more than enough to solve any of your problems.
Do you really believe this?
Can you lay your problems at His feet?
Trust Him to solve the problems you cannot?
Well there’s a second consideration here.
His power is also
2. More than enough to multiply whatever you have. (v. 8)
2. More than enough to multiply whatever you have. (v. 8)
Somebody once said If you think you are too small to make a difference, you've never had a
mosquito in your bedroom.
Small things can make a big difference.
Especially when they’re in the hands of Jesus.
While Phillip is figuring the price to feed all these people…
Andrew is busy rounding up as much as he can.
In this multitude, there must be folks who can contribute to the feed the crowd fund.
But he discovers that’s not the case.
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” (v. 8-9)
Barley loaves are the bread of poor people.
The fish are about the size of sardines.
Hardly enough to feed one person, much less this mass of humanity.
Andrew comes to the same conclusion as Phillip.
We have some, but it’s not nearly enough.
But in the hands of Jesus it is enough.
Jesus takes this tiny meal and make it more than enough.
That’s what He does for you and me.
His power can take what you have and multiply it beyond your wildest expectations.
But here’s the catch.
You have to put it in His hands.
These loaves and fishes will never be enough in the hands of this boy.
But in the hands of Jesus, they will be more than enough.
You say you don’t have much.
And you may not.
But Jesus can take a little and make a lot out of it.
He can take your money and multiply it to expand His kingdom.
To send missionaries to the field, to feed the hungry, to finance the work of His church.
He can take your talents and multiply them.
Perhaps you can’t sing solos.
But you can join your voice with the choir and lead a congregation in worship.
You may be like me—you will never become a great preacher.
But you can share the Gospel and plant seeds that bring salvation to lost souls.
It doesn’t take much.
And yet it does take everything.
This boy gave all he had.
And you must also.
Someone once said God can fix any broken heart.
But He must have all the pieces.
His power is more than enough to multiply what you have.
The question is have you put what you have in His hands?
Finally, Jesus’ power is
3. More than enough to satisfy your deepest need. (v. 9-14)
3. More than enough to satisfy your deepest need. (v. 9-14)
In the ancient world, there’s a strict etiquette for mealtime.
You don’t just dig right in.
Every family member waits on the father to bless the food.
They say a prayer like this:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
Jesus follows this pattern.
He has everyone sit down on the grass…
Like a family sitting around the supper table.
He blesses the food.
Then He passes it to the disciples to give to the crowd.
Now you need to understand most of these folks live on the edge of starvation.
They don’t have refrigerators full of food.
They don’t have grocery stores on every corner.
And while they enjoy meals with their family…
Feasts are only for special occasions.
Getting full at the table is not normal.
But Jesus hosts a feast.
11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”
11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” (v. 11-12)
Here you have this crowd.
About 5000 men, not counting women and children.
Some estimate the crowd to be between 15,000-20,000.
Each person does not get a mere mouthful.
They fill their bellies.
And more than this there is plenty of food left over.
13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
Therefore, they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. (v. 13)
12 Baskets.
One for each disciple.
12 baskets to remind them and remind us.
Jesus’ power is more than enough to satisfy your deepest need.
This isn’t just about bread and fish.
It’s about the needs of your heart.
Your need for forgiveness.
Your need for salvation.
Your need for peace.
Your need for hope.
Food is an important necessity for your body.
But the deepest needs…
The needs that not only keep you alive…
The needs that make your life worth living…
They are deep inside you.
And Jesus’ power can satisfy them.
He puts it like this in
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
J
…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
During the depression a sheep rancher by the name of Yates lives in West Texas.
Mr. Yates barely makes enough to pay his mortgage.
With little money for clothes or food, his family has to live on government subsidy.
One day a seismographic crew from the oil company comes into the area.
They asks permission to drill a wildcat well, and he signs a contract.
At 1,115 feet they strike a huge oil reserve.
The first well comes in at 80,000 barrels a day.
Later wells are more than twice as large.
In fact, 30 years after the discovery, a government test of showed it still had the potential flow of 125,000 barrels of oil a day.
Mr. Yates owned it all.
Yet, he’d been living in poverty.
The problem? He didn’t know.
He didn’t know the oil was there even though he owned it.[i]
Now please don’t miss the point.
I’m not telling you Jesus is how you strike oil and become financially rich.
What I am telling you is that He is more than enough to satisfy your deepest needs.
What needs did you bring with you this morning?
Do you have problems that seem unsolvable?
You’ve racked your brain and cried your eyes out.
But you can’t figure it out.
You don’t need to figure it out.
Jesus knows what He will do.
Bring your problems to Him and let Him help by His power.
What do you have to give to Him today?
It may not seem like much.
But if you will lay it at His feet, He can multiply it to bless you and many others.
What are hungry for right now?
I’m not talking about lunch.
I’m talking about the deepest needs of your heart?
Do you need salvation?
Do you need forgiveness?
Do you need peace?
Come to Him as He will satisfy your deepest need.
Find what you need most this morning in the sign of the twelve baskets.
[i] PreachingToday.com. (2002). Perfect Illustrations: For Every Topic and Occasion (p. 261). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.