Passover, Provision, and Prophecy fulifilled
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Introduction
Introduction
How do you respond when tested?
withdraw
gut it up
lash out
reach out to others
pray
I wish I could say that I always responded well, but I don’t. Several years ago, we were moving from Rockville to Gaithersburg. I forget the exact circumstances, but Danielle was in Rockville and the car she was driving was dead - it needed a jump. I was in a borrowed pick up because I was moving things from the house to storage - which also meant that my jumper cables were not with me. Our real estate agent called and said she needed a document - and I was quite sure it was in the safe, in storage, buried. I was feeling the pressure of the timelines. Danielle, my friends, our agent - they all could hear it in my voice. I was frantic and frustrated. I wasn’t kind or calm. Within a matter of hours, everything had worked itself out - in reality, God had worked everything out. The supplies I needed to get Danielle’s car going were in her car. I figured out a solution for our agent.
But I had failed the test. I was owning the weight of the problem - not sharing it with others or with the Lord. I was lashing out at my friends and family. I was a mess over a test that was rather minor.
Jesus tests us at various times in our lives. He tests us in a variety of ways. Sometimes it’s small, sometimes it’s massive.
Today, as we consider the book of John together, we get to see a familiar passage where Jesus tested his disciples - the feeding of the 5000.
This is one of only two miracles that exists in all four gospels. The other is the resurrection.
In the midweek email, I encouraged you to read all four accounts - noting their similarities and differences.
On similarities
5000 men
loaves and fish
The region
On differences
all of the other accounts position this after a retelling of the death of John the Baptist, but here, John doesn’t mention it.
Instead - John references a certain time
John also mentions specifically that this was a test. They others may have implied it, but John was specific.
Today, as we go through this, I don’t have fill in the blanks for you or scriptures on the screen. Let me encourage you to follow along in your Bibles or in the Bible in front of you. If you’d like to take notes, we’ll have a fairly simply outline. We’ll begin with some observations - looking at the setting, the test, the sign, and the response. Then we’ll conclude with some applications or takeaways.
The Setting (1-4, 10)
The Setting (1-4, 10)
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
John 6:10 (ESV)
… Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
Where
Where
Near the sea of Galilee
on a grassy field
right before this, Jesus had been down in Jerusalem. John, as we saw in some of the earlier chapters, seems to be showing Jesus movement.
When
When
John tells that this was near Passover - in March/April.
Passover - this is an annual feast of the jews that happens in March/April to commemorate God’s provision in the their exodus out of Egypt. While this encounter is one of only two miracles that are recorded in each of the gospels, John is the only one to point out that this happened near Passover and it’s one of three passovers that John mentions.
John 2 - after turning the water to wine, Jesus is in Jerusalem for the passover and cleanses the temple.
John 6 - near the time of passover
John 13-17 - Jesus last night with the disciples - last supper and a great deal of teaching.
In Exodus 12 - the Passover feast was celebrated initially with a sacrificed lamb, a meal eaten in haste, and the blood of the lamb was to be on the doorposts and the lentil. - the angel of death passed over the homes with the sign of blood. The other homes, the first born in each household was killed - because of the rebellion of the Pharoah.
Who
Who
Jesus
His 12 disciples
5000+ people - the other gospel writers include that there were women and children in addition to the 5000 men.
The Test
The Test
Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 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?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
It’s unclear if Jesus was intending for this to be a passover meal or if He simply understood that these people would need food. Those kinds of logistical matters are not easily remedied.
This week, I was at the final Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville. There were over 11,000 people in the Convention center. While John only mentions the men, the other gospel writers mention the women and children - they were trying to feed a group very similar in size - maybe even larger than what I experienced this week. At the conference, there were dozens of volunteers helping people move about. Hundreds of convention personnel provided security, logistical support and catering. This conference was over a year in planning. Except for the speakers and the few who purchased a meal plan, everyone else was on their own, flooding the local restaurants with hungry patrons. It was quite a site to see.
But here, Jesus simply tests them and says “Where are we to buy bread…? They were far from local stores.
This was a big problem.
So Phillip replies practically:
Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
For reference, 1 denarius was about a days wage for a laborer. I wonder if that is how much Philip had on him - which would have been quite a lot. Maybe he’s assuming each of the guys had a little. Maybe this was in the money back that they carried with them. In any case - Philip is trying to be realistic and doubtful.
But then Andrew replies with a bit of hope.
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
Our society has caused us to be overly self reliant. Our bootstrap mentality leads us to think that we have to solve all of our own problems. We have to be completely self sufficient. Asking for help from others or from God is a sign of weakness and dependence.
Conversation with Danielle- as people became more wealthy in some parts of Africa- they built walls and then no longer needed each other - Jennie Allen - moving, AC unit - God provided community in need.
I don’t know what Andrew hoped would happen. I don’t know if he asked the boy. I don’t know of the boy was eves-dropping and tugged on Andrew’s robe and offered his lunch.
Andrew presented Jesus with what they had - along with a measure of doubt.
Which brings us to...
The Sign
The Sign
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. 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. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
He directed people to sit in groups - like a host or head of a household
Gave Thanks - he recognized that this provision is from God. He modeled for us that meal-time prayer. Do you thank God for the provision of the food that is at your table? I think that mealtime prayer is a daily and regular recognition that God is at work - providing the means for us to acquire the food to eat. In the presence and threat of potential food shortages because of the war in Ukraine and other supply chain issues, giving thanks in times of plenty will prepare us to recognize that God is the source who will provide in times of scarcity.
He divided it and distributed it.
The people at “as much as they wanted”
There is a similar story of God’s miraculous provision in the OT - reference - the oil of the widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 (read if time allows)
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
So after everyone had their fill, Jesus instructed the disciples to gather the leftovers.
gathered 12 baskets of food.
How many disciples are there?
How many baskets?
Coincidence? I think not! - Imagine the impact this would have had on the disciples. They knew how little they had and recognized how much God had supplied.
So there is one more aspect of this section of scripture that we should consider..
The Response/Result
The Response/Result
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
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.
the people saw the sign among the other signs they had observed and connected the dots - this is the “prophet” - Dt. 18:15-19? -
They wanted to make him King - after all - David would have a person on the throne forever, They may have had Psalm 132:12 “If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.”” on their mind.
But Jesus knew that his mission was different. He was a different kind of king with a kingdom without borders.
Our Takeaway
Our Takeaway
Pay attention to Who Jesus is and what he is doing - are we following him fully -
Pay attention to Who Jesus is and what he is doing - are we following him fully -
these people knew there was something special about Jesus - they didn’t fully understand, but they wanted to be with him. The other accounts note that they had been with Jesus for a few days
delight in him - slow down and make time to just enjoy him
enjoy who he is - as you read scripture, reflect on his character and nature. His works,
obey his teaching
When tested - trust God with what we have to do more than what is possible
When tested - trust God with what we have to do more than what is possible
This may have been the underlying premise of the test. Will we trust our resources or trust that God is able to do so much more. Will we trust his provision?
Recognize that the tests Jesus brings us are for our instruction and edification, he knows what we need to learn.
in reality, this was a minor test, but what about the other tests in our lives
job loss
personal illness or illness in a family member
relational strife with a friend
death of a loved one
in theses tests, in this suffering, will we move toward God or away from him?
Are we trying to be so self reliant that we fail to turn to God with our need or share our need with each other?
Jesus may not give us what we want - but he will give us what we need
Jesus may not give us what we want - but he will give us what we need
they wanted a king - a revolution
They needed food - for the moment - but longer term, they needed more than a king.
What do we want?
a good teacher
a good example?
someone who will tell us we are ok?
What do we need?
Like them, we need food. I believe Jesus will provide - through ordinary means of grace and through His community.
a savior - problem of guilt in our culture - our culture doesn’t know what to do with guilt. We like to justify our sin and re-write our standards.
John Piper noted in a talk this week that our society things our problems are alien - outside of ourselves - and our solution is inside of us, when in reality, our problems are in us - and our solution is alien - it’s Jesus.
Key Theme: Jesus tests us in order to grow our faith and trust in Him.
Benediction:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.