Sermon nuggets Fri April 11, 2008
Theme Feeding of the 5000
Verses John 6:12-15 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."
13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."
15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.(NIV)
No Waste
I read a joke of a lady who fell out of a second story window and landed in the garbage truck that was slowly moving past the house. Half buried in the middle, she tried without success to get the drivers attention. A foreign diplomat standing on the sidewalk saw her and commented indignantly “Another example of how wasteful Americans are. That woman looks like she’s good for at least another 10 years.”
Following this miraculous meal the disciples were instructed to collect that which is left over, no waste. We have a problem with being a wasteful people and the food that’s going into garbage cans can feed millions of hungry people in the world. Over consumption is a sin. Be satisfied to be full. Eat what you will, but don’t throw out the excess and dispose of it.
12 basketfuls remained I think for two reasons. To show that there was abundantly more than what was needed. Jesus started with a meager amount and ended up with much. And also, each disciple was able to have a basket for their ongoing provisions for the following day.
The message is true. We grow by sharing and increase by giving. God is the one who is able.
After receiving bread and fish the people were ecstatic. They thought He was the prophet to come. They wanted a King to free them from Roman domination. By force sought to make Jesus King. That was not the mission of Jesus for this time. He was to come as Savior, next time he comes as King.
People always try to lay aside the plan of God and adopt another plan which they think is better. He was to glorify His Father and redeem the people from their sins by going to the cross, paying with His blood, being buried and rise again three days later. Through that plan was the redemption of the world and overtaking of the powers of Satan. That was His mission. No one was going to stop him no matter how well meaning they might be. The crowds followed for the wrong reasons. They wanted entertainment and food, miracles and signs.
Jesus does not receive our full worship and allegiance because there are far too many other things that are important to us. Where do we thwart the plan of God in our lives today?
Pastor Dale
