BEYOND BELIEF: THE MULTIPLICATION FACTOR

2024-02-18 

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

John 6:1-14 (NKJV) ”After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 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?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” 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. 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. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 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. 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.” 

1. The need was great 

Vss 5-6 ”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?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.“

• After a day of teaching, thousands had gathered to see and hear more from this miracle working Man
• Mark’s account of this event tells us people were coming from many places to see Jesus and even while Jesus wanted to get alone with His disciples, He had compassion on the people
• The disciples wanted to send them on their way but Jesus wanted to feed them for the purposes of using this as a teaching opportunity

1. The chances were small

Vs 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

• A denarii was equal to about one day’s pay for a common laborer
• Some have suggested Philip’s answer was connected to the amount of money the disciples had in their “treasury”, others that Philip was simply suggesting that it would take 8 months of earnings just so that everyone might have a “crumb”
• Regardless, Philip’s answer is one of disbelief; he simply didn’t believe there was any way to feed this crowd

1. The resources were few

Vss 8-9 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

• Andrew had most likely heard the exchange between Jesus and Philip and began looking for some options but all he could locate was a small boy with his lunch bag
• It’s important to note that the “five barley loaves” (artos) were not large French bread type loaves of bread, there were more like biscuits in size and the two fish (opsarion) were more like sardines in size

1. But Jesus is here

Vss 10-13 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. 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. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 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.

• Jesus proved again there was nothing too hard for Him 

Application:

1. Don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the great needs in your life
   • If Jesus can feed upwards of 15,000 people with 5 “biscuits” and a couple of “sardines” He can take care your situation
2. Spend less time complaining about the options
   • We spend more time fixating on the problem than trusting Jesus for the answer
3. Give your “resources” to God
   • Give yourself (and your stuff) completely to Him and allow Him to do as He wills
4. Let Him lead you through
   • Trust Him no matter what, He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6)