Feeding the Hungry: 5000+

Context:

• Herod had given the daughter of his brother’s wife the head of John the Baptist.
• hearing of the fame of Jesus, Herod suspects He is John the Baptist raised from the dead.

 If Herod thought that highly of John the Baptist, how could he behead him?

• Herod the Great appears to have died shortly after Christ’s birth.
• Herod the Tetrarch was his son, a captive of his fleshly appetites.
• He recognized something special about John the Baptist, but didn’t like him.
• It’s difficult to make good decisions while ensnared in sin.
• the disciples of John buried his body, then went to tell Jesus of his cruel death.
• upon hearing, Jesus withdrew, in a boat, to a desolate place to be alone.
• but the crowds followed Him, and with compassion he met their needs.
• the disciples tried to dismiss the crowd to nearby villages.

Matthew 14:16-18 “...But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me...”

Mark 6:38 “...And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish...”

Luke 9:13-14 “...But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish - unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each...”

John 6:5-13 “...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. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 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?” 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...”

Does Jesus expect His followers to do the impossible?

• From the world’s perspective, yes. 200 denarii would have been eight months’ wages, and because of the remoteness of their location, even if they had the money, it was unlikely that a small local village could feed upwards of 20,000 people. 
• From the kingdom’s perspective, no. God has always provided for His people, and obedience to the Lord’s command would always be possible. “Where God guides, God provides”.

What was the sequence of events from v.18 to v.20?

• Five loaves and two fish were brought to Jesus.
• Jesus looked to heaven and said a blessing.
• Jesus broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples.
• All (5000 men plus women and children) ate and were satisfied.
• Twelve baskets full of broken pieces were left over.

Does Jesus believe in leftovers?

• the John account includes Jesus telling the disciples to gather up the leftovers.
• if you can feed more than 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, why worry about the leftovers?
• should we ever take for granted or squander God’s provisions.
• 12 baskets, 12 disciples.

Are we okay with doing God’s bidding and living on leftovers?

How does this compare to mega ministries that live luxuriously on the donations of well meaning people?

• Ezekiel 34:10 “...Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them...”

Was Jesus doing something that hadn’t been done before?

• 2 Kings 4:42-44 “...A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD...”

Was Jesus doing something pretty exciting?

• John 6:15 “...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...”