Here is one man but what is He among so many? https://soundcloud/tony-pittenger/pentecost-714 Pentecost 7.14 3 August, 2014 Series A P-279:1-2, 472, 473, R-279:3-4 John 6:1–13 (ESV) 1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 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?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 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. 11 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. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. Was it just poor planning? That they didn’t think ahead, about the afternoon stretching into the evening, that Jesus would go so long? No, it couldn’t have been that. For this was all Jesus’ doing and God doesn’t plan poorly. He knew how long they’d be out there. He numbers the hairs on our heads, He knew how many mouths there would be to feed, knew there’d be nowhere to buy bread, knew how little that boy would have... No! No, it wasn’t poor planning. The Holy Spirit did not record this miracle so that we might all learn to become forward thinkers. No. This account has been written, recorded, and preserved to teach us about God. About the Kingdom of Heaven. And about Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God. Not some resemblance of God, not like God. He is God. For what can God do? Think of the Old Testament and all the amazing displays of God’s power that are found there. Controlling nature, commanding water, issuing orders to life and death. What do we see Jesus doing? He controls the nature by stilling storms. He commands water to become wine and He commands it to wash away sin. He issues order to death and it obeys by releasing those in its cold embrace. Jesus Christ is God. This account is proof of that. Upwards of 15,000 hungry people eating their fill! At least twelve times the amount leftover as there was to start with! Only God could do such things! All other beings consume, we use. Only God can create. Only God can make what does not exist to exist. This account is proof that Jesus Christ is God. As God He can…He will provide for His people. Remember; not only does this incident prove that He is God, it also proves God’s care for His people. He Himself had led them out into this wilderness just as He once led ancient Israel, would He now forsake them? Would the one who causes the rain to fall and the wheat to grow and the fish to spawn now somehow not provide food here? Never! This same God fed people with manna from Heaven, slaked their thirst with water from solid rock, led them through the Red Sea, bore them safely in the ark… Never!! His steadfast love endures forever. But do we believe this? Imagine yourself, there, standing nearby when Andrew came to Jesus. You’re frustrated, you children are hungry and getting whiney, you parents are starting to get angry with the whole situation… It all smacks of poor planning and insufficient resources… You’re standing nearby. You’ve approached Jesus, about ready to register your complaint when Andrew appears with two fish and five dinner rolls. You open your mouth to say something but Jesus tells everyone to sit down; your whiney children, your frustrated spouse, even your angry self. Sit down. Be still! He’s going to feed you. At least He thinks He is. He thinks He’s going to feed you with seven pieces of food?!? Even if your family pushes to the front you’re not going to get your fill. This is crazy! Five rolls! Two fish!! What are they for so many? In our sin, in our doubt, in our hidden unbelief we live that scenario all the time. The wind begins to pick up, the storm approaches our youth group’s camp site. Here is a cell phone, we might be able to make a call but what is that for so many? Well-laid plans hit a delay, a deadline approaches. A few people might pitch in to help but…what are they for so many? Your world suddenly falls apart. Your health, or your marriage, is a lie. Here are a few friends but…but what are they for so many problems? And have you seen the new pastor?!? Did you know he’s not even 30?!? How’s he supposed to minister to you grown-ups? He reads Batman comics. He even has earrings!! Is he really God’s servant for this next chapter of Bethany’s life? You might have your doubts. The skeptic might easily look at Pastor Locklair and myself, then, while looking at the thousands of people Bethany has yearly contact with ask: what are these two guys among so many? This text proves God’s care for His people. He uses His mighty power to do just that: to care. To feed and water, to teach and instruct, to heal and support, to shepherd and pastor His people. God provides. Still we doubt though. The odds seem so lopsided. Look here: Seven pieces of food seems insignificant when laid out in front of 5,000 men + all the others. Lopsided odds! But that, dear fellow redeemed, was nothing. Five fish and two loaves for all those people was nothing... Bethany’s average pastors and teachers entrusted with the holy Gospel for God’s people…The seeming unlikelihood of all this is nothing!!! Nothing compared to God’s care in Christ… Imagine another scene. Rather than thousands of people spread out on a hillside, imagine instead your tens of thousand, hundreds, millions of sins. You know what I’m talking about… All of them lie scattered about a vast hillside. The countless times we’ve hurt others. Every time we husbands have looked longingly at another woman. Every time you wives have looked disdainfully at your husbands. The hillside is littered with transcripts of all your gossiping conversations, these condemning papers blow about in the wind.… Now focus on just one. One that you know and feel heavy on your conscience right now. Even one of these things keeps you out of Heaven. It’s God’s after all; and though He created all things to be in harmony and fellowship with Himself; He also does not lie about the consequence of sin. He will not change His mind and He will not change His rule. Even this one filthy, weak, pathetic thing disqualifies you; and your hillside is covered with them. You are guilty. You have condemned yourself. Here, next to you, is a Man. He has four nail holes in His hands and feet. He has a spear wound in His side, but what are they among so many??? On His back are the wounds of a whip, on His brow are gashes from the thorns and thistles of sin, but even if you counted each precious wound and each priceless drop of His blood…what are they among so many sins? Your hillside is covered in them and your conscience bears witness that you add to the pile each and every day. Now, take your hillside and pan out. Beside yours is your spouse’s, your parents’, children… keep panning out and you will see an endless range of filthy sins; billions upon trillions. But here is a Man who is also God. Behold His hands, feet, and side; do not be afraid. Behold the empty tomb where He was laid as sacrifice for all this sin. He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 What are His wounds for so many? What is His death? His resurrection? 1st John 1:7 The blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. This text teaches us about the Kingdom of Heaven. A Kingdom filled with sinners forgiven and cleansed in Christ. A living Kingdom brought forth from His death. A Kingdom where the last is first and the least is greatest and where the one who was despised and rejected by men is the King and Good Shepherd. What is Christ for so many? Give thanks to the Lord! For He is good!! His steadfast love endures forever. Soli Deo Gloria
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 20:55:20 +0000
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