Good morning everyone, thanks David for leading us so far. Its been good to join together, to sing, to share in our worship, to be lead in prayers and thoughts and devotion – to have our collective corporate hearts and minds drawn to the cross – the emblems on the table, reminding us of our Lord Jesus. 

We are here, because we believe. Do you claim that title for yourself? Are you a believer?

I’m a believer

As a family we watched the animated movie Shrek a few weeks ago – has that song on it’s soundtrack – 

I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams

And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
And not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried

Our scripture this morning asks us to believe. It shows us the face of God and says believe.

That’s really the whole message of the book of John, if you’ve been with us so far – we’ve been walking pretty quickly through the Gospel of John – John 6 this morning if you want to make you way there… Why? Well why not, it’s a great place to start reading if you want to read through scripture. And you will have heard what its about – these things are written that you may believe.

The Purpose of John’s Gospel:

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

These are evidences – there are accounts of events. Stories retold. Eye witness accounts. Some stories are repeated in the other gospels, some aren’t – some seem to have slightly different takes – completely understandable considering these retelling comes through different human beings… But a case in being built – an argument, a proposition an offer for you to consider – a faith claim for you to believe – That Jesus is the messiah, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

That’s the big journey – our little step in that direction this morning – John 6 the feeding of the 5000. You know that one hey? Sunday school stuff right? Well it’s in here for a reason – we’ve said there are 7 particular miracles to note in John – this is number 4 – and interesting, this is the only one recorded in all 4 gospels – what is it asking you to believe. 

Miracles? Really? You are smart, rational, logical people – people who have lived their whole lives based on what they can understand, taste, touch, smell, SEE. You have an education – I have a dusty piece of paper on a wall at work that says something about science. This is the basis for how we live in the natural world – but here comes the supernatural. Here comes the something, someone who is capable of working outside of the natural.  What are we doing here – are we switching off our brains? Is this stuff easy to believe? Some people struggle, like this sort of miracle is the falling off point for people in their faith journey – surely it can’t be true – it is literally unbelievable….

And others, well, probably don’t think about it a whole lot

But its here for a reason – let’s read.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand:

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 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 sign Jesus performed, 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.

So a few quick things to note from the story… Jesus has a following by now – word of the signs and the miracles has caught on… he moves – they follow him north to the edge of the sea of Galilee, he goes up to a mountain – these people don’t just happen to be there – there are seeking him – for whatever reason, entertain, a cool story to tell the family, who knows… Well Jesus knows….

See how he starts the conversation – He says to Phillip – hey look at this huge crowd, how are we gonna feed them? And it’s a test – he knows exactly what the situation is, what the need is – and Phillip dutifully takes the bait – wait, Rabbi this is too much, do you have any idea what it will cost to feed this many people?

Phillips obviously the numbers guy – it will take – even if every person here has just one bite – times by 5000 divide times by cost of bite divide by number of bites per loaf - carry the one – it will take half a years wage… on one meal! Yikes….

Andrew, my namesake, he’s obviously the engineer in the group, hes a solutions guy, he offers up the answer to the problem – here is some food – and I know he must be an engineer because the solution offered is wildly inadequate. Five loaves and 2 fish. Five small loaves and 2 small fish. I like to fish on occasion, and trust me, I know exactly how small fish can get – not enough to feed a multitude. 

Jesus calls for order – have the people sit down.

He takes the loaves, prays over them and passes them out – does the exact same thing with the fish. 

Everyone has their fill and there are enough left over to fill 12 baskets. Two and five small – goes somehow into 12 large. Un-explainable.

The people  - the many thousands of people – note 5000 men, what about wives and kids – much larger crowd that just 5000… how do they respond. Two responses are noted in the story…

Some said this is the Prophet – some others seemed to want to live him up into power to rule as King – BY FORCE.

And Jesus wasn’t happy with either of those responses – so he withdraws. By himself – heads off.

What a cool trick hey – how did he do it. Slight of hand? Deliberate deception? Hid some food around the corner? Was it a big misunderstanding – the crowd must have brought their own food, what the disciples picked up after were surely other peoples leftovers…

OR, do you believe in miracles. Is this going to be your first question when one day in the clouds above you meet Jesus face to face and you fall to your knees and say – hey., the thing with the fish and loaves, how did you do that.

One who speaks creation into existence… who has control over nature and the weather. Who has power over life and death. Who has the ability to forgive sins and restore us into relationship with a Holy , Pure God – the man who is healing physically and spiritually…. But what’s the deal with the Fish, how did you do that?

I’m making a flippant point here, but I’ll put it a different way. I said the Gospels ask you to believe – they ask you to believe a whole lot more than just a story about a few fish and loaves. An all powerful God – powerful over every created things – He can do this sort of thing - let me put it differently – to quote – maybe you heard this song at Sunday school as well -  My God is so Big, so strong and so mighty, THERE'S NOTHING MY GOD CANNOT DO. Miraculous yes – surprising  - well actually, no. Its probably more surprising that he didn’t do this more often! 

So why then, and why to them.

It made me smile considering this idea of the hungry disciples… the Gospels tell the story of these guys as they move around – while it doesn’t exactly say team were starving, it does say they went from place to place and had to rely of the generosity of others for food. 

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve – Luke 9:

9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere

They were reliant on others inviting them into their homes and hosting them. They had to have faith that God would provide for their needs  - through other people. This must have been hard work. And then seemingly as a test – Jesus performed this wonder, this miracles, creates food  - real food for thousands and thousands of people – from one small meal. Like, you mean to say you could have done this all along? Come ooon. Imagine the scene a few days later, maybe once the 12 baskets have run out – like the disciples are looking at each other thinking, should we ask him, you know, do the thing…. Would save us a lot of time and effort…

But no – it’s a once off. So why there and then, why those people? Why not feed them for the rest of their lives?  Why feed them at all. Because, the miracle, was not actually about – feeding hungry stomaches.

The sign – please don’t ask me where I got this sign – you know what sign this is – anybody remember their K53? This is a one way sign. Jesus performs these seven signs, but the sign – was pointing to himself.

The wonder was not about attracting crowds

Philip Yancey - writes:

The feeding of the five thousand illustrates why Jesus, with all the supernatural powers at his command, showed such ambivalence toward miracles. They attracted crowds and applause, yes, but rarely encouraged repentance and long term faith. He was bringing a hard message of obedience and sacrifice, not a sideshow for gawkers and sensation-seekers. 

So if the message is not – come to Jesus and you won’t have to worry about meals…

What is the message. What can we draw out of the events that tell us about who Jesus is, and what the Kingdom of God is like.

If I was a good teacher like Ali last week, I would have asked you to bring a pen to write these points down – because they are worth remembering. 

Let’s go – 

We start at the beginning - Jesus knows- He knows the problem before it occurs. He can see the future – see how he set up the event with Phillip – he knew what was gonna happen. So much of our stress about the future is literally down to fear of the unknown – there is nothing unknown from our Lord – including our own thoughts – He knew how Phillip would respond. 

Jesus cares - he’s not indifferent to the needs of the people – he knows their needs and , in this – beautiful object lesson – he provides.

He has power over creation – he is capable of supernatural work – outside of the known, observed, understood, scientifically provable universe. Can he meet your need – can he stave off your hunger? Can he supply? Can he provide – can he speak things into existence – YES. HE CAN. Is he able – Yes. He Is. Should you go home and put him to the test – go pray over your toast lunch and see if you can get Him to turn it into a feast – I wouldn’t advise it. Who do you think you are – you don’t put God to the test. But could He do it – it if was His will. Yes, He Could. Is your hope and your trust in something that is incapable of delivering…. Or is it in the one who is ABLE.

He provides abundantly – he provides more than is required. There is an excess – an overflow – he is more than enough for us, he is more than capable, he is more than a conqueror.

Ephesians 3:20:

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 

There’s a picture of order, not chaos – imagine the scene, 20000 and free food on offer – enough to incite a riot surely. With just a few guys trying to control large crowd – to get to the, dish out, go back to Jesus fetch some more. That’s a coordination nightmare – but there is order noted in the passage – sit in groups, do as I tell you, be patient, be obedient, wait  while I pray over the meal…Don’t leave a mess – clean up afterwards.

He can do a lot with a little – he can use what little is brought to him, is offered up to him, is blessed by him (important that he prayed over the food before sharing it out) and he can turn small things into big things. 

We uses human participation in his work – orders the coordination of the people through the disciples – uses the loves and fish on offer, we are included in his work. While he is not dependant on us for the work, we are participants. The work is his – he is in control, he is doing what he wants to do.. through us. 

There’s a nice point to stop on consider – you believe, you choose to believe, you come to faith because you want Jesus to do something for you? You want him to help you pass your test. You need him to help save your marriage. You are in financial need. You have a hungry belly and need it filled.

Well, he might fill that need – he might answer that prayer – he might not. We don’t come to faith, to manipulate Jesus – Jesus is to be worshipped, to be followed, to be exalted – not to be used. Hes not a means to some other selfish end of our own – he is the end. We come to faith, so that he can use us. 

Did you get it? Do you see the sign, The object lesson? Do you understand it? Do you believe? 

Yes great?

No, well don’t worry, you’re not alone

Check out this, as we skip over next weeks sermon and land in verse 26.

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[c]”

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

There's a verse even later:

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

Believe in ME – Jesus is saying - The signs point to a person. 

Water get’s turned into wine – but the message isn’t about being thirsty

Bread get’s broken and multiplied and thousands are fed – but the message isn’t about being hungry  - not physical hunger.

A simple (no, Miracles are not simple) lesson making a spiritual point. Your spiritual thirst, you spiritual hunger – can only be satisfied by the living bread, that is Jesus. Other food won’t fill you, won’t last, won’t satisfy. Won’t bring you (on that day – like we sung) before a Holy God.

The bread of God is the bread that comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world. THE bread is a person. Worthy of our trust, worthy of our hope, worthy of our seeking and our worship – worthy of our belief! 

Next week – Jesus walks on water! The signs continue! We’ll continue then.

LETS PRAY – I believe, help my unbelief – Open the eyes of our heart – Lord, we want to see you. We want to see your face – and in seeing you – believing. 

We come to you not because of we have physical needs that need to be met – we come before you in belief, because we believe that you are who you say you are  - we see the one way sign – The messiah, and that in believing, we would have life in YOUR NAME.

Thank you Jesus for the life You give, thank you for the life you GAVE – Amen.