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Jesus took the loves, and distributed, same with the fish, to those who were seated, as much as they wanted.”

“And they filled twelve large baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who’d eaten.”

᛭ INI ᛭

Among the four Gospels, John’s Gospel is tough to drop in on. The Holy Spirit uses John to craft a Gospel that relates both what Jesus did and preached, where Jesus’ actions and words are interconnected with each other, the other Gospels, and also the Old Testament.

On this “Rejoice” Sunday, the 4th Sunday in Lent, our attention focuses on John’s Gospel, specifically the Feeding of the 5,000. This meal acts as a bridge, connecting Old Testament Manna to the Lord’s Supper. Jesus’ sermon later in John 6 makes this clear, also tying it to the Passover and His sacrificial death as the Lamb of God. Jesus also references His John 6 Sermon during His Maundy Thursday Sermon in John 15. Besides all that, we see Jesus is “the Prophet who’s come into the world,” the true Shepherd King of Psalm 23, and the true Passover Priest and Lamb.

While all that’s connected, time limits me from exploring every detail. I’ll get to some of it, while focusing on the abundance of Jesus’ giving. The abundance reveals the depths of who He is as your Savior. Think about it: when Jesus fed 5,000 people, it wasn’t just enough—it was more than enough! There were leftovers! Because

WHEN CHRIST GIVES, HE GIVES MORE THAN ENOUGH, SO HIS PEOPLE CAN HAVE AS MUCH AS THEY WANT!

Before we jump into that: let’s briefly review the text.

(I. Christ gives more than enough to the 5,000.)

Jesus was traveling around the Sea of Galilee and large crowd was following after him. They saw that He healed the sick and cast out demons. Jesus sat down on the mountain with His disciples and saw the large crowd coming toward Him. (It was about 5,000 men in number.)

He already knew how He was going to do to feed them all, but He asked His disciples anyway. Philip doesn’t think it’s possible. Even about 2/3 of a year’s salary couldn’t buy bread for everyone! Andrew doubts, too, but still gives the meager offering of 5 barley loaves and 2 fish to Jesus.

Jesus made the crowds lie down in the green pastures by the waters of Galilee. Our Lord Jesus Christ, on then day when Passover was at hand, took bread, and when He had given thanks, he distributed it along with the fish, to those who were seated. After eating as much as they wanted, 12 large baskets of leftovers were collected. Seeing that, the crowds wanted to seize Jesus and make Him king. Instead, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

(Transition.)

Such a great abundance of leftovers from such a small offering! But it’s not just for the 5,000. It’s what the Lord always does. It’s what He did with the Manna. It’s also what He does now. It’s what the Lord always does whenever He’s giving! It doesn’t matter if it’s a Gift that relates to the 1st Article or 2nd Article or 3rd Article of the Creed.

WHEN CHRIST GIVES, HE GIVES MORE THAN ENOUGH, SO HIS PEOPLE CAN HAVE AS MUCH AS THEY WANT!

(II. Christ always gives more than enough to satisfy His people.)

A. 1st Article Gifts: Galilee, Wilderness (Ex 16), and Bremen

• “They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.” (Ex 16:17)
• “Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.” (Ex 16:21)

B. 2nd Article Gifts: Jn 1:29; 1 Jn 2:2

• Jesus is eventually seized and made king at Calvary, then come true all the prophecies about, there He reigns in mercy, there He is last and final Offering.
• One drop of blood, enough for all sins, He pours out His soul and life, more than enough! More than you could ever want or even need!

C. 3rd Article Gifts: Is 40:2; Ps 23:5; Lk 6:38

• BAGS (Acts 2:41-42, 46-47)
• Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5)

D. Individual vs. Group Setting

• What is it like when you’ve got a group gathered around Christ? Like a congregation of 5,000 or 65 or 120?
• Rom. 12:4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
• 1 Cor 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
• 1 Cor. 10:16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
  

  (Conclusion.)