WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.919 Please open your Bible to Matthew chapter 14. 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:10.919 We're going to read from verse 13 to verse 21. 00:00:13.380 --> 00:00:19.640 This passage follows on from Jesus finding out about the death of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:27.859 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. 00:00:27.859 --> 00:00:33.640 But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 00:00:35.019 --> 00:00:41.879 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:46.899 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:51.019 This is a desolate place, and the day is now over. 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:55.879 Send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves. 00:00:57.859 --> 00:00:58.979 But Jesus said, 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:01.579 They need not go away. 00:01:02.539 --> 00:01:03.740 You give them something to eat. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:06.900 They said to him, 00:01:07.620 --> 00:01:10.819 We have only five loaves here and two fish. 00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:13.000 And he said, 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:15.359 Bring them here to me. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:19.780 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, 00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:22.400 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.859 He looked up to heaven and said a blessing. 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:29.039 Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:31.859 And the disciples gave them to the crowds. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:36.319 And they all ate and were satisfied. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:41.599 And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 00:01:42.979 --> 00:01:45.639 And those who ate were about five thousand men, 00:01:46.339 --> 00:01:48.179 Besides women and children. 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:58.600 I want to share a bit of an ABC article I read this week that I found interesting. 00:01:58.740 --> 00:01:59.820 You may not, but I did. 00:02:00.700 --> 00:02:04.880 It's talking about the experience of being a follower of a sports team. 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:08.500 So let me just quote a little bit here. 00:02:08.500 --> 00:02:12.659 It is a sense of community and identity, 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:17.300 Not often seen outside the most ardent of religious sects. 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:21.919 A heaving mass of chanting and singing and passion. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:28.420 Yet the end goal of eternal life is replaced by a shiny cup or an aging shield. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:33.319 Held for an agonizingly short time by your sporting gods. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:38.080 Before the holy grail is handed back to be won all over again. 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:42.379 It is simultaneously pointless and life-affirming. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:44.379 This is your flock. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:48.599 And the bounce of a ball or the flick of a wrist is your shepherd. 00:02:50.539 --> 00:02:52.159 Anyway, you may not be into sports, 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:54.580 But I think it just captured, if you are into sports, 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:58.219 Just how much it can be almost a religion. 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:01.520 Certainly, I follow the EPL in England, 00:03:01.860 --> 00:03:03.420 And people get passionate. 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:05.860 You may not be into sports, 00:03:05.860 --> 00:03:08.420 But I imagine we could write something similar 00:03:08.420 --> 00:03:12.320 About the way people devote themselves to their beauty, 00:03:13.140 --> 00:03:14.080 To their hobbies, 00:03:14.440 --> 00:03:15.380 To their careers, 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:17.580 To renovating houses. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:23.820 Certainly, many worship songs have been written about romance. 00:03:23.819 --> 00:03:28.180 I don't know if you know this song, 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.840 But I think you pronounce it Hosea? 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:31.620 Hosea? 00:03:32.359 --> 00:03:32.840 I don't know. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:34.159 Someone can correct me after this. 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:35.759 But it's called Take Me to Church. 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:38.959 It's a guy speaking to his lover. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:43.000 I should have worshipped her sooner. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:45.159 If the heavens ever did speak, 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:47.639 She's the last true mouthpiece. 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:50.959 My church offers no absolutes. 00:03:51.279 --> 00:03:52.000 She tells me, 00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:53.359 Worship in the bedroom. 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:56.859 The only heaven I'll be sent to is when I'm alone with you. 00:03:57.159 --> 00:03:58.299 I was born sick, 00:03:59.139 --> 00:03:59.959 But I love it. 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:02.339 Command me to be well. 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:05.899 That's pretty forthright. 00:04:06.959 --> 00:04:09.879 I think they're just two examples of the honesty, 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:13.639 That our hearts are idol factories. 00:04:13.639 --> 00:04:17.519 I think Calvin is famous for saying. 00:04:18.279 --> 00:04:19.060 Maybe it was John Owen. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:19.539 I'm not sure. 00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:23.060 We're always prone to committing two sins, 00:04:23.219 --> 00:04:24.500 Like the prophet Jeremiah said. 00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:26.300 Forsaking God, 00:04:26.699 --> 00:04:28.479 The source of living water. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:30.979 And then digging wells, 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:32.060 Broken wells, 00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:33.560 That can hold no water. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:36.159 That can't satisfy us. 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:38.000 But we keep trying. 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:43.479 I think today's passage is showing us 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:46.720 Where true satisfaction can be found. 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:52.060 So you know where we're headed. 00:04:52.740 --> 00:04:54.080 Today in the sermon, 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:57.180 I'm going to first go back to a section in Matthew 00:04:57.180 --> 00:04:59.980 Because he's already told us the key 00:04:59.980 --> 00:05:02.360 To seeing Jesus properly. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:04.000 So we're going to quickly go there 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.840 And then we're going to dive into the story 00:05:05.840 --> 00:05:07.480 And then I've got four things. 00:05:08.360 --> 00:05:09.680 I'm sure there's more than four things, 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:13.800 But four things I think we can learn from this story today. 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:16.319 I think we can learn who Jesus is, 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:20.240 The kind of satisfaction we're actually wanting and needing, 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:22.819 What it means to have faith in him, 00:05:22.860 --> 00:05:24.340 And why we can come to him. 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:29.579 Today will be the last sermon in Matthew for the term. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:31.180 And just looking back, 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:34.379 Yes, there was deep hope in those parables, 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:35.959 The kingdom parables. 00:05:36.099 --> 00:05:37.519 There was lots of hope in there. 00:05:38.099 --> 00:05:39.639 But the context of those parables, 00:05:40.539 --> 00:05:42.240 And the context before, 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:43.419 If you remember the narrative, 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:45.500 Where we started this term, 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:47.599 The Pharisees have decided he's got to die. 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:50.219 They're convinced. 00:05:50.719 --> 00:05:52.039 It's by the prince of demons. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:53.539 He drives out demons. 00:05:54.260 --> 00:05:57.000 It's been a rather negative section. 00:05:57.520 --> 00:06:00.100 It's just been full of conflict and opposition. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:01.800 Jesus' rejection. 00:06:02.020 --> 00:06:04.240 And then we had the shocking passages last week 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:08.100 Of how deep that rejection has gone. 00:06:09.379 --> 00:06:12.300 And that rejection of Jesus is still the same today. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:15.820 And then we have this story. 00:06:15.820 --> 00:06:19.740 It's a lovely, warm story, isn't it? 00:06:19.740 --> 00:06:25.560 I think it's here to tell us, 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:28.220 Make no mistake. 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:33.639 Jesus' worth is not in any way diminished 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:35.360 By the rejection of the world. 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:38.040 The world might reject him. 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:42.040 But what we see here and what happened that day, 00:06:42.780 --> 00:06:45.759 That does not diminish who he is 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:47.680 And his worth. 00:06:47.680 --> 00:06:52.319 So Matthew has already given us, 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:54.720 God, the Father's perspective of Jesus. 00:06:54.900 --> 00:06:55.939 People might reject him, 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:57.860 But here is the Father's perspective. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:59.879 Do you remember chapter 12, verse 18? 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:02.560 Feel free to flick back and take a look. 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:04.399 Chapter 12, verse 18. 00:07:08.460 --> 00:07:10.120 He's quoting Isaiah 42. 00:07:10.579 --> 00:07:11.740 Behold my servant. 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:13.480 This is the Father talking about his son. 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:15.720 His suffering servant. 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:19.340 Behold my servant whom I have chosen, 00:07:19.460 --> 00:07:23.160 My beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. 00:07:23.880 --> 00:07:25.700 I will put my spirit upon him, 00:07:25.940 --> 00:07:28.240 And he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:31.080 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, 00:07:31.700 --> 00:07:34.060 Nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:36.500 A bruised reed he will not break, 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:39.380 And a smouldering wick he will not quench, 00:07:39.980 --> 00:07:41.880 Until he brings justice to victory. 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:44.719 And in his name the Gentiles will hope. 00:07:46.659 --> 00:07:48.860 That's the key to seeing Jesus properly. 00:07:49.779 --> 00:07:53.899 Remember that justice here is much bigger than how we might use the word justice. 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:57.240 Justice here is talking about he's going to restore everything. 00:07:57.699 --> 00:07:59.719 He's going to put everything right. 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:03.180 And who is it that receives this restoration? 00:08:03.380 --> 00:08:05.020 And we see it in this passage, I think. 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:07.280 It's the smouldering wick. 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:09.760 It's the person struggling. 00:08:09.960 --> 00:08:11.940 It's the hopeless person. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:15.120 It's the person who is desperate. 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:20.260 And like in chapter 12, where we find that quote, 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:23.959 The Pharisees are starting to attack Jesus, 00:08:24.219 --> 00:08:25.480 And he withdraws. 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:28.219 He doesn't attack in return. 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:32.000 He doesn't use the political weapons to get the victory. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:33.759 So here in our passage, 00:08:33.939 --> 00:08:38.059 Herod has just said his conclusion about Jesus, 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:40.460 That he's John the Baptist, risen from the dead. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:42.039 That's become popular. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:44.220 People know his opinion now. 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:45.379 What does Jesus do? 00:08:45.960 --> 00:08:48.200 He doesn't defend that. 00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:49.639 It's really surprising. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:52.240 He doesn't overthrow Herod. 00:08:52.779 --> 00:08:56.120 He doesn't start his own campaign. 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:00.199 He goes and turns his attention to the desperate. 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:03.960 He just gets on with serving those who want his help. 00:09:07.419 --> 00:09:09.799 Other people might reject Jesus, 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:13.840 But that does not change the fact he is God's chosen one, 00:09:14.179 --> 00:09:15.439 In whom God delights. 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:17.139 And so should we. 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:21.120 So that's the key. 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:24.159 To seeing Jesus properly. 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:26.120 Let's get into the story. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:28.600 Let's get into the story. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:32.360 And I know this is one of those stories where it is so familiar to us 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:35.100 That we might be tempted to switch off. 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:37.439 So if that's you, 00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:40.419 Let's slap yourself a bit. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:41.419 Wake up. 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:44.339 There is so much gold in here. 00:09:44.339 --> 00:09:48.379 Let's not just discard it because of familiarity. 00:09:50.219 --> 00:09:51.579 So he went to Nazareth. 00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:56.819 He went to Nazareth to give eternal life. 00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:57.659 And they didn't want it. 00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:58.379 They reject him. 00:09:59.199 --> 00:10:03.099 Herod rejects because he wants to keep living in sin. 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:07.060 So who is it in our story who flock to Jesus? 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:09.700 Who run on foot? 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:12.580 While he's in a boat, they're running on foot. 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:15.540 They wouldn't have known where he's going to stop. 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:21.080 They're so desperate that they're just going to keep going until they get to him. 00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:22.639 It's the sick. 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:25.659 It's people who have loved ones who are sick. 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:28.860 It's those who are empty and they know they need filling. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:33.139 And in Jewish thinking, remember, 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:38.100 to be seriously sick would have been understood as being under God's curse. 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:42.199 So there was a spiritual emptiness here as well. 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:49.439 So in comparison to the Pharisees who consider themselves strong and pure religiously, 00:10:49.439 --> 00:10:52.100 these guys are the smouldering wick. 00:10:53.539 --> 00:10:55.139 And Jesus has compassion on them. 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:00.840 Do they have faith to know that he's the Messiah? 00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:02.059 Unlikely. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:02.720 Probably not. 00:11:03.819 --> 00:11:07.240 But notice what Jesus does do with the little faith they have. 00:11:08.699 --> 00:11:09.740 He has compassion. 00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:11.899 He receives them. 00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:18.759 At his powerful hand, they find wholeness, physical wholeness. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:26.500 And let's not overlook, I don't know, how many miracles are contained in those four little words, 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:28.939 and healed their sick. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:31.179 Even that's amazing. 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:34.720 Could you imagine the joy in that room? 00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:37.659 Imagine if all the sickness among us right now, 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:43.699 I can see a few families here where there's only one person representing today. 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:47.120 All the sickness was just healed. 00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:49.759 Imagine the joy we would have. 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:53.419 It must have been an amazing moment. 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:58.059 They've run to him for this purpose, and they're satisfied. 00:11:58.059 --> 00:11:59.839 They got what they came for. 00:12:02.839 --> 00:12:11.079 But they weren't as satisfied as they were aware of, as they thought. 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:16.340 If you asked them, they would have been like, yes, I'm satisfied. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:18.259 But Jesus doesn't send them away. 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.240 They're actually not satisfied. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:24.660 There's more they need, and he gives it to them. 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:28.580 And I'm not just talking about bread, just as a hint. 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:37.900 Could we pause before we get into the miracle itself, the big miracle that's recorded? 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:40.020 What do you think a miracle is? 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:43.520 How do you kind of conceptualise it? 00:12:44.060 --> 00:12:52.240 Do you see a miracle as God intervening from heaven and doing something, changing things, 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:56.800 reaching into this cause and effect world and just doing something special? 00:12:58.280 --> 00:13:01.020 If you understand a miracle as God intervening, 00:13:01.520 --> 00:13:05.800 I'd suggest that that's not the best way to think of a miracle. 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.500 Let me tell you about another miracle to try and illustrate. 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:18.920 Those who know a bit of church history, George Mueller, he was a missionary in England in the 1800s, 00:13:19.060 --> 00:13:23.440 and he, as well as preaching, he had a real heart for orphans, 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:29.259 and he set up heaps of orphanages, himself running them, appointing other people. 00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:35.280 Apparently, in his lifetime, 120,000 orphans received care because of his ministry. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.459 He was a huge effort. 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:40.779 And it ran off the giving of other Christians. 00:13:41.839 --> 00:13:48.639 And he records in his journal this one morning when the funds have run dry. 00:13:49.319 --> 00:13:51.079 There's nothing for breakfast. 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:54.799 And he goes into the dining room. 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:55.740 I'll read a bit of it. 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:59.120 There was nothing on the table but empty dishes. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:04.100 There was no food in the pantry and no money to supply the need. 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:06.320 The children were standing waiting for breakfast. 00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:09.919 A knock was then heard at the door. 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:11.200 The baker stood there. 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:13.480 Mr. Mueller, I couldn't sleep last night. 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:18.419 Somehow I felt you didn't have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. 00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:21.919 So I got up at 2 o'clock and baked some fresh bread and have brought it. 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:26.379 Mueller thanked the baker, praised God for his care. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:32.039 I said, children, he said, we not only have bread but the rare treat of fresh bread. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:35.219 And almost immediately, there came a second knock at the door. 00:14:35.479 --> 00:14:40.519 This time it was the milkman who announced that his milk cart had broken down outside the orphanage 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:45.539 and that he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so that he could empty his wagon and repair it. 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:48.559 I reckon that's a miracle. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.000 We might call it answered prayer. 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:57.639 It's just the usual way of feeding the orphans was through giving and paying for food. 00:14:57.839 --> 00:15:01.419 But this one time, it was very unusual. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:06.379 A miracle is God acting in an unusual way. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:13.419 Hebrews 1 says about the Son that he upholds the world by the word of his power. 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:14.939 He's upholding everything. 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:16.839 Every moment he is. 00:15:17.719 --> 00:15:19.719 He's involved in everything. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.219 He has his hand in everything. 00:15:21.459 --> 00:15:25.339 A miracle is just, he's doing something a bit unusual this time. 00:15:27.079 --> 00:15:30.259 Colossians 1 says, in him all things hold together. 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:37.879 And that's why this story of feeding the 5,000 should make us realise who Jesus is. 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:42.799 The prophet Elisha did something really similar. 00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:45.279 2 Kings 4 records it. 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:52.939 Elisha's disciples of 100 men were hungry and someone brought 20 loaves of barley. 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:56.079 So I should be able to do the maths. 00:15:56.219 --> 00:15:56.599 What's that? 00:15:57.879 --> 00:15:58.599 Oh my goodness. 00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:59.639 I'm having a brain fog. 00:16:00.459 --> 00:16:01.419 Someone help me here. 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:02.939 Five. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.339 Thank you. 00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:07.559 One loaf between five men. 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:18.199 Now, when I turn up at Smoke and Joe's barbecue next month, I don't want to put pressure on the organisers and Joe. 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:23.040 But I'm hoping for at least one bread roll to myself. 00:16:24.040 --> 00:16:25.080 At least. 00:16:26.280 --> 00:16:29.680 Not share it among four other guys. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:39.459 And yet, the word of Elisha, the man of God, all 100 men ate and had their fill and there was leftovers. 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:44.480 Only God's prophet could do something like that. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:56.480 But what happened in Jesus' day on that grassy hill shows that he bursts out of this category called prophet. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:04.579 Five loaves, two fish, 5,000 men plus women and children, maybe 10,000, 15,000. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:08.480 Now, that number means it's really hard to picture numbers, isn't it? 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:19.519 My stab at who's in the room, I don't know, this has no authority, but 140, 150, probably in this room. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:31.440 Damo, Lauren can correct me on this, but McDonald's, I looked up online how many customers they get in a day, the average McDonald's. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:39.779 One person guessed, one employee guessed 2,000 to 3,000 customers per day. 00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:42.799 So just think of that constant drive-thru. 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:47.120 You better not be in that drive-thru. 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:48.700 Just kidding. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:49.880 Anyway, funny joke. 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:53.200 3,000 to 5,000 was another person's guess. 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:55.660 So that's all those hungry customers. 00:17:55.660 --> 00:18:02.160 One McDonald's, a whole day's worth of business is the kind of numbers we're talking about. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:03.600 Constant stream. 00:18:04.380 --> 00:18:11.160 And Jesus turns to his worried disciples because they're nowhere near cities that could cater for this amount of people. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.420 So don't picture desert when it says desolate. 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:17.060 Just they're not near a major city. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:19.340 They've got tiny villages nearby. 00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:23.460 And he says to the disciples, they need not go away. 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:26.259 You give them something to eat. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.819 It's funny. 00:18:29.160 --> 00:18:31.299 There's humour in the Bible, I think. 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:36.519 I reckon seeing the disciples' faces at that moment would have been priceless. 00:18:37.960 --> 00:18:41.740 John's Gospel records them trying to solve this impossible command. 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:50.240 One of them goes, it would take more than 200 days' wages to even buy a little bit for everyone. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:58.059 And I wonder what the look on people's faces were when Andrew brings the little boy with the lunchbox. 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:00.960 We've got five loaves and two fish. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:08.740 I'm picturing Sarah Morris at youth group when I was unorganised and I'd turn up unorganised. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.539 She'd just look at me. 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:14.640 I'm picturing that kind of look. 00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:16.740 Five loaves and two fish. 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.759 Yeah, thank you. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:23.660 Okay, they come to the end of themselves and then Jesus steps in. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.480 Bring them to me. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:33.180 And like the head of a Jewish family at the dinner table, he looks up to heaven and perhaps said the traditional, the regular blessing, 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:37.779 blessed are thou, this is English, obviously translation, 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:43.599 blessed are thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:51.980 And I know the administrative minded in this room are just amazed, as amazed as the food coming, 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:58.059 as the administrative task of 12 disciples feeding about 10,000 people. 00:19:58.359 --> 00:20:00.559 Like how that worked, it's hard to picture. 00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:05.859 They all ate and all were satisfied. 00:20:05.859 --> 00:20:09.659 12 baskets picked up. 00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:15.000 So there's the story. 00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:20.559 I'd like to draw our attention to four things I think we can learn from it. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:25.639 Firstly, we see more clearly who Jesus is. 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.419 He is no mere prophet. 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:30.819 He is the source of all things. 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:35.960 Someone much bigger than Elijah and Elisha is here. 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:46.779 Anyone who claims to be religious and yet sees Jesus as a prophet or gives him a title of some other servant is suppressing the truth. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:55.920 It's hard not to see in this story a mental link to Moses on the mountainside, 00:20:56.059 --> 00:21:00.180 providing an unusual source of bread to God's people. 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:02.740 Men are in the wilderness, desolate wilderness. 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:10.019 Back then, they had their fill, but no leftovers. 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:11.220 They had the perfect amount. 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:14.339 Here, it is overflowing. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:20.819 Back then, they collected the flakes off the ground, knowing the bread came from heaven somehow. 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:26.980 Here, the source is clearly coming from Jesus through the apostles to the crowd. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:29.980 He is the focal point of the source. 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:42.059 Maybe the 12 baskets, I'm not sure, but maybe the 12 baskets is trying to make us think of Moses with the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:45.900 Jesus is bursting out of the mold of prophet. 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:51.380 He's even bursting out of the mold of Moses, the connection between God and his people. 00:21:51.380 --> 00:22:01.800 For some reason, I had this thought, and it crystallised the significance of what happened that day in my mind. 00:22:02.280 --> 00:22:06.820 It may not do it for you, but this is what helped me grasp it. 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:12.380 Jesus feeding so many people in such an unusual way, in ridiculous abundance, 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:19.220 it reveals that he is also the source of those original five loaves and two fish. 00:22:20.780 --> 00:22:22.580 He's not just the one who multiplied. 00:22:23.060 --> 00:22:27.500 He's the one of those original five loaves and two fish. 00:22:27.560 --> 00:22:28.840 He's the source of everything. 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:38.799 Now, I know when we say grace before a meal, that can be pretty religious. 00:22:39.619 --> 00:22:40.859 It can be pretty mindless. 00:22:42.919 --> 00:22:50.119 We can sometimes pray, oh, Lord, turn this McDonald's into a nutritious meal and bless my body. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:52.459 That's not the point of the prayer. 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:59.079 God doesn't need us to say grace, but I don't mind it. 00:22:59.100 --> 00:23:04.700 I think it's a good habit to go, you are the source of everything. 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:09.840 I don't deserve even a morsel, and yet you give in abundance. 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.940 Not just food. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.740 You are the source of everything. 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.900 It's probably not a bad habit, is it? 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:22.160 To remember that Jesus is the one that we can enjoy food and fellowship, everything. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:27.980 Knowing that we have peace with the Father, we can delight in his gifts. 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:31.200 So I think that's the first thing we learn. 00:23:31.340 --> 00:23:32.579 He's no mere prophet. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:36.640 He is the source of all things. 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:43.420 I think the second thing we learn is what kind of satisfaction we're all actually hungering for. 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:49.340 So the crowds originally come to him for healing, but Jesus doesn't send them away at that point. 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:52.819 He doesn't let them scatter, but he gathers. 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.720 He gathers them. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:57.500 They need not go away. 00:23:57.500 --> 00:24:04.539 I think this is something we Westerners struggle to see. 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:12.380 It is because we're not quite a hospitality culture, but this is a story of hospitality. 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:14.980 This is a story of fellowship. 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:21.420 Who you eat with is who you belong to, and that's your community. 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:25.720 We call it fellowship. 00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:33.320 Jesus gave the people what they were hungering for, and they didn't even realise they were hungering for it. 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:39.839 Belonging to God, accepted by him, joyful community with Jesus at the head of the family. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:44.720 I think it's similar to Moses feeding in the wilderness. 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:50.659 Yes, God provided the manna, but we're told in Deuteronomy why he did it. 00:24:50.959 --> 00:24:57.240 Not just to teach his people that he's the source of food, but to teach that man does not live off bread alone, 00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:00.500 but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:02.359 I think the same here. 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:13.839 We're learning that we live off Jesus, every word, every promise, what he says about us, being gathered to God through him. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:23.719 I remember a time I experienced, I think we constantly experienced this satisfaction. 00:25:23.919 --> 00:25:25.439 I think that's why we come to church. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:31.600 That's what Pete prayed for at the start, that we're constantly needing this satisfaction, 00:25:31.840 --> 00:25:36.620 this deeper satisfaction of knowing God more, Christ more, and belonging to him. 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:45.039 But I remember this time I experienced it, I don't know, a bit more clearly in a desperate time in my life. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:49.000 I was experiencing relational conflict, and it wasn't with Emma. 00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:51.259 I just want to put that out of there. 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:58.680 And I'm sure you can sympathise, we've all had relational conflict, and it's agony, isn't it? 00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:59.119 Agony. 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:04.180 And I was losing hope that things would change. 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:09.339 I thought my greatest need was the conflict to resolve, to be healed. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:13.299 I went to Lake Macquarie, got a coffee. 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.839 Coffee, you don't have to do the coffee bit. 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.740 But I didn't know what to do. 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:21.140 And so I just started reading John's Gospel. 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:25.259 And I can't tell you what it was that helped me. 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.059 I can't. 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:29.539 There wasn't like a single idea in John's Gospel that went, 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:32.240 Aha, that's the key to resolving this conflict. 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.579 That wasn't the solution. 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:35.859 It was just focusing on Jesus. 00:26:36.099 --> 00:26:37.759 It just calmed my soul. 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:44.220 It just soothed me, knowing that I belong to him, and he accepts me. 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:48.460 Anyway, I'm just trying to share an example of this satisfaction. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:27:00.799 That we might think we need God to solve our circumstances, but the deepest thing is being gathered to him, and knowing we belong to the shepherd of our souls. 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:07.759 So I'm not sure what's making you discontent at the moment, dissatisfied. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:20.299 But I think we see on this hill where your deepest need for satisfaction is, and that Christ is ready to give it to us right now in abundance. 00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:23.879 To see him more and know that you belong to him. 00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:27.879 Know that you belong to his flock. 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:34.880 I think the third thing we learn is what it means to have faith. 00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:39.140 And I think that's why Jesus tells his disciples, you give them something to eat. 00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:43.040 Otherwise, that's just a cruel command. 00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:44.560 It's not cruel. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:48.940 He's testing his disciples. 00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:51.240 And it's not a test to see if they pass or fail. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:53.960 It's a test, as in test to learn. 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:58.099 John's Gospel says that explicitly. 00:27:58.620 --> 00:28:00.980 Jesus said this to test, I think, Philip. 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:07.779 I don't think he was suggesting you can do the miracle yourself if you have faith. 00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:09.660 That's not the conclusion of the story. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.740 I don't think we should draw that conclusion. 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:20.940 They try and solve it themselves, how much money they can have, how much food they can scrummage up. 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:32.080 I think we see what faith is, that faith is turning away from the pretty rubbish efforts that we can conjure up 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:36.279 and turning to Christ as the source of all things. 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:43.600 Later in chapter 16, Jesus said to them, to his disciples in Matthew, 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:48.620 watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:52.439 And they take it as a criticism because they didn't bring bread on the journey. 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.479 And Jesus is frustrated. 00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:56.639 He's like, what are you talking about? 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:59.939 How much leftover was there when I fed the 5,000? 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:02.259 How much leftover when I fed the 4,000? 00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:07.459 Why are you focusing on what you did or didn't do? 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:09.219 Haven't you got it yet? 00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:13.699 That kind of thinking is exactly what I'm warning you about. 00:29:14.439 --> 00:29:15.839 That's religious thinking. 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:22.279 That kind of thinking makes you not come to me and trust me as the source 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:27.139 and just focus on what you can do or what you didn't do. 00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:33.159 Faith is to look to the source of all things. 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:40.000 Faith is to say, I'm not wise enough. 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.680 I'm not strong enough. 00:29:41.800 --> 00:29:47.680 I'm not good enough to be in control of any aspect of my life to please God. 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:52.080 But I know who is and I belong to him. 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:57.240 Faith is to look to him as the source of all things. 00:29:57.240 --> 00:30:05.359 And the last thing I want to draw our attention to is why we can have confidence to come to him. 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:09.759 I think we can think of God as holding back the best from us. 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:16.140 We can think of God as trying to test us to see if we pass or fail and only blessing us if we pass. 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:20.100 That's just wrong thinking about God. 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:25.400 And we see what God's character is like truly through his son here in this story. 00:30:28.340 --> 00:30:33.640 John King asked to hear what we're learning about in church. 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:39.860 And after hearing this story, John, bedbound, he wrote four words on his notepad. 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:43.179 That overflow of God's grace. 00:30:49.899 --> 00:31:00.899 Part of the reason this story of the 5,000 can lose its impact on us is we forget how undeserving these people are to receive the healing, 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:05.500 to receive the bread, to receive being gathered into God's flock. 00:31:06.179 --> 00:31:07.219 They are not deserving. 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.899 We are not deserving. 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:12.039 It's the overflow of God's grace. 00:31:12.939 --> 00:31:14.939 And there's a hint in this text. 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:17.359 There's four verbs used. 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:22.819 Jesus takes, he blesses, he breaks, he gives. 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:28.579 They occur in every single recording of this miracle in all four Gospels. 00:31:29.439 --> 00:31:32.399 Every one of the feeding of the 4,000 as well. 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:34.439 And we hear it again. 00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:36.939 You probably can guess when we hear it again. 00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:42.500 When he's alone with his disciples on the night of the Passover, chapter 26. 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:45.080 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:50.860 After blessing it, he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:52.080 Take, eat. 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.640 This is my body. 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:58.700 The compassion we see here. 00:31:58.700 --> 00:32:06.540 They could only receive that because he's so compassionate that he himself would be broken. 00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:10.119 So that we would be healed. 00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.420 Body and soul. 00:32:15.500 --> 00:32:16.940 Soul now, body later. 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:22.200 As Isaiah said, Isaiah 53. 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:25.220 He was despised and rejected by men. 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:28.000 A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 00:32:28.100 --> 00:32:32.920 And as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised and we esteemed him not. 00:32:33.860 --> 00:32:36.940 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:42.620 Yet we esteem him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. 00:32:42.880 --> 00:32:45.240 But he was pierced for our transgressions. 00:32:45.819 --> 00:32:47.680 He was crushed for our iniquities. 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:51.980 Upon him was chastisement that brought us peace. 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:54.259 And with his wounds we are healed. 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:56.840 And all we like sheep have gone astray. 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:58.920 We have turned, every one, to his own way. 00:32:59.120 --> 00:33:02.720 And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:06.279 He was broken to gather us in. 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:14.820 Your soul can find satisfaction because his compassion is so great, 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:17.140 he broke his body for you. 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:22.519 And that's why the Father delights in him. 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:27.039 That's why we need a delight in him. 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:35.159 So as I finish, let's make no mistake. 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:41.940 The mass rejection of Jesus by those we know around Newcastle, around the world, 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:47.879 as they fill their lives with broken systems that can never satisfy. 00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:58.820 It is in no way whatsoever does it change the fact that Jesus is God's chosen one in whom the Father delights in. 00:33:59.540 --> 00:34:02.020 He is the source of all things. 00:34:03.060 --> 00:34:08.300 He is the source of all satisfaction, gathering us into God's flock. 00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:12.560 And he will receive all who come to him in faith, 00:34:13.560 --> 00:34:18.700 who look away from what they can do for him and trust in what he can do for you. 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:24.579 And we can be confident that he will receive us because he is overflowing with compassion. 00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:29.639 He is the source of all satisfaction. 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:32.239 Our soul now, everything else when he comes back. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:36.519 So let's keep coming to him to have our fill. 00:34:36.519 --> 00:34:59.360 Father, I know my words are like the five loaves and two fish. 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:09.860 It might sound good for a moment, but it won't really get into our hearts unless you multiply, 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:18.380 unless your word itself gets deep in our hearts so that we can see just how great Jesus is, 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:23.260 how he bursts out of any category we give him because he is your son, 00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:28.500 just how great your compassion is that you were willing to be broken 00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:30.179 so that we might be healed. 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:42.320 Lord, please help us to delight in you and to turn away from the things that the world tries to seek life in 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:46.059 and just keep failing again and again to find satisfaction. 00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:52.340 Please help us to come to you and to receive eternal life in knowing you. 00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:57.719 Lord, help us to do this so that we can live a life that honours you and puts you first. 00:35:57.719 --> 00:36:05.759 in all things and so that we can show people where living water can be found. 00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:09.039 Lord, we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.