Series Title: Encountering Jesus, Strengthening our faith as we explore/ journey through the fourth Gospel.
Series Focus. A study of what it means to be Children of God. The One who lived, among us through Jesus.
Sermon Objective: That listeners would base their faith on Jesus whom they have known by he is (Signs)
Sermon subject: Jesus’ miracles point us to him. We understand him better by what we. know about him
Series focus: How to identify ourselves with Jesus the miracle worker
Sermon Text: John 6: 1-13
Introduction
In the previous sermon the aim was to look at the disciples who were called to be with Jesus and see how we can identify with them. Here I want us look at these disciple (Apostles) and see how they worked with Christ. Jesus had taken a considerable amount of time to prepare them for the ministry that lay ahead of them. He used several instances to text if they understood what he was doing.
The time had come to prepare the disciples for his death and to text out those who would be loyal to him. Jesus was willing to meet the basic needs but he would not assume the responsibility of leading. He refused to take part of the political King. As they thought he was an early king.
We see here that the determination of Jesus’ enemies to remove him became known to him and his disciples, thus they had to confront the growing opposition, which was hostile. Knowing these things they had to seek for private time together away from the multitude that was following him. It is at this time Jesus performed a miracle of feeding the Five thousand people.
Explanation
Excited by the power of Jesus to perform all the miracles of healing and his teaching, a large cloud followed him to the desert where he and his disciples had retreated. And as the day passed by Jesus noticed that they were hungry. Since Jesus wanted to involve his disciple in the ministry, he turned to them and asks where they shall buy bread for the crowd. The question was directed to Phillip, who in the previous found his friend Nathaniel and brought him to Jesus. That means he can propose some course of action as to what to do.
We are told that this was to text Phillip. But his answer was mathematical which did not help on what to do. I don’t think any of the disciples had enough money that would feed the big crowd that there was. Andrew saved the situation and introduced a small boy with little lunch. Probably this was enough to feed him alone. Five loafs and two pieces of fish.
As I go through this reading I notice that this Miracle is only mentioned in John. What does this tell us? This was an important miracle to John, and so is to us. Look at Jesus’ compassion to the people. John records that he saw them and had compassion on them, for they needed something to eat. They were hungry 6:5, this is who he.
He calls attention to the disciple and the test that he put them into is to ask them where they are going to buy bread to fee them. He takes up the matter with Phillip. Phillip used hi imagination, which was not fruitful at this time. However let’s not that it was his contribution. He was faced with a hard task of finding the solution. Why did Jesus have to ask him for solution? I guess he really knew what he would do. He knew Andrew is going to find this little boy.
Andrew unlike Phillip was more hopeful and helpful to giving the answer. Jesus’ action at this point reveals that he used Andrews’s proposal, which was natural wisdom and supernatural power vv8-10. And John tells us that the multiplication was enough to feed five thousand people.
The miracle was a wonder, which excited the people, and they started believing that he is unusual person among them. V14. I would imagine that they were Miracle followers who followed not because they believed but because they wanted to see the miracles. Not that they never mention that he was Christ as he was always telling them. They suggest that he might me a prophet. They seem to live in the Old Testament times when Moses provided water to the Israelites in the wilderness. See Deut 18:15,
Exodus 15:11ff, 17: 1-6.
After everyone eat and were filled Jesus commanded them to collect the leftovers. Twelve bags were collected. The command in itself explains that which has been given by God must not be lost, and indeed cannot be lost. But not that those who eat the bread wanted to make him king Hoskins suggest that “judging that one who is able to feed them miraculously can also with miraculous power lead them against the Romans” V 15 records that he(Jesus) knew what was in their hearts and he withdrew from them.
Illustration
When I was in lower primary school, I remember attending a show by a “Tiger Power.” He used to perform all sorts unbelievable acts. Most of the children who attended the show started to copy what the Tiger Power was doing.
Although these were dangerous things to do without training, we wanted to act like him. Why? This is because it was something that we desired to have. We also desire to be like him and do the acts that he was doing. As Christians we should identify with Jesus and thirst to what he wishes us do. For by doing what he wants us do we become like him.
Application
Jesus fed the multitude, and he provided his action with its proper meaning. He is the answer to the desires of men. He points to the needs of men so that they may know and belief in him. In our inability to comprehend who he is, he makes every effort to make himself known to us
Jesus is the bread of life to all. He is the provided in the times of needs to his own. Note that it is by provision of food the disciples (Followers) recognized that he was not mere human. What points us to Christ? What makes as know that he is Christ in our lives? Time has come to look at Jesus and what he means in our lives. We should not do this for the seek of doing it but we should do so in the strength given by his manifestation to us in many ways so that we may recognize him Those who follow him and belief in him will never be hungry or thirst .
Jesus is the bread of life see v7-15. He is the giver of eternal life. He who descends from heaven is the bread of God, given, not for the sustenance of a figurative race, but for the life of the whole world.
Conclusion
I want us make conclusion by looking at three people who made it possible for the miracle to happen. These people have contributed a great deal to the knowledge of Christ, There was Andrew. There is a contrast between Andrew and Phillip. Phillip said the situation is helpless nothing can be done but Andrew said that he knows what can be done, and I will trust Jesus to do the rest
I think as Christians we need to be like Andrew. Many times we do not look at what Christ has to offer in order to be closer to him. Jesus needs what we can bring to him for him to make use of. We need to look at who he his in our lives bring what we have and we will understand him better.
There are many untapped resources with believers. This is what we need to focus to and we will understand Jesus better when we make use of the resources. A certain preacher said that Christians should be able to know Christ for what he is to them. He is all to us. Isn’t he?
Series Focus. A study of what it means to be Children of God. The One who lived, among us through Jesus.
Sermon Objective: That listeners would base their faith on Jesus whom they have known by he is (Signs)
Sermon subject: Jesus’ miracles point us to him. We understand him better by what we. know about him
Series focus: How to identify ourselves with Jesus the miracle worker
Sermon Text: John 6: 1-13
Introduction
In the previous sermon the aim was to look at the disciples who were called to be with Jesus and see how we can identify with them. Here I want us look at these disciple (Apostles) and see how they worked with Christ. Jesus had taken a considerable amount of time to prepare them for the ministry that lay ahead of them. He used several instances to text if they understood what he was doing.
The time had come to prepare the disciples for his death and to text out those who would be loyal to him. Jesus was willing to meet the basic needs but he would not assume the responsibility of leading. He refused to take part of the political King. As they thought he was an early king.
We see here that the determination of Jesus’ enemies to remove him became known to him and his disciples, thus they had to confront the growing opposition, which was hostile. Knowing these things they had to seek for private time together away from the multitude that was following him. It is at this time Jesus performed a miracle of feeding the Five thousand people.
Explanation
Excited by the power of Jesus to perform all the miracles of healing and his teaching, a large cloud followed him to the desert where he and his disciples had retreated. And as the day passed by Jesus noticed that they were hungry. Since Jesus wanted to involve his disciple in the ministry, he turned to them and asks where they shall buy bread for the crowd. The question was directed to Phillip, who in the previous found his friend Nathaniel and brought him to Jesus. That means he can propose some course of action as to what to do.
We are told that this was to text Phillip. But his answer was mathematical which did not help on what to do. I don’t think any of the disciples had enough money that would feed the big crowd that there was. Andrew saved the situation and introduced a small boy with little lunch. Probably this was enough to feed him alone. Five loafs and two pieces of fish.
As I go through this reading I notice that this Miracle is only mentioned in John. What does this tell us? This was an important miracle to John, and so is to us. Look at Jesus’ compassion to the people. John records that he saw them and had compassion on them, for they needed something to eat. They were hungry 6:5, this is who he.
He calls attention to the disciple and the test that he put them into is to ask them where they are going to buy bread to fee them. He takes up the matter with Phillip. Phillip used hi imagination, which was not fruitful at this time. However let’s not that it was his contribution. He was faced with a hard task of finding the solution. Why did Jesus have to ask him for solution? I guess he really knew what he would do. He knew Andrew is going to find this little boy.
Andrew unlike Phillip was more hopeful and helpful to giving the answer. Jesus’ action at this point reveals that he used Andrews’s proposal, which was natural wisdom and supernatural power vv8-10. And John tells us that the multiplication was enough to feed five thousand people.
The miracle was a wonder, which excited the people, and they started believing that he is unusual person among them. V14. I would imagine that they were Miracle followers who followed not because they believed but because they wanted to see the miracles. Not that they never mention that he was Christ as he was always telling them. They suggest that he might me a prophet. They seem to live in the Old Testament times when Moses provided water to the Israelites in the wilderness. See Deut 18:15,
Exodus 15:11ff, 17: 1-6.
After everyone eat and were filled Jesus commanded them to collect the leftovers. Twelve bags were collected. The command in itself explains that which has been given by God must not be lost, and indeed cannot be lost. But not that those who eat the bread wanted to make him king Hoskins suggest that “judging that one who is able to feed them miraculously can also with miraculous power lead them against the Romans” V 15 records that he(Jesus) knew what was in their hearts and he withdrew from them.
Illustration
When I was in lower primary school, I remember attending a show by a “Tiger Power.” He used to perform all sorts unbelievable acts. Most of the children who attended the show started to copy what the Tiger Power was doing.
Although these were dangerous things to do without training, we wanted to act like him. Why? This is because it was something that we desired to have. We also desire to be like him and do the acts that he was doing. As Christians we should identify with Jesus and thirst to what he wishes us do. For by doing what he wants us do we become like him.
Application
Jesus fed the multitude, and he provided his action with its proper meaning. He is the answer to the desires of men. He points to the needs of men so that they may know and belief in him. In our inability to comprehend who he is, he makes every effort to make himself known to us
Jesus is the bread of life to all. He is the provided in the times of needs to his own. Note that it is by provision of food the disciples (Followers) recognized that he was not mere human. What points us to Christ? What makes as know that he is Christ in our lives? Time has come to look at Jesus and what he means in our lives. We should not do this for the seek of doing it but we should do so in the strength given by his manifestation to us in many ways so that we may recognize him Those who follow him and belief in him will never be hungry or thirst .
Jesus is the bread of life see v7-15. He is the giver of eternal life. He who descends from heaven is the bread of God, given, not for the sustenance of a figurative race, but for the life of the whole world.
Conclusion
I want us make conclusion by looking at three people who made it possible for the miracle to happen. These people have contributed a great deal to the knowledge of Christ, There was Andrew. There is a contrast between Andrew and Phillip. Phillip said the situation is helpless nothing can be done but Andrew said that he knows what can be done, and I will trust Jesus to do the rest
I think as Christians we need to be like Andrew. Many times we do not look at what Christ has to offer in order to be closer to him. Jesus needs what we can bring to him for him to make use of. We need to look at who he his in our lives bring what we have and we will understand him better.
There are many untapped resources with believers. This is what we need to focus to and we will understand Jesus better when we make use of the resources. A certain preacher said that Christians should be able to know Christ for what he is to them. He is all to us. Isn’t he?