Miracles: Let Him Be Known
“Feeding the 5000”
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Notes prepared by Juray Mora
We believe that God works miracles today by the power of the Holy Spirit to bless people and advance his kingdom. In 2023, we are believing God for miracles that will testify to his power and create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. The sermon series will focus on the 7 miracles John recounts as signs pointing people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God.
Focus: God’s miraculous salvation through Jesus is sufficient to satisfy the needs of all who hunger for God and righteousness, even as his miracle of multiplied fish and bread satisfied the hungry multitude.
John 6:5–14 (ESV)
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. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
The Gospel of John
✦ Written by the disciple whom Jesus loved.
✦ It is an eyewitness testimony—John appears multiple times in this gospel.
✦ This is the only miracle of Jesus recorded by all four gospels.
- Matthew 14:13–21
- Mark 6:31–44
- Luke 9:12–17
✦ The purpose for writing is in John 20:31—
“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
- Jesus is the Messiah, that you may believe and have eternal life.
✦ Starts with Poetry about Jesus “The Word.”
✦ Jesus is given seven titles (Jesus is fully human and the Son of God):
- The Lamb of God
- The Son of God
- Rabbi
- The Son of Man
- Messiah
- King of Israel
- Jesus of Nazareth
✦ Jesus is revealed through seven signs:
- Wedding at Cana: Jesus is generous.
- Clearing the Temple: Jesus is God of the temple.
- Nicodemus: Jesus is not just a rabbi but the one who brings new birth.
- Woman at the Well: Jesus is the Living Water.
- Healing on the Sabbath: Jesus and the Father are one.
- Feeding the 5,000: Jesus is the Bread of Life.
- Feast Stories: Jesus is the Light of the World.
- Lazarus: Jesus offers his life for the world.
Surrounding Context
✦ The narrative starts with people looking at the sign (verse 2—“And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick”).
✦ The narrative ends with people convinced with the sign (verse 14—“When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is come into the world!’”).
✦ The cause for this event was people following the sign.
✦ Jesus was testing and teaching his disciples.
✦ Jesus was moved by compassion and his ministry.
* The External and Internal Problem
1. When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” (verse 5).
2. Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn’t be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece” (verse 7).
3. There was no obvious, practical problem, but there was a mindset problem with Philip.
* The Generous and the Seed
1. “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this” (verse 9).
2. Generosity exemplified: a little boy and a little food.
3. The little is not enough for the need but is powerful as a seed.
4. Will you offer your “not enough” to become a powerful seed?
5. Give your bread to the Bread of Life.
* The Gratitude and Faith
1. Then Jesus took the bread and having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted (verse 11).
2. Gratitude is an act of great faith.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher