April 14, 2021

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

... Jesus then lifted up his eyes and saw ...

"After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there sat with his disciples.

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 

And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

And Jesus said, Make the men sit down.  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 

Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."  (St. John 6:1-14)

Jesus Saw

I.   Jesus saw a great need.

          A.  Need to have compassion on the multitude for they were seeking, and not sure what.

      B.  Need and opportunity to minister to His disciples.

      C.  Need to bring remembrance of the Passover and it's purpose.

II.   Jesus saw a great opportunity.

       A.  Opportunity to mature His disciples, for He would be leaving and going back to Heaven.

       B.  Opportunity to reveal and prove His deity, through His miracles.

       C. Opportunity to use an individual willing to give what he had unto the Lord.
      

III. Jesus saw a great result.

       A. Result for the disciples, that Jesus is able to provide for our needs.

       B. Result for the lad.  Jesus could use and multiply what he had, when he gave to the Lord.

       C. Result for the multitude.  Jesus manifested Himself as to who He was, and His Word and actions proved it.

Jesus Cares

1.  Cares for our every need, no matter how large or small.

2.  Give of ourselves and what we have to the Lord.

3.  Multiplying comes by giving.

Pastor Fred Birch,

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  (Galatians 6:9)