True Nourishment

I am beginning our study today with the assumption that almost all of you know what’s on the calendar this week. Kids, do you know what’s happening this week? What is Thursday? It’s our celebration of Thanksgiving.

According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, on October 3, 1863, while the Civil War was still in progress, president Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. The presidents that followed ended up continuing the tradition and announced a day of thanksgiving around the same time of year.

President Franklin Roosevelt thought it would be good for our nation’s economy if we extended the Christmas season by celebrating Thanksgiving a little earlier. So, he moved Thanksgiving back to the third week of November. There was some pushback, so after a joint resolution of Congress in 1941, president Roosevelt officially declared in 1942 that Thanksgiving would be on the fourth Thursday in November.

On paper, Thanksgiving is a day to be united in our gratitude for what God has provided. It’s supposed to be about the heart, not about all the external things. That doesn’t mean that the external things are bad, but they shouldn’t be the dominant factor.

If you asked the average American today, though, what do you think they’d say Thanksgiving is about? Some might say football. Some might say Black Friday. Some might say family gatherings. But based on what I see in advertising, I think the most common factor of Thanksgiving is the food. Don’t you agree? When most people think about Thanksgiving, they think about food.

Well, along that line, the passage we are going to look at today deals with food, but it also deals with having our priorities properly aligned. So, if you will, please turn with me to John chapter 6. This is going to be a familiar story to many of you, but it’s an important reminder.

John chapter 6 records one of Jesus’ miracles, and apart from the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, it is the only miracle that all four gospels record. Let’s pick up the story in John chapter 6, verse 1. The opening 4 verses set the stage.

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. [2] And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. [3] Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. [4] Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.

Jesus’ ministry has already been going on for some time . People have seen and heard about His miracles, and so, wherever Jesus goes, a crowd of people are looking for Him. Jesus is now back in the northern part of Israel by the Sea of Galilee, and the time for Passover was close. That means that Jews from all over the Roman Empire were making their way to Israel, and ultimately, to Jerusalem.

So, you’ve got crowds that are going to be larger than usual, but along with that you’ve also got a religious and a political expectancy. Passover pointed back to the time when God freed Israel from Egypt under the leadership of Moses, and what the people were waiting for was a new Moses, a new prophet empowered by God who would deliver them from the rule of the Romans. Let’s continue the story.

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.”

Jesus is concerned about the people, but he’s also wanting to teach His disciples a lesson. He wants to strengthen their faith. Now, can you imagine what was going through Philip’s mind when Jesus asked about feeding them? Maybe he was thinking, “That’s crazy!” Or maybe he panicked, wondering how in the world he was going to fulfill his Master’s request. Just think about what Jesus is hinting at.

Maybe you’ve felt some of the holiday pressure when more guests arrive at your house than you expected, and you wonder if there’s going to be enough of something. That is nowhere near the exasperation Philip is feeling.

Think about this: We’ve got less than a hundred people in this room right now. What would you do if an elder came up to you and said, “We need to feed everyone lunch today! Make it happen!”? I suppose the simplest way to feed us all would be to pay some company to do it, but that’s going to cost money.

Down in verse 10 we are told that the men numbered about 5,000. If you add on the women and the children, this group could have been well over 10,000 people. That’s why Philip says they won’t have enough money. He did some quick math.

A denarius was one day’s wage for a laborer. So, two-hundred denarii equals the money from two-hundred days of work.

Just to give us some perspective, the year is 2023, and minimum wage in California is $15.50 per hour. You multiply that by an 8-hour workday, and you get a daily rate of $124. Then you multiply that by 200, and you get $24,800, which I’ll just round up to $25,000.

Philip looks at all the people that have gathered to see and hear Jesus, and in today’s terms, he’s saying, “Jesus, $25,000 wouldn’t even be enough for each of them to have little.” This is a devastating logistical problem. But God bless Andrew, who I assume is trying to help.

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?”

And let’s let Jesus’ response sink in. Think about how the disciples would have felt when Jesus responded.

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.

I can only imagine what it might have looked like. Jesus takes what is essentially 5 dinner rolls and a couple fish that were probably pickled or dried, and He begins to break them into pieces to be passed out to the crowd.

What is happening? This is the creative power of Christ on display. He literally made a meal for the people. Keep in mind, these are mostly poor people. They survive day-to-day, meal-to-meal.

I’ve asked my dad and some other men who grew up in another county, “When you were a kid, did you ever eat until you were full?” And their answer was, “No.” They ate what was set before them, and that was it. There was no more. There was no second serving.

I think it was the same for most of the crowd there that day. For some, it might have been the first time in their life they ate until they were full. They could have as much as they wanted, and it was all because of Jesus and His miraculous power to create the food and to distribute it to them. And as the wonderful creator that Jesus is, I assume it was delicious. This would have been an unforgettable meal. It was the meal of a lifetime!

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.

John repeats the original amount to make it clear to us that this was a miracle. It’s interesting to note that the amount of leftover food added up to twelve baskets, which is the same number as the disciples. Some speculate that this is what the disciples could have had to eat either at that moment or the following day. So, just like most of us the day after Thanksgiving, it’s very possible that the day after this miracle, the disciples were eating leftovers.

So, what’s the point of the story. What do we learn from. Well, we get two very simple yet important reminders.

Number 1, we are reminded that Jesus is the Creator. Jesus is the Creator. And what an important lesson to keep in mind this week.

I assume most of you are going to enjoy your Thanksgiving with food. Where did all that come from? Who created the plants and the animals. Jesus did. John 1 says: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Who made the wheat to make the dinner rolls and the stuffing? Who made the cows that give us the butter? Who made the potatoes? Who made the turkeys? Who made the pigs that gives us the ham? Who made salt? Who made the cranberries, whether you like them or not? Who made the apples? Who made the pumpkins? All of it came from Jesus our Creator.

And everything we see in this world is a testament to His power and His wisdom. He filled this world with sustenance for us. He gave us a mouth. He gave us a tongue.

When God places Adam and Eve in the garden, one of His first words to them was, “I have given you the plants and the fruits. They are food for you.” I’m sure there are things you don’t like, but there’s plenty we do like, isn’t there? And through the centuries various cultures have shaped those ingredients to make all kinds of delicious things. Jesus is our wonderful and powerful Creator.

Now, beyond that, we can also remember lesson number 2, which is that Jesus is the Provider. Jesus is the Provider.

It’s one thing for Jesus to simply create these things, but He has also given it to us to enjoy. By the grace of God, we’re not just watching other people eat, we enjoy the food ourselves, and we are sustained by the food He provides. He has brought it to us.

Yes, some human makes the food you eat, but behind all of it is the wonderful grace of God who brought it to you so that you can enjoy it and be nourished by it. God has graciously provided for us.

Psalm 145:15-16 says—The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Psalm 104 tells us that God produces the springs in the valleys. He gives water to the animals. He provides a place for the birds in the trees. Verses 14 and 15 say—You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart. 

So, whether it’s a side of French fries or a chicken salad, a bag of Hot Cheetos or a ribeye steak, or a piece of chocolate or a slice of apple pie—whatever you’re eating, remember that it came to you from Jesus Christ, your gracious and merciful Provider.

Now, in most of our minds, this is where the story ends, but it’s not where John ends the story. What happened next?

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” [15] Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

What’s happening there? There is something about how the people respond to the miracle that doesn’t line up with Christ’s plan or Christ’s message. This crowd whipped themselves into a frenzy. Whether Jesus wanted it or not, they were going to march Him into Jerusalem and declare Him as their King. But Jesus spoils those plans and escapes into the mountain by Himself.

What’s the problem? What is that the people have wrong? For that, we need to keep reading and find out what happened the following day.

In verses 16-21, we read that Jesus’ disciples left that night in their boat to the other side of the lake. Jesus left after them but caught up to them because He walked on the water. That’s an amazing story, too, but it’s not our focus today.

The crowds go searching for Jesus, and they find Him back on the other side of the lake. And this time, Jesus isn’t teaching on a mountain; He is teaching in the synagogue in a city called Capernaum. Let’s pick up the story in verse 25.

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” [26] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

Here’s the difference between what the people expected and what Jesus provided: The people wanted the physical blessings that accompanied the reign of the Messiah, but they did not want to surrender to Christ on His terms. They wanted the physical blessings of the promised King, but they would not surrender to Jesus on His terms.

This is the devastating truth for so many so-called Christians today—Jesus doesn’t come to you on your terms; you come to Him on His terms.

And I think this is a message that is especially important around the holidays. We gather with friends or family, and we enjoy a nice meal, and we assume that since we have the privilege of those blessings, we have a proper standing before the Lord.

Do not confuse the common grace of God as evidence of His special grace. Common grace is a term that refers to the good things in life that God gives to everyone, wicked or good. Special grace is talking about God’s salvation from eternal hell and God’s reconciliation with you.

This crowd had assumed that simply because Jesus provided them with a good meal, they were worthy of entering into the kingdom of God. It’s like a woman believing a man is in love with her simply because he held the door open for her. That act, in itself, doesn’t mean anything about a special relationship. And Jesus’ act in feeding the people was no indication that the crowd was headed for heaven.

This is the tragedy of cultural Christianity. People assume that just because they go to church sometimes, just because their life is not a mess, just because they have some knowledge of the Bible, they’re on God’s side. They wrongfully interpret common grace as a sign of God’s eternal favor.

They see Jesus, not as a King to bow down before, but as a genie who will make their life better and give them what they want.

Be careful about that in the holiday season. Be careful about it around your children and around your neighbors and family members, but most of all, be careful about it in your own heart.

More than anybody else, we should be thankful this holiday season, but we cannot have a spirit of blind thankfulness that keep us from examining our own lives and hearts.

Listen to what Jesus tells the people in verse 27.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”

In other words, don’t be consumed with the stuff that this world can offer. You and I need to be consumed by something else. Better stated, we need to be consumed with someone else, with the Son of Man who is Jesus Christ. He is the true King, and we need to surrender our lives to Him.

Listen, if in your heart there is no battle against your sin—if there is no desire to serve and honor Christ—you’re not a Christian. You don’t belong to Jesus. You’re just like the crowd that ate the fish and bread; there is only a desire to receive temporal blessings from Jesus or from the church. That is not true Christianity.

Even after Jesus speaks with the crowd, the people don’t get it.

Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” [29] Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” [30] So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? [31] Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

These people don’t want to trust in Christ; they want a list of dos and don’ts. They do not want to surrender their lives and their hearts to Jesus Christ. And rather than trust in Jesus, they want to see more signs. They want more miracles. They want Jesus to do things on their terms.

So, Jesus instruct them, but He knows the crowd isn’t listening.

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” [34] They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” [35]Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.

When Jesus fed the people, we were reminded that He is Creator and Provider. Now, in Jesus’ teaching on the following day, we get two more reminders, and with this I’ll close: Jesus is Savior and Ruler. Jesus is Savior and Ruler. [Salvador y Señor]

The power that Jesus demonstrated in creating food for the crowd and in walking on water is the same power He possesses to save people from their sins and to restore this broken world. But that salvation comes with a condition for you and for me. Salvation is offered to everyone, but it requires submission to Jesus the King.

You cannot have the full blessings of Christ if you will not accept His full authority. Jesus is Lord. He is Master. He is King.

We live in a consumeristic culture today. People want more from God. They want more from their church. And sadly, a lot of churches give it to them. They meet people’s felt needs without ever giving them what they need most of all, which is Christ Himself. And they definitely aren’t going to call on people to examine themselves. They only want to affirm. They only want to provide positive experiences because that’s why the people come.

Jesus, on the other hand, calls out this crowd for their unbelief. And yet, at the same time, He promises that those who truly belong to Him will never be lost. And that’s a beautiful promise. You can read it for yourself this week if you want.

The message of Jesus Christ is that He rules over all. His death and His Resurrection are evidence of that. You need to surrender to Him—not simply to your idea of who He is. God’s message for you today is that you call out to Jesus, beg Him for forgiveness, repent of your sin, and trust in Jesus Christ.

This is what it means to partake of the bread of life. You don’t just smell the bread. You don’t just appreciate the bread. You take it, and you receive it into your life. That’s what Christ wants from You. He wants you to receive Him for who He is, and surrender your life to Him.

Do that, and Christ will grant you eternal life. In just a little bit, we’re going to take a moment to pray. And in that time, you can pray with your family around you, or you can pray all by yourself. But take some time to thank Christ for His wonderful creation and His merciful provision.

But then also, recognize Jesus as the only Savior and as the proper Ruler of your life. If you have questions about that, I would love to talk to you after the service, and so would any of our members. We want to help you understand what it means to repent of sin and trust in Christ and experience eternal life.