FEEDING THE 4000
THE NATURE OF CHRIST’S MIRACLES (v. 29-31)
1. Complete. Instantaneous. Infinite variety of diseases. Not always requiring faith on their part.
2. “mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing”
THE PEOPLE HADN’T EATEN AND JESUS DIDN’T WANT TO SEND THEM AWAY HUNGRY (v. 32)
1. He had compassion on them
2. They sacrificed physical need for a spiritual need
3. Those alive need food, those alive in Christ need spiritual food
4. If we are sent away hungry, we might faint. Never send someone hungry for the word away hungry for the word – they too might faint and have a much greater fall.
5. God uses an illustration of the human body
a. No food (no teaching) causes weakness and malnutrition
b. Bad food (false teaching) is unhealthy and illness
c. Too much food without exercise (application) causes bloating and obesity
d. Right amount of healthy food and exercise will produce strength and energy
THEY WERE IN A DESOLATE PLACE (v. 33)
1. Where are we to get food in this desolate place? Only from God!
2. They were, like we are, in a desert wasteland. God’s people are in the wilderness and need to be fed just Israel on their pilgrimage to Canaan. It seems as though God is always taking His people a desolate place into a better place – this way they must trust in Him.
a. Ex. 1 - Manna from heaven. “He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them food from heaven. Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance” (Ps. 78:24-25).
b. Ex. 2 - Water from the rock. “He opened the rock and water flowed out; it ran in the dry places like a river” (Ps. 105:41).
3. God has given us spiritual provision during our pilgrimage
a. John 6:31-35 “‘Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.”’ Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.’ Then they said to Him, ‘Lord, always give us this bread.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.’”
b. 1 Corinthians 10:4 “and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”
THEY ONLY HAD A FEW (v. 34)
1. They had seven loaves and a few small fish.
2. God has always used a few, the weak, and those things which were not. (Ex. Gideon, David, Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael)
a. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.”
b. The workers are still few (Matt. 9:27)
3. Only a few to enter the narrow gate (Matt. 7:14)
4. Only a few in Sardis hadn’t soiled their garments (Rev. 3:4)
THEY ALL ATE WERE SATISFIED (v. 37)
1. While Jesus only had a few to work with, the goal was accomplished and the people satisfied.
2. Everyone ate
a. 4000 men plus women and children (v. 38). Why aren’t the so-called “miracle workers” today doing this. Not to mention the ministries they could have in the hospitals and funeral homes.
b. Those who are hungry eat – men, women and children. And they ate the same food. I suspect the same can occur in the assembly of the saints – everyone feasting on the same food.
3. They were satisfied
a. Only God’s provision can satisfy man.
b. God’s people will never be wanting, He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness and He has given them in abundance.
THEY HAD LEFT OVERS (v. 37)
1. Seven large baskets left over!
2. The promises of overflowing blessings
a. In walking with God – Ps. 23:5 “my cup overflows”
b. In tithing – Mal. 3:10 “blessings until it overflows”
c. Life in abundance – John 10:10
d. “the riches of His grace” – Eph. 2:7
e. “we overwhelmingly conquer” – Rom. 8:37
3. We have the “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9)