Overview:
Mark 6:30–44
We are in an era of specialists. They come in many different categories—medical specialists, nutrition specialists, fitness specialists, computer specialists, heating-and-air-conditioning specialists, financial specialists, gourmet specialists, audio-systems specialists, interior design specialists, legal specialists, and dozens of other specialists. Numerous and varied though they may be, there is one specialty that is conspicuous by its absence: impossibility. When it comes to those who are able to transform an impossible situation into an accomplished reality, no human being qualifies. God—and God alone—is that specialist! It is, in fact, His preferred method of operation. As we will see, He puts us in situations that are absolutely impossible. Why? So we will learn to trust Him, rather than turn to our normal ways of handling dilemmas with methods like clever ingenuity and constant worry.
Message Summary:
In the message “An Unforgettable Dinner on the Grounds,” Pastor Chuck Swindoll revisits one of the most famous miracles in the New Testament: the feeding of the five thousand. While we often focus on the bread and the fish, Swindoll directs our attention to the heart of the disciples and the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. The sermon explores the tension between human calculation and divine capability, showing how Jesus used a “testing” situation to stretch the faith of His followers. By moving from the “math of Philip” (what we lack) to the “miracle of the Master” (what He provides), believers learn that no crisis is too large for the One who is the Bread of Life.
Message Key Facts:
- The Setting: A remote mountainside near the Sea of Galilee during the time of the Passover.
- The “Calculating” Disciple: Philip represents the “bean counter” mentality, focusing on the impossibility of the task (200 denarii wouldn’t be enough) rather than the presence of the Savior.
- The “Connecting” Disciple: Andrew represents the “bringer,” who—despite his doubt about the small amount—at least brought the young boy and his lunch to Jesus.
- The Miracle of Multiplication: Jesus did not create a bakery; He took the small, gave thanks, and kept breaking it until everyone was “satisfied” (emplesthesan—completely full).
- The Twelve Baskets: The fact that exactly twelve baskets of fragments were left over suggests a personal “reminder” for each of the twelve disciples of God’s over-abounding provision.
Message References:
- John 6:1–6: The identification of the problem and the “testing” of Philip.
- John 6:8–9: Andrew’s discovery of the boy’s five barley loaves and two fish.
- John 6:10–13: The orderly seating of the crowd and the distribution of the food.
- John 6:14–15: The crowd’s reaction (identifying Jesus as “the Prophet”) and Jesus’ withdrawal from their attempt to make Him king by force.
- 2 Kings 4:42–44: (Contextual) A similar Old Testament miracle performed through Elisha, foreshadowing Jesus’ greater provision.
Foundational Truths for Believers
Chuck Swindoll identifies four essential principles regarding God’s provision in times of need:
1. Tests Precede the Provision
Jesus already knew what He was going to do, but He questioned Philip to “test” him. Often, the crises we face are not meant to destroy us, but to reveal the limitations of our own strength so we can see the extent of His.
2. Divine Logic Defies Human Calculation
If we only do what we can “afford” or “calculate,” we never experience the supernatural. Philip looked at the bank account; Jesus looked at the Father. Faith begins where our “math” ends.
3. God Uses the Small to Accomplish the Significant
The boy’s lunch was insignificant in the face of 5,000 men, yet it was the raw material for a miracle. We are never too small, and our resources are never too meager, when they are placed unreservedly in the hands of Christ.
4. Jesus is the Ultimate Sufficiency
The miracle was a “sign” pointing to a deeper truth: Jesus is the Bread of Life. He doesn’t just give bread; He is the Bread. He is the only one who can truly satisfy the deep, spiritual hunger of the human soul.
Practical Application
- Stop the “Philip” Thinking: Identify a situation in your life where you are saying, “It’s not enough.” Shift your focus from the size of the problem to the size of the Savior.
- Be an “Andrew”: You don’t have to provide the miracle; you just have to provide the introduction. Bring what you have—no matter how small—to Jesus and watch what He does with it.
- Practice “Gratitude Before the Growth”: Notice that Jesus gave thanks before the bread was multiplied. Practice thanking God for His provision while the resources still look like “five loaves and two fish.”
- Identify the “Fragments”: Look for the “leftovers” in your life—the extra ways God has blessed you beyond what you actually needed. Let those “baskets” be a testimony to His faithfulness when the next crisis arrives.
