Jesus, Multiplier of Little into Much

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 6:1-14

 

John 6:8-9

One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

(NKJV)

 

When we look at the situation in the world, it is easy to become discouraged, frustrated, or even in despair. We can even become like Andrew and believe there is no possible solution. However, we have Jesus, God, the creator of the universe with us always (Matthew 28:20). The miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand should tell us that with God nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

 

After giving the Jews persecuting Him a fourfold witness of who He was, Jesus went to Galilee (John 6:1). A great multitude followed Him in Galilee because they had witnessed the signs Jesus performed on those with diseases and Jesus went up on the mountain with His disciples (John 6:2-3). It was near the time of the Passover and seeing the great multitude approaching Him, Jesus asked Philip where they could buy bread for the approaching multitude to eat (John 6:4-5). Jesus said this not in expectation Philip would go out and buy bread but to test him and his faith (John 6:6).

 

Philip responds by telling Jesus there is not nearly enough money to buy bread for the multitude (John 6:7). Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother tells Jesus a small boy has five loaves of bread and two fish and adds this is small compared to the size of the multitude, telling Jesus it was impossible (John 6:8-9). Jesus is not swayed by their comments and orders the disciples to sit the people down in the grass (John 6:10).

 

After the people were seated, Jesus took the boy's bread and fish and after giving thanks began distributing them to the disciples and the disciples to the people, as much as they wanted (John 6:11). After everyone was full, Jesus commanded the disciples to gather up the fragments so nothing was left over (John 6:12). Of the five loves they started with, the disciples gathered twelve baskets (John 6:13). This miracle so amazed those present, that they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world (John 6:14)”.

 

This passage is both a test of the disciple’s faith and a demonstration of how God can take the little we have to offer and multiply it to provide for a multitude. Philip and Andrew did the numbers and calculated that there was not nearly enough money to buy bread for this multitude and would only provide a little (John 6:7). Andrew went even further, telling Jesus about a small boy with five barley loaves and two fish, a pittance compared to what it would take to feed this crowd of five thousand (John 6:8-9). What the disciples failed to realize is that they were in the presence of God the creator who could create more than enough to feed this multitude (John 6:10-13). The small faith of the disciples also manifested itself when Jesus calmed the storm (Matthew 8:26). These disciples also demonstrated little faith when Jesus told them he would rise from the dead (Mark 9:9-10). However, once these disciples saw the risen Lord and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they would turn their world upside down (Acts 2; 17:6).

 

The lukewarm Laodicean Church that trusts in its wealth and prosperity needs an infusion of faith in the creator God (Revelation 3:14-22). The disciples following Jesus had little material wealth with most of them working men barely managing to exist. Yet when these men of little faith placed their faith in the risen Lord, they led many to salvation through the blood of Christ.

 

The Church of today must repent of its lukewarmness and silence and begin lifting up Jesus (John 12: 32) and take the Gospel to the nations, making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). The Church of today has tools available to proclaim Christ to multitudes the disciples could not imagine. I pray the Church will repent of its silence and use the tools available today to loudly proclaim Christ to a lost and dying world.

 

I want to invite anyone reading this post who has not prayed for salvation from their sins and to make Jesus the Lord of their life through the confession of their belief in Jesus as their Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May the Lord challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.