Blessed Beyond Measure
It is very fitting today, that our scripture on Jesus feeding the 5000 is held on the same day our brother Keith will be speaking about JCCM and their ministries. Believe me, I did not plan it this way at all. God already had it in place, I just followed the instructions.
But it does bring to surface something I think each of us are very personal about, and actually sensitive to the subject. Can each of you actually say we are 'Blessed Beyond Measure.'
In today's scripture reading from the Gospel of John, here is Jesus and his disciples, followed by thousands of people. Some theologians suggest 5000 men may actual be over 20000 men, women and children to be factored in.
Regardless of the actual mathematics, the very start of this story begins with a test!
Isn't that something we each encounter, a test in life?
So Jesus asked Philip a serious question, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"
So here is Philip, a disciple of Christ, faced with a serious question. Where can I actually buy bread to feed all these people?
But regardless of Philips response, the test proved to be more than miraculous. Right off the bat, He knew Philips's answer and behavior, as he does us today, does he not? Philips answer shows how trusting we are in our needs towards faith in monetary measures than in God's own ability! I want you to ponder on that! This is exactly what Jesus wanted Philip to understand.
So by now, you can see Jesus, appraised of the situation by addressing the concern to Philip, and knowing the people are in need of food. Philips's answer was not substantial, but Philip did all he knew to do, is search for another means.
There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?
All Philip had at his disposal, was a few loaves and fishes from a young boy, which logically wasn't enough to feed thousands. And the money he had would not be enough to buy for each person to eat.
Now I want you to put yourself in the very crowd as these people.
You can put yourself anywhere amongst the thousands. You came to follow Jesus to maybe ask for healing, to see another miracle, or even just curiosity. Regardless of the reason, you are present at that moment!
You look around, seeing thousands of people, hearing children crying maybe, and listening to the chatter. It may be warm out, but you smell the flowers or the crisp grasses, and you start to wonder. "What am I going to do for food?" Guess what? Jesus already knew that was on your mind! If you was in the very back of the crowd, you would not have heard the conversation of Jesus and Philip! Jesus already knew what is going to happen.
Now think about this, what did Jesus do!
He took a seemingly impossible thing and made it possible! He made something from literally very little, which Philip suggested the boy had only few loaves and fishes, but what did Jesus do? He satisfied the hunger of those present! He fulfilled their need for food, to sustain their hunger. He gave them life, hope, reassurance, and even though some of them undoubtedly had hunger pains, he came through for them. And get this, he didn't just feed them; they ate all they wanted amongst the thousands, and yet there were baskets and baskets full of leftovers.
Up to this point, you can see how humankind's blindness, humankind's motivation changed from seeing Jesus to becoming hungry. They got distracted!. Yet, it does not keep God's grace from working. Even though we fall short, we step away; God is always present. When they came, they find that God does not turn them away nor cast them away later.
SO where where you located at in this story? Would you think God forgot about you in the 400th row in seat 99? How could God possibly come through for me, in my circumstance, I’m sure some of us have thought that before!
A women, CHARLOTTE ELLIOTT, learned an important lesson about Jesus one sleepless night in 1834. She was an invalid, and outcast amongst others, so when her family held a bazaar in Brighton, England to raise money to build a school, she could only watch from afar. She wasn't allowed to be near others and was rejected.
That night she was overwhelmed by her helplessness and could not sleep. But her sadness turned to joy when she realized that God accepted her just as she was. Her experience inspired these well loved words: "Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, 0 Lamb of God, I come! I come!"
Do you feel like Charlotte at times? How could God really see or help me, even though I come to church, I pray, I do things I should do, but I am not clear on things.
Just think friends, what Jesus done for the thousands that day, he shall and will do for each of us. Even those that are in need. You see, Philip suggested to Jesus that the young boy had just few loaves and fishes, but what Philip didn't realize, that suggestion is what started it all! God took a small amount and turned it into something to fulfill thousands of souls that day.
Think about us today! When we give to help with gifts, tithes, food banks, and loving supporting ministries like JCCM, what do you think Jesus is doing with it? He is miraculously working through people's lives to help all who need it. NOTHING can keep us from Gods ultimate grace!
In his book entitled God's Psychiatry, Charles Allen tells this story:
As World War II was drawing to a close, the Allied armies gathered up many hungry orphans. They were placed in camps where they were well-fed. Despite excellent care, they slept poorly. They seemed nervous and afraid. Finally, a psychologist came up with the solution. Each child was given a piece of bread to hold after he was put to bed. This particular piece of bread was just to be held—not eaten. The piece of bread produced wonderful results. The children went to bed, knowing instinctively they would have food to eat the next day. That guarantee gave the children a restful and contented sleep.
In closing friends, I want you to reflect on what I stated earlier, “how blessed are we! We are blessed beyond measure!” So many things where we have no need or want, but yet, we still have circumstances, trial and events come up, but we are not without!
Think of our fellow man! Those that are truly without, some of them are in a bad way by maybe their own choices, but regardless, we are to come to the aid of those in need.
Did not Jesus say, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me."
Friends, we each have a placed carved in this life by God’s great design and purpose, that is for each of us. Have you ever heard the say “Things could be much worse than what they are!” That sometimes is comforting, but when we are going through things, we tend to focus more on the storm than Jesus don’t we! I’m guilty of it, I know!
Just as we at Memorial help our fellowmen through organizations in the area, we are also in need. Yes, we may have a car, a nice home, food in our shelves, but do you lack something? What is it you need more of that you don’t have? Much like those children that went to sleep with bread, knowing when they wake up, they know they had something to eat.
Who is our sustenance and bread of life? Whom do we put our complete trust in? Whom can we fully trust in knowing our lives are in the greatest of hands, It should be Jesus the Christ! Think about it, we are blessed because we are
SAVED
REDEEMED
FORGIVEN
WITHOUT WANT
ALWAYS PROTECTED
ALWAYS LOVED
NEVER ALONE
AND SO MUCH MORE…
Let me leave you the words of Jesus "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost?"
Keep the faith friends, Trust in God, and he will always bless you beyond measure! Amen.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.