Preschool
And who then is willing to consecrate his service? (1 Chronicles 29:5).
Christ’s Miracle Feeds Five Thousand
Memory Verses
Primary
And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? (1 Chronicles 29:5).
Junior
The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? (1 Chronicles 29:5).
Background Scripture: John 6:1-42
Lesson Scripture: John 6:1-13
Introduction
All providence originates with God the Father. “Every good and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). His benevolent care is channeled to humans through the mediation of our intercessor, Jesus Christ. He understands our human frailty and presents our needs and inability to provide for ourselves to God the Father.
Jesus understands our desperation when we cannot change the circumstances of life to ensure the positive outcomes we desire. God has all power and control of everything both seen and unseen. His mercy and benevolence are especially apparent when we find ourselves in times of extreme duress and trauma. Our belief in his boundless love for the souls of all mankind unlocks the flow of miraculous providence through humble entreaty for his help. God provides for our necessities from a storehouse that is infinitely boundless and impossible to deplete. May we examine our focus and evaluate whether we are trusting in man, money, or possessions, which are the arm of flesh, or truly relying on God for all the needs of our existence.
Key Verse
And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah (1 Kings 17:16).
Lesson Scripture
John 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,
9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
Studying the Lesson
Crowds of eager people followed Jesus. They were astonished and captivated by the miraculous healing they had either observed or heard about. A nobleman’s son who was dying had suddenly recovered to complete health. Jesus had listened to a humble, heartfelt request for help and spoken a few words, and the son was now in better health than ever before. A man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years told Jesus about his malady. Jesus had simply told him to rise, take up his bed, and walk.
The general populace of the Jews in the region followed Jesus and his disciples, curious to observe another miraculous healing. This Man was sensational. Dust rose into the air as the throng of people traveled to the area they thought Jesus might be teaching for the day. Likely their curiosity and the crowd mentality overrode their common sense. Each one should have prepared food for a day of hiking in the hills.
Mealtime arrived, and Jesus asked his disciples where the mass of people were going to find food. The disciples began to analyze the size of the crowd and the resources available. Immediately they realized the need was totally beyond man’s ability to provide. The five loaves and two small fish available would not give everyone even a crumb.
Jesus had a lesson for the disciples. He showed them that God can do much more than heal the physical body. Showing thankfulness to his Father, He blessed the bread and fish, which then miraculously multiplied. Jesus taught us that God has the power to fill every need and help in any emergency. Humility and thankfulness for God’s providence are keys to unlocking the storehouse of God.
Practical Truths for Today
Much of our time and focus is spent in supporting our frail, natural existence. God intends for us to be busy in our daily activities, but we can begin to feel quite confident or even slightly smug in our skills and in managing the talents and resources we acquire. However, mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional challenges are also a part of these daily pursuits. Other people may disturb our happiness, extreme health problems may grip us, and the decisions and actions of others can negatively impact our lives. These influences are capable of drawing us into either bondage or self-sufficiency. Living in a world so filled with negative influence should cause sincere Christians to understand their need of God’s miraculous power and grace.
Human nature leans toward independent action. We attempt to control surrounding circumstances, but often time and chance arise to circumvent our best efforts and thwart our dearest dreams. Even giving special attention to positive practices and details may have a limited effect. We rather need to live with a vision of the limitless power of God. His boundless storehouse is full of all the goodness, love, mercy, forgiveness, and general goodwill we need to live our lives in happiness, peace, and fulfillment.
Imagine a large tank of water overhead so vast it stretches from horizon to horizon in all directions and reaches upward infinitely. Billions of small valves are attached to the bottom of the tank with hoses connected to every person currently alive on the earth. Each of the valves is permanently attached and always available to slake the thirst of the individual on the end of the hose. We must have water to sustain life, but we must also realize a choice has been given to every man, woman, and child that allows them to reach up at any time and open that valve, attaching them to the unlimited water of life, the power of God.
God desires our salvation and ultimate good. Faith in the greatness of God and his bountiful providence motivates us to reach up and open the valve. Faith is key to believing such a valve exists. Belief or unbelief moves us to open or close the valve, either increasing or limiting the flow of grace into our lives. When we choose to believe, we open the valve. When we struggle with our faith and belief, we actually are reaching up and closing the valve, restricting or quenching the flow.
In the perpetual and rigorous process of life, we can become cynical, disillusioned, or even partially deceived. We might feel a lack of power or closeness to God, and, if not careful, believe the devil when he tells us, “God is not helping you. You do not have what you need to overcome. Ultimately you are going to give up and fail.” The great deceiver carefully interjects something that has a small bit of truth to begin with but slowly changes it to greater untruth, lies, and deception. He tricks and deceives us into thinking what he tells us is truth by continually holding up a piece of truth that offends us, triggers our pride, or corners us. We must always remember that God’s powerful water of life is never divisive, confrontational, proudly uplifting, pessimistic, or negative. Rather, the love and power from God is peaceable, easy to be entreated, and without partiality or hypocrisy (James 3:17).
Our own ability to become better through the power of positive thinking is extremely limited. Willpower will only take us so far. It is like trying to drink until our stomach is completely full of water and then walk across a desert with no other form of hydration. God’s water of life is never depleted. This is the miracle of the power of God versus the evil deceiver and our own human frailty.
Everything we have comes from God. When we choose to believe in Him and call out to Him in our desperation, we fully open the valve connecting us to Him. The act of opening the valve is not accidental but a deliberate choice to take up the cross of self-denial, take time for Bible reading and meditation, and to bring Him our thankfulness and petitions, thereby worshiping Him. “Come, let us boldly kneel at His throne, There our petitions humbly make known; Thus to secure the hope of His Word, Bow at His feet and worship the Lord, Bow at His feet and worship the Lord.” 1 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
God’s divine gifts, the fruit of the Spirit, will always flow down and fill the thankful, humble supplicant. We can live in the fullness of joy continuously available through our faith in an almighty God.
Questions
- Was the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes possible because of the disciple’s belief in Jesus’s miraculous power?
- Is having more than enough a sign of a strong Christian, one being powerfully blessed by God?
- Jesus did not reprimand the crowd of people for their lack of forethought in walking out into a desert without food. What lesson can we learn from this lack of criticism?
- If we are intellectual about our approach to life, controlling every aspect of that within our power, will we grow in faith, grace, and knowledge of the truth?
- Discuss some practical advice for young, unmarried Christians in making career decisions and trusting God’s plan in finding a companion for life.
- 1 Loren Burns, “Worship the Lord,” Gospel Hymns for Worship
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).