Pick it up in verse 39, “You search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  The word for “search” there in the Greek is “eraunao” (ar-a-na-o) which literally translated is “track the secret” and Jesus says here that the secret of scripture, the secret of everlasting life, is made plain!  It’s Him!  Its Jesus, its being conformed into His image…folks the absolute secret of God is found in Christ Jesus…that one would embrace humility and die to self…and understand, it’s not about you, it’s about others…And as you search the scriptures prayerfully desiring to learn of God, you will find also, the Christ, Jesus…on every page! 

 

This word is also used in Revelation 2:23 where Jesus says “I am He who searches the minds and the hearts and I will give to each one of you according to your works.”  So understand this awesome truth, that as you search the scriptures, they search you!  The word has a cleansing affect on your mind and heart and life!

 

And so Jesus says, the scriptures, they testify of Me and He continues in verse 40…but you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. – zoe.  True life.  And why is it that we squander exuberant life?  We are not willing.

 

Verse 41, “I do not receive honor from men.”  Why, because He doesn’t seek it…the honor of man is fickle…He has not called man to the stand as it were to testify for Him…and neither should we…

Affirmation from man is fleeting and it will never satisfy the deep need in our souls to be accepted, loved and secure. 

 

Wives, your husband’s affirmation will not meet the need that you have deep within your souls…even if he was constantly affirming you, you would still retain that deep insecurity…same goes for you husbands, for you sons, for you mothers…for you employees, for you girlfriends…seek validity from God…because that is the only place where it can actually be found.  (Fathers, teach your daughters of Jesus!)

 

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s not about what others say about me or how they feel about me today, it’s about me laying my life down for you…that is the secret place of fellowship with the God of the universe, the God that created you, that formed you from the dust of the ground, that caused all existence to exist…and then offered all of Himself because of love.

 

Jesus continues, “but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  Jesus is fully man, and fully God…He knows them…”I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.”  Israel’s rejection of the truth, the rejection of the true Messiah > has prepared the way for them to accept the false Messiah or the Anti-Christ…just as Eve’s rejection of the truth of God left her susceptible to the devil’s lie…and the Anti-Christ is coming, if not already here just not yet revealed, and he will come in his own name, doing his own pleasure, and seeking glory from men.  And the world will flock to him, and bow to him, and fall to him…and they will fall with him!

 

Verse 44, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?”  Pride blinds Jesus says.  “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you – Moses (gasp) in who you trust.”   (this is a reference to the law as the Jews cling to the law to justify them in the eyes of God but the bible says in Galatians 3:11 that no one is justified before God by the law. Romans 3:20 says that no man will be declared righteous by the law because that was not the intention of the law.  The intention of the law was to reveal to man the knowledge of sin…that no man can attain to God’s holiness > no man can keep the law (Romans 7:14 says the law is spiritual) > and therefore the only hope, is the Savior.  Galatians 2:16 – Know that man is not justified by the law but by faith in Jesus Christ! 

 

Jesus is saying, you Jews, you who seek to be found worthy based on your own righteousness, you’re sunk in the sight of a perfect God > and the law, that which you tout in pride, will indeed be your condemnation!  Indeed pride comes before the fall > and pride is the sand spoken of in Matthew 7 Verses 26 and 27…

 

 

 

Jesus finishes his conversation here by saying, verse 46, For if you believed Moses; you would believe Me; for He wrote about Me.  Moses wrote in Deut 18:15 that God would raise up a Prophet from among the Jews and that it is He all of the world should listen to…Jesus concludes, “but if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

 

That is the plea of Jesus!  Believe My Word!  Trust Me! And find true life!  Follow Me, don’t follow you!  Turn over to John 14 – Look at verses 23 – 26.

 

As we move now into Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John, understand that there is a space of time between Chapter 5 and Chapter 6, exactly how much, we’re not sure but we know by comparison with accounts given by the other gospels that it was significant, and I believe it was the span of about a year.

 

Between Chapters 5 and 6 of John, Matthew 4:12 – 14:12 transpired.  The gathering of the disciples, the Sermon on the Mount, the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, the healing of the woman who had the flow of blood for 12 years, the raising of Jabirus’ daughter from the dead, John the Baptist is imprisoned and then beheaded, and many times of teachings including many of the parables…and so His following by now was quite large…

 

 

 

And so John fast forwards us and we pick it up again there in Chapter 6 verse 1, After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberius.  Now the Sea of Galilee is actually a freshwater lake that is there in Israel which is about 33 miles in circumference.  The Jordan River is the main source of water which flows through it from north to south.  And of course this is North of Jerusalem in Galilee.

 

Interesting, cool fact, is that there is a 1^st century fishing boat that was found on the shore of the Sea of Galilee on display in a museum in Kibbutz Ginnosar…they actually refer to it as the “Jesus Boat.”

 

Verse 2, Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  Great summary given by John of Matthew chapters 4-14.  J

 

Verse 3, And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  And so it appears here that Jesus attempts to break away from the crowds that were following Him taking His disciples up onto a high place to teach and fellowship with them but we’ll see in a moment that the crowds simply followed them…

 

Verse 4, Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  And so the gap between chapters 5 and 6 may have been around 10 months since we left Jesus in Chapter 5 at the time of Pentecost which is 50 days after the Passover and here we have the Passover approaching again…

 

Verse 5, The Jesus lifted up His eyes and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that those may eat?”  But this He said to test him (or grow him, or to try him), for He Himself knew what He would do. 

 

 

So Jesus turns to Philip who happens to be from this region, and asks him a hard question, but the thing is Jesus already has the answer…He’s already going to show Himself faithful and miraculous but John says He asked Philip because He wanted to prove him, or strengthen him in his faith.

 

James said in his epistle, yo Christians, count it all joy when you fall into times of proving why?  Because the refinement of your faith, the proving of your faith produces strength in your walk and patience and he goes on to speak of wisdom.

 

You see Jesus here knew what He was going to do but he brings Philip into the problem, into the question…a seemingly impossible issue, to teach Philip a lesson that we all must learn…where he can go for help…

 

And so a great crowd…thousands…food enough for maybe 13…Jesus and His homeboys…”Philip, it’s up to you, how shall we feed them.”

 

 

Philip’s proper response would have been, “They’re not here to hear me Lord, they’re here to hear You so Lord, what shall we do?  In essence, Your problem Lord and if it’s Your problem, it’s also Your opportunity to show Yourself faithful!”

 

But notice verse 7, Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarius worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 

 

Philip says “we don’t have enough money!”  HA, how logical, how telling!  Well Lord money is the answer!  We need more money and then our problem would be solved…but not the case…money was not what was needed here, and more money is not the answer for you or for me either…what was needed here and what is needed now is faith!

 

Then Andrew steps up with a flicker of faith, check it out here in verse 8, One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

 

I love it!  Someone comes on the scene with just a momentary flicker of faith…a fleeting moment of faith…because notice he comes forward and says well what about this…oh…well that’s not too much is it?  But look at what Jesus does…He uses it!

 

 

Verse 10, Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.”  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in a number about five thousand.”  Jesus says you don’t have sufficient means, you don’t have a viable or complete solution, you have a measure of faith…do this, calm the crowd…ready them for My faithfulness… > and man that is so often all I can do as a pastor…

 

And John says here the men numbered about five thousand which means there may have been more like ten or fifteen thousand counting women and children…huge crowd!

 

Verse 11, And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  Notice Jesus could have walked around to each person handing them food but He chose to use His disciples…

 

Verse 12, So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, Gather the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

 

What an awesome display of the ways of God.  God, all we have is a little, what can we do with so little…let me tell you, a little in the hands of the Lord, is indeed a lot…

 

The Bible says that David was just a little guy, ruddy, young and good-looking yet in the hands of the Lord he slew Goliath!  Paul, church history tells us that he was short, bald, hook-nosed and probably didn’t see very well…yet in the hands of the Lord he impacted cities, nations, even all eternity.

 

Oh we don’t have much to offer, no one does…all we have Lord are these five loaves and we kinda loaf around…and oh we have a few fish here, just a little…and Jesus says great!  I can use ya!

 

I can use ya, let’s fill the crowd!  And notice that the fragments were taken up!  How full must they have been to offer leftovers…these people didn’t know if breakfast was coming…yet the word here implies they were stuffed!  But also look, Jesus says gather the crumbs and the bible says 12 baskets were filled. 

 

Twelve, the number of order or government in the bible…12 patriarchs of Israel, 12 apostles…faith is faltering, faith is weak, but the order of God, the leadership of Jesus and what do we see…filled crowds!  12 baskets of crumbs even!

 

Nothing is lost!  My life, so fragmented, so crumby, no its not!  Nothing is lost.  It’s all part of God’s walk for you, it’s all part of your story…put the crumbs in the basket…allow others to be filled, good or bad, nothing is lost.

 

 

Success, heartache, all of it can be used.  You may say not me Matt, I’m a basket-case…no you’re not friend, you’re a basket of grace!  Where is your faith?  Have you not found the One that holds your very breath in His hands?  Oh you have?  Have you not learned that He indeed has crafted the moments of your day to bring you into a life of holiness?  Oh but you grumble…ah I see, and in my heart I pray that God would strengthen them through this God Given and eternally essential trial…You gotta grow!  You’ve got to learn that who the Son sets free, is free indeed.  And on your way to taking a hold of that truth…listen, God’s goodness and forbearance and love have brought you to where you are…cause you need it…

 

It’s all part of your story.  It’s all part of your journey with the Lord.  And all of it, crumby, fishy or filling can be used…NOTHING is lost.

 

I was brought up in an abusive home, a broken home, twice broken, filled with alcoholism and darkness…taught that I was better than everyone else, trained in the ways of pride, manipulation and hedonism…but listen > that stops with me!  Yes that is a part of me and yes I have been there but for real doh > that stops with me, as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord…we will love each other and protect each other and we will pray for each other > and then look, I’m fed, and April is fed, and my children are fed!  Nothing is lost you see!

 

 

And nothing was lost here…all were filled and the crumbs were gathered at the command of Jesus.  And then notice verse 14, Those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”  And we’ll see next week that they desired in their hearts to forcefully make Jesus king but look Jesus came to suffer for us first…yes He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords but we didn’t need a king, we needed a Savior…and so we’ll see Him depart alone to get away…it’s not time yet to be crowned King…oh but that day is coming!  And until then, nothing is lost…He is able to keep all that we commit to Him and He bottles up every tear because He loves us so very much! 

 

Do you know oh friend, oh child…do you know it’s about love…God’s grace > its perfect love…