John 6:12 “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”
Jesus was going through it at this point in his ministry. He had been given the news that John the Baptist had been killed by Herod, he had traveled extensively, healed many, preached often, and was to escape to a desert place to get some rest. His rest was not over. As the busy summer time ends and fall approaches, churches find themselves in the same position. The work of the year has been great, the passing faces many, and the heartaches not a few; however, this is when Christ performed one of his largest miracles. Pentecost saw three thousand people baptized, and yet Christ feeds five thousand men here (beside women and children). How was Christ able to perform such a miracle?
1. Remember Who Does the Drawing
As the disciples and Christ load up to go across the sea, people took notice. Matthew 14:13 says “When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.” It was not the disciples people wanted to see, nor was it the food that people desired. Jesus Christ is the one who draws people along with the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus gave an important promise in John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Jesus is the one who will draw people to church even if it’s a desert place.
2. Consider The Work that Came Before
How did Jesus draw this crowd? He did it by diligently working beforehand. John 6:2 says “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” The people were drawn to Christ by what Christ had already done for them. A big miracle of five thousand will not just happen on its own. It will happen through planning and prepared work done a little at a time. A fall program or a big day will not happen during the four to eight weeks it is planned. People will not come because you build it or even come because you feed them. People will come if they have seen the miracles Christ can do throughout the year.
3. Do the Work of the Ministry
Jesus and the disciples made the most of the time in the desert place to work. They saw the people and served them. Matthew 14:14 shows that Jesus healed their sick there. He touched their lives with his power. Mark 6:34 tells that Jesus taught them many things. He preached God’s power to them. The work is done beforehand of course, but participation inside of the window of program is key to its success. Do the work of the Lord beforehand and during!
4. See What Jesus Saw
The best part of the interaction in the desert place is to view the situation through the eyes of Christ. Mark 6:34 “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd.” Jesus saw the people. People pass by so regularly that oftentimes they can be overlooked. Jesus took time to purposely look at who had come to the desert. Jesus saw their state. He saw not only the people, but where they were in life. These people were scattered abroad and in need of a shepherd. Jesus also saw their need: to be fed. Christ took opportunity to teach his disciples a lesson through this need. The key to reaching people and seeing miracles is having the compassion of Christ. This can only be found through seeing.
5. Someone Had to Sacrifice
Two hundred pennyworth of bread was not enough to satisfy all these people. Jesus had already in mind what he would do. Andrew brought a little lad with a lunch who offered it to Jesus. This is where the miracle was made! Sometimes something must be given to see what can be done.
6. Unity & Participation Required
A man once told me that you can determine the attendance of a church by how many people go out on visitation. Despite wanting to send away the people and not having an idea of how to feed the people, all the disciples worked that day. It could not have been done without any one of them. Doing the work of the Lord means the church has to be united. Pentecost does not happen if the church is not of one accord.
7. Nothing Was Lost
The followup to the miracle is the best part. Not only was Christ able to multiply the food to feed that many people. He was able to multiply the food to have left over! As big days come and go, following up on the miracle is the most important part. Christ does not desire that anything be lost. Take the time to pick up the crumbs.
Jesse McCammon | Pastor
Calvary Baptist Church | Flora, IL
