“What 200 Denarii Will Get You,” John 6:1-15

Introduction:  The boundless hope of spring Training and the latest top prospects.  Most fail.

I.        Is That Moses?

A.     (v2) “A large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing…”

1.      (v3) “Jesus went up on the mountain…”

2.      (v4) “Now the Passover…was at hand.”

B.     (v5) “Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’”

1.      Numbers 11:13, Moses—“Where am I to get meat to give to all this people…?”

2.      (v7) Philip—“200 denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”

C.     (v9) Andrew—“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they?”

1.      Boy, barley and small fish (opsarion).  The God of small things.

2.      Taking the little you have and offering it for God’s use.

II.       The Fourth Sign, Bread from Heaven

A.     (v10) Matthew 14:21, “Those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.”

1.      (v11) “Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them…”

2.      At what point did the disciples realize this meal would work?

B.     (v12) “When they had eaten their fill…”

1.      Jesus told the disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”

2.      They filled twelve baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.

C.     (v14) The people—“This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

1.      Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses—“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me…”

2.      v15, Jesus would not let them make him king.  Why would they try?  [See above I.A.]

Conclusion:   John 6:16-20, Crossing the sea in a fashion more elevated than Moses’ style (the fifth sign).