1. The Feeding of the 5,000
John 6

2. Background σημαίνω Mk.6; Luke 10; Mt.14 Sending of the 70
John 6:14
Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed…
Mk.6; Luke 10; Mt.14 Sending of the 70
Matthew 14: Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. [14] When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

3. John 6:1-4
After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). [2] A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. [3] Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. [4] Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near.

4. John 6:5
Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?"
Matthew 14:15
"This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
Matthew 14:21
There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.

5. The Point
John 6:6 This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do.
John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”

6. Phil’s Reaction "Send them away!" - Mt.14
John 6:7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little."
"Send them away!" - Mt.14

7. Andrew’s Reaction Absurd!
John 6:8-9 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,
[9] "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
Absurd!

8. Two Reactions : Ability Availability
Philip: “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them…”
Andrew: “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish”
Ability
Availability
2 Cor. 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God…

9. The “Sign” Human Agency Romans 10:14
John 6: Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. [11] Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.
[12] When they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost." [13] So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
Romans 10:14
How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
Matthew 14:19
Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds,

10. What “The Sign” Means:
John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
John 6:27
"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you…"
John 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

11. Leftovers
Jn.6:12 When they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.“
[13] So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.