Key Scripture: Mark 6:7-13, 30-44

                           John 6
Introduction:
            We have been working through this series A Beautiful Mess, using the Gospel of Mark and the book No Perfect People Allowed by John Burke. The book has given us some contemporary stories that layer on the stories in Mark. Today we are looking at chapter six, The Feeding of the 5,000. Each of the Gospels talks about this story.
            From the beginning of the series there have been two questions that are posed.

Who is this man, Jesus?
What is our response to Him?

Today we’re going to look at three responses to the miracle that Jesus performs, and to whom He is. The disciples had just returned from an exciting mission trip. Jesus had sent them out with no bags, no clothing, and no money, but with power and authority over sickness and demons. They had come back with these amazing stories. Now Jesus takes them away so that they can rest and recover from the trip and so that He can have time alone after hearing about the murder of John the Baptist. The crowd hears that He is there and chases Jesus down. Jesus’ response to the people is one of compassion. “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (verse 34)

I. Three responses to Jesus:

The disciples:

Mark 6:36-37- “Send them away.”

a. It is always easiest to send the needy away.

“Jesus wants to remind these men of the fact that simply trying to get rid of people in need is not the solution. It is certainly not God’s way of doing things.” William Hendrickson
Their first response is to think about the money and man-power that is needed to help the crowd.
So quickly they’ve forgotten the ways of Jesus and the ways of the kingdom. Maybe it’s not a lack of faith, but a lack of spirit-filled imagination; an imagination that let’s us see all the things that are possible in a world where Jesus is King, for what God might be able to do with the actual material in their present circumstances.
The disciples were paralyzed by the great need.
So often that is how I feel. I don’t feel adequate. I think “Maybe if I were a professional.” I believe the lie that Christianity is for the professionals.

The disciples failed to see that they (we) are the very instruments of the kingdom. It is not money, nor professionalism. Jesus tells them, “ Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment.” (The Message- Eugene Peterson)

The Crowd

John 6: 1-13 Some interpretations of this text would say that the lunch was not literally multiplied. Rather, the crowd was so impressed and moved by the little boy’s generosity that they began to pull their own sack lunches out and began to share them with each other. But the text never says this, it never gives any implication of anyone having food except for the boy.
The crowd were consumers.

John 6:26-27- “You are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
Paraphrase- ‘You’re not seeking me because you saw God in my actions, not because you saw heaven touch earth, not because you saw a glimpse of my kingdom, where each person will have their daily bread. But rather, you had a free meal, and now you’re back for more. You are here for more food, more entertainment, and more consumption. You’re not really here for me. You don’t care about me, or getting to know me and who I am. You only care if I have more for you to eat, and if I’ll put on a show for you today.’
Consumerism is our easiest response towards Jesus. That’s just the way our culture is set up. Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves To Death says, “America will be the first country to amuse itself to death.”
In a consumer culture it’s easy to unknowingly live selfishly. In a recent post, sports columnist Rick Reilly said, “ We live in a ‘what can I twitter about myself?’ world.
Jesus responds, “ Stop chasing after the food that will perish. Seek food that endures to eternal life. I am the bread of life. Seek after me.” John 6:31-35

   C. The Religious- (the Jews)
           1.John 6: 41-42 “The Jews then complained about Him because He said, ‘I am the bread of heaven which came down from heaven.’ And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, “I have come down from heaven?”
          2. He is not unique. He isn’t any different than anyone else. He isn’t special. He is the son of Joseph, a construction worker.