Overwhelmed

Matthew 14:14-21

In Chapter 14 we see the results of the gospel in the lives of Jesus\' disciples. Far from an easy road, Jesus regularly challenged his men and women to go grow, but it was often by trial. This chapter gives us three ways of looking at the life of a disciple: overcome by grief at the reality of the battle, overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead against seemingly insurmountable odds, and in over their heads weathering the storms while seeing Jesus in unexpected and frankly frightening ways.

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We began with Jesus mourning over the death of John. It is okay to mourn, it is okay to actually have feelings-Jesus did. Jesus was not a victim of His feelings, but used them to channel compassion to others.

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14 - 15

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At least the disciples were concerned for the people. There wasn\'t a Burger King located near them so they had to get food somewhere. They looked rationally at the situation and concluded the people should leave and find food for themselves.

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There is a much larger issue here-much more than food for the body. Jesus is making the point that you need to come to Him for your needs. That only He can supply what we need. Now later, the people came to focus on the physical food, but it was merely an illustration that Jesus is the provider of spiritual life-real life-life that doesn\'t need to be refueled three times a day.

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In John 6:22-29 we read \"The Rest of the Story.\" The people thought Jesus was a miracle giver of bread so they followed Him around so they wouldn\'t have to work for or make food any more.

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John 6:26-30 \"Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.\"? 28 Then they said to him, \"What must we do, to be doing the works of God?\" 29 Jesus answered them, \"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.\"

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But it starts with acknowledging the need-and disciples saw the need and concluded a way to solve it-which was to send the people away.

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16

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Listen to what Jesus says. Facing an impossible situation not only does Jesus say their solution is not needed, but that they themselves would be the source. He is setting themselves up for part two-seeing the need and then having to fulfill it yourself. He didn\'t tell them how-He wants them to be frustrated so He can show them there is no other way other than trusting in Him for the supply. First, though, they\'ve got to tell Jesus why what He\'s asked can\'t work.

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17

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The disciples were clearly frustrated with Jesus. They were very directive and not very respectful of Jesus. How often does Jesus do things in our lives that we don\'t understand and take issue with?

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In John\'s gospel (John 6) we see two types of responses to a call to do something beyond themselves. Philip says \"it\'s impossible.\" Andrew, Peter\'s brother, either takes a poll or goes around in the crowd looking for an answer. He finds a little boy\'s lunch. One response looks right back at God and says \"It can\'t be done.\" Another tries to solve the problem through the paltry efforts of our flesh. Neither way works.

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In the flesh a couple of rye buns and a small dried fish would of course do nothing-just like in our flesh we are incapable of doing anything for God\'s kingdom. But neither is just giving up.

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18 - 21

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So look what Jesus does - He 1) took what was offered, 2) looked to heaven 3) blessed what was given 4) broke it, and 5) gave it to the disciples who gave it to the people.

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I\'ve found this is often how Jesus works through us. Like Yahweh with Moses in the desert (Exodus 4:2) God asked \"what is in your hand?\" Moses had a staff. God told him to throw it down and it became a snake. The disciples had meager rations but they offered it to the Lord. What is in your hand? What talents do you posses? Where has God placed you? What is your situation? It doesn\'t matter how miniscule, if you offer it to God, he will use it.

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Notice He looked to heaven-God is the source of all this, it is not ginned up by us. When we place ourselves in God\'s hands and look to Him as the source, He blesses what we offer. But notice that the bread was broken, just as often Jesus will break us of pride and self-sufficiency so that we utterly depend on Him. Then through Jesus we can give out to others-not to show off, but as a part of God\'s plan. Maybe 10,000 people got fed-talk about a return on investment!

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The miracle of the loaves is followed by the trial of the storm.

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Conclusions

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What is this part of the chapter about? It\'s really about Jesus showing us the enormous need in people\'s lives, the impossibility of us fulfilling that need on our own, but the tremendous power of Jesus through us to do way more than we could ever ask or think.

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1. It\'s not really about physical bread, but spiritual life.

We are a part of God\'s plan to bring salvation to the world. The task is impossible for us, but not for the Lord through us.

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2. Jesus did the miracle, but He did it through the disciples.

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John 14:12 \"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.\"

Why is that? Because Jesus was just one Man, we are billions, all with the Holy Spirit who can transport the gospel and God\'s character widely.

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3. Don\'t get frustrated when impossible situations occur-they become opportunities to show God\'s power

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John 15:5 apart from me you can do nothing.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

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John 15:7-9 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.? 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

4. Don\'t withhold who you are to the Lord

He can and use even the most mundane to become glorious, provided it\'s blessed, broken, and given out

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