GREAT EXPECTATIONS

David Marvin

Central Truth

Dream big or go home.

When they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost." 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 6:12-13)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii^{1

6:7
A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer} worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Footnotes

[1] 6:7 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer

I wonder if we insult God with small ambitions.

The Creator of the universe is on our side. Yet, we often settle for the ordinary. God, who made everything, says, "I want to support you; I want to make My name famous through you (my people)." But we think, "That's not for me." Or we think, "God had bigger things in store for someone else." No way! God loves to do GREAT THINGS through us.

Look at this passage. After teaching, Jesus tells his disciples that they should feed the huge crowd before sending them away. He receives two responses. The first is from Phillip whose sentiments include, "Feed them? Are you crazy? Do you know the market value of a meal for 5,000 men? Plus families? Plus tax!!!"

Sadly, this is often me, questioning God's power. I think to myself, "This can't be what You had in mind. It doesn't make any sense. Here is a more sensible idea . . . ." When I do that, I discredit and insult God's power.

Andrew also had a response. He brought forward a boy and his lunch box. More or less Andrew said, "Look. Here's something at least. I don't know what this can do for the crowd, though." But Jesus is no stranger to miracles (i.e. turning water into wine and creating mankind from dust). Jesus delivers so much food, there is extra left over.

I heard a story that Alexander the Great had a general whose daughter was getting married. Alexander offered to pay for the wedding. When the general gave Alexander’s steward the bill, it was HUGE. The steward gave the bill to the King, afraid he would be angry. To his surprise Alexander said, “Pay it! Don’t you see? By asking me for something so large, he does me a great honor. He shows that he believes I am both rich and generous.”

The general's expectations didn't insult his King, they honored him. I wonder if we insult our King by not dreaming big for His Name. If His own people don't dream for His Kingdom, who will?

1. If God promised to grant you one prayer and guaranteed it would bring Him honor, what would you pray for?

2. Are you praying for that?

3. If you're not praying for that, what are you praying for?

4. Often, the size of our prayers indicates the size of our God. How big is your God?

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think Jesus asked Philip where they were going to get the food for the people?

2. What did Philip say it would take to get that much food?

3. Did Jesus need money to feed the people?

4. Are you worried about money today or worried about having what it takes to get something done?

5. How can you trust God to give you what you need to do what He is calling you to do?