Text: John 6:1-14

Introduction

• v. 10 “It was about five thousand of them”
• Suffering is the consequence of a problem.
• What is the problem in the text? A hungry crowd.
• What is your problem? What causes your suffering?
• There are 5 causes for suffering:
  1. My mistakes. Imprudence. Precipitation.
  2. Other people’s mistakes. Other people’s wickedness.
  3. Natural disasters. Dryness, floods, volcano.
  4. The temptations of the devil. It defeats us.
  5. The trials. The fact we are in the world.

• Jesus’ questions were to test Philip.
• The person without experience does not see God’s works.
• Moses saw the waters of the sea dividing. Exodus 14
• Joshua saw the sun stand still. Joshua 10:11
• Hannah, who was barren, gave birth to a son. I Samuel 1:20
• Peter saw the prison’s gates opening. Acts 12
• The widow saw the oil multiplying. II Kings 4:1-7
• All situations of crises, suffering.
• Experience is acquired walking with God.

• Andrew saw Philip’s affliction. He seeks a solution.
• 200 denarii, 200 silver coins
• 1 silver coin would pay one day of work.
• It was a lot of money but not enough
• Our attitude: Personal resources, other people’s resources. Lastly God.
• We forget to “seek ye first the kingdom of God”.
• We think that God doesn’t know.
• v.5 “a great crowd coming toward him”
• Who saw the problem? Jesus.
• Moses, Joshua, Hanna, Peter and the widow could do nothing.

• Why did Jeremiah preach 40 years without any result?
• Why did John the Baptist is decapitated with 6 months of ministry?
• Why did Daniel go to the Den of Lions? Daniel 6.
• Why did the friends of Daniel go to the Fiery Furnace? Daniel 3:13
• Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are higher than your thoughts...”
• The disciples say: (Matthew 14:15) Send the crowds away.
• Jesus says: (John 6:10) Have the people sit down.
• Illustration: Jairo (Matthew 9: 18-26) was in a hurry. v.18
• Jesus stops and attends the sick woman.

• Not the size but the quality of me faith.
• We need to go through some “unknown paths” of life
• Hebrews 11: 38 “The world was not worthy of them”
• Illustration: Job. The theme of the book is faith and not suffering.
• He didn’t receive answers when he asked “why”.

Conclusion:

• To highlight the difference between God & World (Philip Yancey)
• God is good. This world is under the control of the evil.
• God is just. This world is unjust.
• While we are here, we are subjected to diseases, accidents, and persecutions.
• We don’t have suffering insurance.
• Illustration: Jesus: Was this world fair with Jesus
• Remember how much he suffered. John 16:33
• But the father was just with Him.