{"id":1093,"date":"2024-07-29T13:42:27","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T13:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=1093"},"modified":"2025-12-15T20:50:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:50:55","slug":"our-great-god","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/our-great-god\/","title":{"rendered":"OUR GREAT GOD"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

OUR GREAT GOD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John 6:1-15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WELCOME:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good morning! How\u2019s everyone doing today. I hope you\u2019re having a great weekend. We\u2019ve had such beautiful \u201cPre-fall\u201d weather<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, before we begin, I thought I might share a few humorous thoughts with you . . . to make you smile<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HUMOR: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found these recently online \u2014 just a few brief letters from children to their pastors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patty<\/strong>, age 10 wrote, \u201cDear Pastor, I’m sorry I can’t leave more money in the plate, but my daddy didn’t give me a raise in my allowance. Could you have a sermon about a raise in my allowance? Love, Patty\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorene<\/strong>, age 9 wrote, \u201cDear Pastor, I think a lot more people would come to your church if you moved it to Disneyland. Just sayin, Lorene\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pete<\/strong>, age 9 wrote, \u201cDear Pastor, Please say in your sermon that Peter Peterson has been a good boy all week. I am Peter Peterson. Sincerely, Pete\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexander<\/strong>, age 10 wrote, \u201cDear Pastor, Please say a prayer for our Little League team. We need God’s help \u2014 or a new pitcher. Either will do. Thanks. Alexander\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua<\/strong>, age 10 wrote, \u201cDear Pastor, My father says I should learn the Ten Commandments. But I don’t think I want to because we have enough rules in my house already. \u2014 Joshua\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And maybe my favorite \u2014 just because he\u2019s so honest is from a boy named Ralph. Ralph<\/strong>, age 11 wrote, \u201cDear Pastor, I liked your sermon on Sunday. Especially when it was finished. Ralph\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, I hope you like this sermon today too \u2014 and not just when it\u2019s finished!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This morning I want to take you back to a story that is probably very familiar to most of you. It’s a story about God\u2019s loving kindness and His awe ness of our needs. And although you may know this story very well, I believe it still remains relevant and life-changing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, this story<\/strong> (like all of the others told within the gospel of John) has one primary purpose<\/strong> \u2014 and that is to lead you and me back to Jesus<\/strong>. Like bread Crumbs providing a trail to follow, this story purposes to lead us into greater faith and trust in Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John<\/strong> states this plainly towards the end of his gospel. When he says in John 20:31<\/strong>:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026these <\/em>(meaning these stories) <\/em>are written <\/em>that you may believe <\/em><\/strong>that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing <\/em>you may have life <\/em><\/strong>in his name.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John 20:31 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John\u2019s<\/strong> entire reason for writing his account of Jesus\u2019 life and ministry was to help you and me discover the reality of who He was \u2014 that we might believe in Him. And so, with that being said \u2014 turn with me to John chapter 6 <\/strong>and we\u2019ll look at one of Jesus<\/strong>\u2019 greatest miracles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s seek to rediscover the power and the love of Jesus<\/strong> \u2014 as portrayed in this story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

John chapter 6<\/strong> \u2014 beginning with verse 1<\/strong>. And John<\/strong> writes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/em><\/strong> \u201cSome time after this, <\/em>(after he\u2019d been ministering and teaching), Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), <\/em>2 <\/em><\/strong>and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. <\/em>3 <\/em><\/strong>Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. <\/em>4 <\/em><\/strong>The Jewish Passover Festival was near.<\/em> 5 <\/em><\/strong>When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to <\/em>Philip<\/em><\/strong>,\u201cWhere shall we buy bread for these people to eat?\u201d<\/em>6 <\/em><\/strong>He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.<\/em> 7 Philip<\/em><\/strong> answered him, \u201cIt would take more than half a year\u2019s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!\u201d <\/em>(That’s a lot of people). 8 <\/em><\/strong>Another of his disciples, <\/em>Andrew<\/em><\/strong>, Simon <\/em>Peter\u2019s brother<\/em><\/strong>, spoke up, <\/em>9 <\/em><\/strong>\u201cHere is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?\u201d<\/em> 10 <\/em><\/strong>Jesus said,\u201cHave the people sit down.\u201dThere was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). <\/em>11 Jesus<\/em><\/strong> then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.<\/em> 12 <\/em><\/strong>When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, \u201cGather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.\u201d<\/em>13 <\/em><\/strong>So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.<\/em> 14 <\/em><\/strong>After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, \u201cSurely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.\u201d <\/em>15 <\/em><\/strong>Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John 6:1-15 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a story! It\u2019s one of my favorites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus<\/strong> takes a little boy\u2019s ancient happy meal and super-sizes it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s actually something about this event that cannot be said about any of the other miracles of Jesus<\/strong>. Do you know what it is? This is the only miracle that’s recorded in all four Gospels<\/strong> \u2014 Matthew<\/strong>, Mark<\/strong>, Luke<\/strong> and John<\/strong>. (Besides the resurrection of Jesus<\/strong>, of course). All four Gospels!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By this time in the ministry of Jesus<\/strong>, His popularity level was extremely high. He had been healing the sick and helping the hurting. He had healed a disabled man who had spent his life on the ground begging for help from others. After an encounter with Jesus \u2014 his life was changed. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And word got out.<\/strong> Good news travels fast. People were attracted to the thought that just maybe Jesus could help them the way He had helped others. And so, lots of people began following Him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides His ministry of healing, Jesus had also become sought-out because of the things He was saying. His teaching had become incredibly popular. So it had gotten to the point where both He and his disciples were almost mobbed every where they went. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In verse 1, John<\/strong> tells us how Jesus had crossed the lake of Tiberias<\/strong> by boat \u2014 and the reason was to find some time to rest. He and his disciples were looking for a break to gain the rest they needed to serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it didn’t happen-because people saw where they went; they followed on foot; and when the boat got there, the crowd was waiting for them! And instead of getting annoyed and sending them away, Jesus<\/strong> spent the day teaching them. And the whole time, more people kept coming, and the crowd kept growing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And at some point in the evening, Jesus<\/strong> recognized that there was an opportunity to meet the needs of the people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus<\/strong> realized there was a problem. Not a life-and-death problem. But a crisis of sorts<\/strong>: the people had followed Him, but they hadn\u2019t brought food with them. And they needed to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(While we don’t look for problems in our lives \u2014 we would do well to recognize their potential for God\u2019s power to be displayed through them.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where they had gathered was a bit remote. It wasn’t a highly populated area. There were no shops nearby; and the crowd was getting hungry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Jesus<\/strong> looks at one of his disciples \u2014 Philip<\/strong>-and asks, ”How are we going to feed all these people?” <\/em>He had a plan \u2014 but He wanted to raise the level of trust and faith in His disciples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He wants to do the same in you and me today. This story is here that we might BELIEVE<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let me show you three things within this story that teach us about the greatness of Jesus<\/strong>! First of all, in this story we see that\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. He is a God of Compassion.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Matthew\u2019s<\/strong> telling of this story, he writes in Matthew 14:14<\/strong>, \u201cWhen Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compassion.<\/strong>I love this word because it’s an emotional word. <\/strong>It doesn’t just describe an action \u2014 though that is part of it \u2014 but it also describes a feeling.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus<\/strong> saw their hurts and their needs, he was moved with compassion for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, when Jesus<\/strong> sees your hurts and your needs, he is still moved with compassion. He cares about you.<\/strong> His compassion isn’t based on anything you’ve done to deserve it. He is compassionate because of who he is, not because of who you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As amazing at it may seem, our God<\/strong> is a God with feelings<\/strong>. He is a God who cares<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cares. He has feelings. He’s a God of compassion <\/strong>\u2014 so run to Him! Cry out to Him. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus<\/strong> knew that most of the crowd following him that day would not stay with him at the end of his life. He knew that he would be abandoned, that the crowds would turn against him, and that he would die alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, he was moved with compassion when he saw the needs and the hurts of the people following him that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He hasn’t changed. He is still moved with compassion when he sees your needs and hurts.<\/strong> He’s a God of compassion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you know what that means? He cares for you. He feels <\/em>passion towards you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second thing we can learn from this story is that\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. He’s a God of miracles.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to remind you that Jesus seemed to do His best work in crises and problems and hardships. He laughs at the thought of impossibilities. He can turn terminal into temporal. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is the God of miracles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I read this past week that this miracle or the feeding of the 5,000<\/strong> was really an “unnecessary miracle\u201d.<\/em><\/strong> The reason some think this is because the situation that the people were facing wasn’t desperate. It wasn\u2019t life threatening. It was necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As some have noted, the disciples actually proposed a fairly reasonable idea \u2014 just send the people away! And they could have done that \u2014 but Jesus<\/strong> has never been in the business of sending people away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, He performed the miracle just as He wanted. He did the unnecessary!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

John<\/strong> tells us this story to remind us that Jesus<\/strong> is able to do the miraculous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n