By Rev. Mark Creech
Christian Action League
September 29, 2023
CAL Staff Note: One of the joys of Christian service for Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, is each opportunity he gets to teach Sunday School at his home church, Mt. Nelson Baptist Church in Eureka, N.C. “I am away from my church most of the time, but I have reserved on my calendar every Fifth Sunday to teach the adult Sunday School class. That’s my contribution, my labor of love, for my church family,” says Creech. Last week, however, Rev. Creech was asked to fill in for a teacher who would be away, which was not a Fifth Sunday. For all of the friends of the Christian Action League who are from Southern Baptist Churches, you might want to review last week’s lesson and be blessed again by the one Rev. Creech gave.
Text: Mark 6:30-44
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. 34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. 36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”
37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money[a] to buy food for all these people!”
38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.[b]
Introduction. Several months ago, I took my 2017 Ford Focus to be serviced at the Ford dealership. While waiting for the mechanics to complete the job, I spied on the lot a brand-new model of the 2023 Ford Bronco. Now I know that we all have different tastes when it comes to the vehicles we drive, but this Ford Bronco really struck my fancy. And, after the dealership suggested that I take it home for a couple of days for a test drive, I caught the fever. I wanted one badly. However, it was above my pay grade at the cost of approximately $50,000.
One day later, sitting at my desk and somewhat bemoaning that I couldn’t afford such a fine ride, I started to pray. My prayer went something like this:
“Lord, I know we have to be careful about praying selfish prayers, but I also know that you love me. I’m certainly unworthy of such remarkable love. I’m thinking that I used to be able to ask my father for things – things that I didn’t actually need but I knew he would listen to me and many times still give me my heart’s desire – just because he loved me. You are my heavenly father and no doubt, you love me more than my earthly father did.
“So, Lord, I’m asking you because I know you love me. Would you give me a new Ford Bronco for free? I know you can do anything. You could easily do this because you already own everything and nothing is too hard for you. Again, would you give me a new Bronco, the latest model? My Lord, ignore me if you deem my prayer foolish, and forgive me if I presume upon your grace.” Amen.
A couple of weeks later, my mother-in-law who is 87 years old and getting quite feeble called Kim my wife. She explained to Kim that she had a car that she kept in her garage, which she hardly drove anymore. It was a 2011 Honda Civic and it had only 20,000 miles on it. It was like new, and she wanted Kim to come to Norfolk so that she could give it to her.
When Kim came home with the car, it became apparent to me this was God’s answer to my earnest prayer for a Ford Bronco. I didn’t need a Ford Bronco. It would cost a lot more in gas mileage and maintenance. A reliable economy car that should last for many years and I could expect to be able to put many miles on, would be quite sufficient.
Furthermore, not only did the gift of that car perfectly satisfy me, but it made it possible for me to satisfy someone else’s needs. I was able to pass along my Ford Focus to my grandson who didn’t have a car and was heading out for his first year of college at UNC Wilmington.
I cannot tell you how satisfying it was for me to see him so pleased with that car. He loves it and is taking good care of it, too.
How wonderfully rewarding it is to see God address our needs and desires. Whether our privations, necessities, or even wants, are spiritual, emotional, or physical, the Lord knows just how to supply them. Moreover, what he gives provides contentment.
You know, there was something I noticed in preparing this lesson today about the way Jesus satisfies us with his provisions. The text, Mark 6:30-44, is divided into seven sections.
The number seven holds significant symbolic and spiritual meaning in the Bible. It is a recurring motif throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and its significance often conveys a sense of completeness, perfection, or divine fulfillment.
For instance, in the book of Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, which established the pattern of a seven-day week. The seventh day, the Sabbath is considered a day of rest and holiness. In biblical covenants and promises, the number seven is used to signify the completeness and faithfulness of God’s commitment. For instance, God made a covenant with Noah involving seven pairs of clean animals (Genesis 7:2-3) and later gave the rainbow as a sign of his promise (Genesis 9:12-17). The rainbow has seven colors (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet). In the Old Testament, rituals of purification often involved seven days. The consecration of priests (Exodus 29:35) and the purification of lepers (Leviticus 14:7) required seven days. In the book of Revelation, seven lampstands represent seven churches, and seven stars signify the seven pastors of the churches. The book of Revelation also frequently uses the number seven to describe divine judgment and wrath. There are the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls of God’s wrath illustrating his complete judgment on the world. And then there is our text for today, where Jesus performs a miracle involving the number seven, such as multiplying 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the multitude (Mark 8:5-8).
So today we will focus on seven lessons that show how Christ completely satisfies us by providing our needs. You may want to follow along on the outline I’ve provided. Moreover, your student quarterly has some memorable lines that are a part of this lesson and I’ve included them with the outline.
- Context and Compassion (Verses 30-31)
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
In a previous part of Mark chapter 6, Jesus had sent his disciples to different towns and villages to spread his message and perform acts of ministry. He had given them the authority to preach in his name, cast out demons, and heal the sick. Now, in the passage we’re discussing, the disciples have returned to share their experiences with him. Jesus saw this as an opportunity for them to rejoice in how they were contributing to the advancement of God’s kingdom. Sharing their stories served not only to encourage others but also to uplift the disciples themselves. Testimonies have the power to inspire and strengthen both those who hear them and those who share their own experiences.
In an article online titled, Your Church Needs More Time for Personal Testimonies, the author, Dustin Crowe, encourages us, saying:
“Testimonies encourage the church. It’s one part of how we speak truth to one another and point to God’s presence in our midst. Psalm 71, written by an anonymous older saint, is helpful here:
“My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. (Psalm 71:15–16)
“The psalmist reiterates the importance of verbalizing God’s deeds as a necessary reminder of who God is. God’s actions illustrate God’s attributes.
“Many in our churches feel discouraged and even distant from God. They need reminders that he is still present and powerfully at work. As we recall God’s mighty works through corporate testimonies, it stirs fellow believers to greater faith in the God they serve. Charles Spurgeon wrote, ‘If you abundantly talk of God’s goodness, you are sure to benefit your neighbors. Many are comforted when they hear of God’s goodness to your friends.’ We’re taught not only by sermons, songs, and prayers but also by stories rehearsing what God has done for us, in us, and among us.”
“Testimonies encourage the church. It’s one part of how we speak truth to one another and point to God’s presence in our midst. Psalm 71, written by an anonymous older saint, is helpful here:
“My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. (Psalm 71:15–16)
“The psalmist reiterates the importance of verbalizing God’s deeds as a necessary reminder of who God is. God’s actions illustrate God’s attributes.
“Many in our churches feel discouraged and even distant from God. They need reminders that he is still present and powerfully at work. As we recall God’s mighty works through corporate testimonies, it stirs fellow believers to greater faith in the God they serve. Charles Spurgeon wrote, ‘If you abundantly talk of God’s goodness, you are sure to benefit your neighbors. Many are comforted when they hear of God’s goodness to your friends.’ We’re taught not only by sermons, songs, and prayers but also by stories rehearsing what God has done for us, in us, and among us.”
When Jesus began his ministry, his teaching and healing often drew large crowds, and this would occasionally lead him to seek solitude in the desert for prayer, rest, and spiritual renewal. Now, as the disciples were engaged in similar teaching and healing activities and were also causing a stir, they found themselves in a similar situation. They, too, recognized the need to retreat to the desert for prayer, rest, and spiritual rejuvenation, just as Jesus had done before. More importantly, this is what Jesus wanted for them when he said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
Ministry work can be demanding, often involving long hours, emotional stress, and constant availability. Without adequate rest, ministers risk burnout, which can lead to physical and mental health issues. Rest allows them to recharge physically and mentally. Our churches need to be liberal in facilitating opportunities for their ministers to get rest.
Certainly, if the Great Shepherd needed to rest, then his under shepherds need it, too.
Some churches treat their pastor the way I heard an old country fellow tell me many years ago. He said, “Some people treat the preacher like he’s an old mule. They’ll use him for plowing and other work until he falls over dead. And then, they’ll want to use him one more time.”
- Compassion for the Crowd (Verses 32-34).
32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. 34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Needing rest Jesus and the disciples got in a boat and headed for a remote location – a place where they would not only be beyond the reach of the crowd, but beyond the reach of Herod’s authority, who had just executed John, the Baptist, and beyond the reach of the Jewish leaders who were planning ways to rid themselves of Jesus.
Nevertheless, despite their attempt to find a solitary place, Mark says that the crowd anticipated their retreat and they ran on foot around the lake and arrived at the boat landing before Jesus and the disciples did.
When Jesus sees the throngs of people, his reaction is quite significant. The Bible says that he was moved with compassion. This compassion is a recurring theme in the Gospels, highlighting our Lord’s deep empathy for people in need. Jesus perceives the crowd as “sheep without a shepherd,” underscoring their tremendous spiritual hunger and need for direction in life. So, he started to teach them.
I like a sentence that is in the Sunday School quarterly which describes the emotional and spiritual condition of those whom Jesus looked upon. It says, “The intensity of their pursuit of Jesus was proportionate to the sense of the need they possessed.”
Note that first Jesus taught them the Word of God. Is there any need greater than the need to be taught the things of God? Hardly! Jesus said, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
Showing compassion, as Jesus did is one of the highest of Christian virtues that we can demonstrate. Here are some interesting quotes from some very prominent persons about the need to demonstrate compassion:
Pope Francis: “To change the world, we must be good to those who cannot repay us.”
Audrey Hepburn: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
Princess Diana: “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”
Albert Schweitzer: “The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
Martin Luther King Jr.: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
Billy Graham: “God’s mercy and grace give me hope—for myself, and for our world.”
These quotes emphasize the transformative power of compassion and the moral obligation to extend a helping hand to those in need. They remind us that acts of kindness and compassion have the potential to make a significant difference in the world.
Of course, Jesus is the standard for compassion. No one ever demonstrated it better than him. He reached out to touch and help those who were marginalized – people that others wouldn’t touch. His willingness to forgive, even in the face of maltreatment, reflects his compassion for the spiritually lost. He showed compassion by mourning with those who were grieving. He wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus, even though he knew he would raise him from the dead. He felt their pain. He taught his followers to love their neighbors as themselves and to show mercy to others. The parable of the Good Samaritan exemplifies his teaching on compassion, highlighting the importance of helping those in need.
The epitome of Jesus’ compassion is seen in his sacrificial death on the cross. He willingly endured suffering and death to provide salvation for sinners such as you and me, taking upon himself the penalty for our sins.
Just a side note here: I want you to see something else. Jesus and the disciples had come aside to get rest, but the needs of the masses in front of them interrupted.
Ministry is this way. Sometimes one’s right to rest or time to yourself is interrupted because of someone else’s need. Compassion often means sacrificing something to which you have a right, so that the desperate need of another is sufficiently met.
- Disciples’ Concern and Conventional Thinking (Verses 35-37).
Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. 36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” 37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money[a] to buy food for all these people!”
As evening was approaching, the disciples expressed concern about their remote location and the late hour. They suggested to Jesus that he send the crowds away to nearby villages to purchase food.
We have to acknowledge that what the disciples were saying made sense. It was a practical suggestion given the circumstances, but it also reveals their reliance on conventional thinking and the aspiration of conventional solutions, as well as their failure to recognize the miraculous potential in Jesus.
When I was pastoring, I used to complain about the leadership of one of the churches I served. Most of the deacons, the men in that fellowship, were astute and successful businessmen. But I charged they were men of figures and not faith. If an opportunity came our way, some challenge whereby we might make a significant but costly difference in the community, they would respond that it just wasn’t practical. We didn’t have enough money. Our congregation wasn’t able to take on such a challenge.
I must confess that I couldn’t deny their sound reasoning – their pragmatism. Nevertheless, I was hoping they might break free of such predictable and unadventurous thinking and believe God to do something beyond themselves.
George Muller was a pastor in Bristol, England, who also operated an orphanage. Despite facing numerous needs and having limited resources, he discovered a profound truth: he could rely on the Lord to provide for all the necessities as he served those in need. Throughout his ministry, this lesson became an unshakable belief. Consequently, he lived with absolute confidence that the Lord would prove faithful in every aspect of his Kingdom work, whether it involved caring for orphans, supporting Christian education, distributing Bibles, or aiding missionaries.
Muller said, “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.”
- Challenging Conventional Thinking (Verse 37).
But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough moneyto buy food for all these people!”
Jesus was challenging the conventional thinking of his disciples when he said to them, “You feed them.”
How did the disciples respond? The same way most of us respond when presented with a seemingly impossible ministry-related task. They made excuses about why it couldn’t be done. They said we never did it that way before.
Here are a few all-too-common examples.
A church avoids starting a new building program because the old building has out-served its usefulness and is deteriorating badly. They say, “We don’t have enough money or resources to undertake such a project.”
Jesus says, “You feed them.”
Someone says “I think we need to do something about providing assistance, childcare, and resources to single parents who may be struggling to balance work and family.” They say, “Well, I wouldn’t even know how to begin to do something like that. Besides we can’t even find enough people to help with the nursery at church.”
Jesus says, “You feed them.”
One night at a business meeting, a motion is made to initiate a program to support prison inmates and their families, including mentoring and reintegration programs. They say, “We probably shouldn’t try to undertake something like that because you could get hurt or used by those inmates. Besides, what if they reject us and aren’t responsive to our message and support? Moreover, what will people think if we are associating with people like that?
Jesus says, “You feed them.”
Denominational leadership sends out a clarion call saying, we desperately need volunteers and resources to respond to natural disasters and emergencies. But you say, “I can’t take on something else in my life right now, I’m too busy, I’ve got work and family commitments, and other responsibilities and there isn’t enough time.”
And Jesus says, “You feed them.”
People constantly say to me, Reverend Creech, what are you doing up there in Raleigh trying to convince those corrupt lawmakers to do the right thing? Don’t you know that the Bible says things are just going to get worse? Why do you insist on shining the brass on a sinking ship?
Well, I don’t know what God will do, and I don’t know when Jesus will come again. I don’t know if a revival might break out and a spiritual awakening occurs that would set the stage for one or more, or several generations, who would turn this nation around for Christ. All I know is that I can hear Jesus saying, “You feed them.” They need to hear what I’ll give you to say to them. You leave the rest to me.”
There are so many ministry opportunities. They’re all around us: Homeless and addiction support, Senior Care, language classes for immigrants, anti-human trafficking efforts, support for veterans, and the list goes on. But too often, like the disciples were with Jesus, we have this tendency to be intimidated by the challenge, we focus on what we lack rather than on what God can do.
We have plenty of excuses but very little faith. We need more faith in Jesus’ command, “You feed them.”
- Order and Structure (verses 38-40).
38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.” 39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
Note what Jesus does next. In essence, he responds to their excuse that it would take them months to earn enough money to feed that many people, by asking them, “What do you have?” What can you give?” And they tell him of the meager provisions in their possession. There are five loaves of bread and two fish.
Perhaps they laughed when they told Jesus what little they had. That’s not recorded in the Bible, but it’s a legitimate assumption they may have laughed. “What is that, 5 loaves of bread and two fish, to feed so many people? That’s hilarious. It’s absurd.”
You may remember in the book of Genesis God appeared to Abraham and made a covenant with him, promising to bless him with a son through his wife Sarah, even though they were both elderly. At this point, Abraham was 99 years old, and Sarah was 90.
When Sarah overheard God’s promise of a son, she laughed within herself, the Bible says, considering it impossible due to her old age. She thought, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12).
God, aware of Sarah’s laughter, responded, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14) and reaffirmed his promise.
As you know, eventually, Sarah did conceive and gave birth to a son, Isaac, whose name means “he laughs,” signifying the joy and astonishment of God’s fulfillment of the promise.
Sarah’s initial laughter reflected human doubt and disbelief in the face of an extraordinary promise. However, God’s question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” serves as a reminder that nothing is impossible with God. God can accomplish his purposes despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
Another example is the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, who reacted with disbelief when the angel Gabriel announced that his wife Elizabeth would conceive a son in her old age (Luke 1:18-20). Zechariah’s initial doubt led to him being temporarily struck mute until the birth of John.
These stories highlight the theme that, with God, nothing is impossible, and His promises are not bound by human limitations or understanding. God can do anything.
God can even take your scanty five loaves of bread and two fish. God will take whatever you have, if you will give it to him, and he will do extraordinary, even miraculous things, with your seemingly small and inadequate capacity. He just wants you to bring what you have and consecrate it to him.
But we should also observe Jesus instructed the disciples to organize people into groups and have them sit down on the green grass. This deliberate arrangement sets the stage for the miracle. It’s a reminder that God works through order and structure, even in the midst of the miraculous.
How is it that God works through order and structure? In the biblical account of creation found in Genesis, God creates the universe in a structured and orderly manner. God has established natural laws that govern the physical universe. These laws provide order and predictability in the cosmos. God has provided moral and ethical guidelines in religious texts like the Bible. These guidelines offer a structured framework for human behavior. God interacts with humanity through covenants and promises. These agreements establish a structured relationship between God and people, outlining expectations and blessings for obedience. God performs his work of reconciliation and salvation in a person’s life by way of a structured process that includes regeneration, repentance, faith, forgiveness, and transformation.
These are just a few of the ways we see that God demonstrates his power through a process of order.
God is a God of order. To say this is to underscore his wisdom, his sovereignty, and his divine plan. It reassures us that there is purpose and meaning in this world, even in the face of challenges and uncertainties. It encourages us to trust in God’s orderly and intentional approach to creation and redemption and how we should live.
- Miraculous Feeding (Verses 41-42)
41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted…
Here the miracle itself unfolds as Jesus takes the measly offering of five loaves and two fish, looks up to heaven, blesses it, and begins breaking the bread and distributing the fish. The significance of this act cannot be overstated.
In his book, Mark: The Servant Gospel, the late Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, once pastor of the renowned Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers this powerful commentary. He writes:
“Positionally, those of us who have believed in Jesus Christ have everything, but experientially, the working limit for us is our own faith. Everything is available in God, but how much are we going to have? It depends on how much we lay hold of by faith. God asks each one of us, within the limits of our circumstances, our makeup, and our capacity to receive, to yield to him completely. God is not going to judge you if you are not a tremendous vat that will hold 500 million gallons of gasoline. If you are a pint cup, God says, ‘What I ask of you is that your pint cup be yielded to me. Wherever I put you, whatever limits there are on your life, yield fully to me, so that faith can take my life, love, and truth and have it fill your life completely…
“Consider what happened as Jesus broke the bread and fed the crowd. There were twelve baskets and twelve disciples, and I believe that the Lord had taken each one of the baskets and filled them with loaves and fishes. Then each disciple went with a basket full of food, and from that moment, the Lord never touched the food again. The disciples went out and the miracle was performed in the hands of the disciples, as they passed out what Jesus had created. Each person took all they wished, but the baskets were still full of the pieces the Lord had put in. When everyone had all they wanted, there were still twelve baskets of food, absolutely full. The supply was undiminished, and the need was completely met. The miracle had gone on in the disciple’s hands, though their faith was still imperfect.
“Day by day, God also makes us channels of miracles. We see men being made alive with the Word and yet we live so often in faithlessness. We are not willing to take hold of the power of life that is ours and to believe that the Lord makes his strength perfect in weakness. May we lay hold of that power and allow him to work within us!”
- Abundance and Inclusivity (Verse 43-44).
And afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.
After everyone had eaten their fill, the disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. Some scholars say that these baskets symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel.
We know from several passages in the New Testament, especially Matthew’s Gospel, that Jesus’s initial ministry was focused on the House of Israel.
In Matthew 15:24, we read that Jesus and his disciples were in the region of Tyre and Sidon, which was predominantly inhabited by Gentiles (non-Jews). A Canaanite woman approached Jesus, seeking help for her demon-possessed daughter. She addresses Jesus as “Lord, Son of David,” recognizing Him as the Messiah and Jesus initially responded by saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
In other words, Jesus’ ministry had a strong Jewish context, and his mission was to fulfill the Old Testament promises and reach out to the Jewish people with the message of the kingdom of God. This was his first priority, although later in Scripture we see his inclusivity in providing salvation for the Gentiles, too.
But here, twelve baskets full of food, full of God’s provision, is Christ’s way of symbolically saying to Israel, his own people, I am enough for all who will trust in me. The breaking of that bread foreshadowed the breaking of his own body (as in the Lord’s Supper) to ransom every lost soul of the twelve tribes of Israel, God’s people.
However, you may also remember in that passage about the Canaanite woman the way she persisted in her plea, demonstrating her deep faith and humility in Jesus. And, as a result, her daughter was healed.
So as the apostle Paul said in his epistle to the Galatians, now, in this dispensation, whether we are Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, we can all be one in Christ Jesus. God’s provision is more than enough to suffice for everyone. It is inclusive and abundant.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
Conclusion. Our study of Scripture today reveals seven lessons on how Christ satisfies by providing for our every need. 1.) It speaks to us of our need for rest, most importantly to find our rest in the Lord. 2.) It speaks to us of Christ’s tremendous compassion, which we are to emulate, and sometimes calls upon us to forego something we need. 3.) It rebukes us for our conventional ways of thinking, and our failure to think spiritually. 4.) It challenges us to break free of conventional thinking and the many excuses that accompany it, which tells us we can’t when God says by his grace and power we can. 5.) It tells us that God is a God of order. He isn’t arbitrary or random. His ways of order reassure us that there is purpose and meaning in this world, even in the face of great challenges and uncertainties. 6. )It tells us that God is still in the miracle-working business. 7.) It tells us of God’s abundance and his inclusiveness, his willingness to provide and satisfy everyone who trusts in him.
Now, if that won’t satisfy you in life, nothing will.
In Christ, is everything we need and more.