No Problem Too Big! (7 of 10)
Come As You Are
Roger Thomas
John 6:1-13
March 4, 2001
So you have a problem? Who doesn't? Life is full of problems and predicaments. Some of us still believe that life ought to be problem free, but most of us know better. Most of us are like the fellow whose dream was to live and die with perfect contentment. In fact, he insisted he wanted to die peacefully and quietly in his sleep like his Grandpa—not screaming and shouting like the passengers in his car. Reality is that as soon as we solve one problem a new one starts peeking around the next corner. Life is not about finding a way to live without problems. It is about learning how to live with them.
Problems and difficulties are also a matter of perspective. Our problems often seem more serious because they are ours. It is like the difference between major surgery and minor surgery. Major surgery is when its my operation. Minor surgery is when it's yours.
How do you see the problems you are facing? We all have them. They may not all be the same. But if they are ours, they are very real. What are we going to do about them? And where does our faith and our God fit with the problems of life.
Today's text is the fourth of seven stories of miracles performed by Jesus. John chooses seven special miraculous signs, he says, to lead us who read them to put our full trust in Jesus as Savior and life-giver. Apparently, this miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 was one of the most impressive Jesus did. It is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels.
There are probably a number of details in the story that are important, specifically the parallels between this event and the experience of Israel after the Exodus. If you remember the Old Testament story, you will recognize the themes of Passover time, hungry crowds, food from heaven, and the constant tension between trusting God and demanding of God. Later in the chapter, Jesus will use this background ...
Come As You Are
Roger Thomas
John 6:1-13
March 4, 2001
So you have a problem? Who doesn't? Life is full of problems and predicaments. Some of us still believe that life ought to be problem free, but most of us know better. Most of us are like the fellow whose dream was to live and die with perfect contentment. In fact, he insisted he wanted to die peacefully and quietly in his sleep like his Grandpa—not screaming and shouting like the passengers in his car. Reality is that as soon as we solve one problem a new one starts peeking around the next corner. Life is not about finding a way to live without problems. It is about learning how to live with them.
Problems and difficulties are also a matter of perspective. Our problems often seem more serious because they are ours. It is like the difference between major surgery and minor surgery. Major surgery is when its my operation. Minor surgery is when it's yours.
How do you see the problems you are facing? We all have them. They may not all be the same. But if they are ours, they are very real. What are we going to do about them? And where does our faith and our God fit with the problems of life.
Today's text is the fourth of seven stories of miracles performed by Jesus. John chooses seven special miraculous signs, he says, to lead us who read them to put our full trust in Jesus as Savior and life-giver. Apparently, this miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 was one of the most impressive Jesus did. It is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels.
There are probably a number of details in the story that are important, specifically the parallels between this event and the experience of Israel after the Exodus. If you remember the Old Testament story, you will recognize the themes of Passover time, hungry crowds, food from heaven, and the constant tension between trusting God and demanding of God. Later in the chapter, Jesus will use this background ...
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