Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 21, Issue 14 August 28, 2011
John 6:1-13 “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come to him, he said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread, so these people may eat? He said to prove him: for He himself knew what he would do. Philip answered, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, even to give them a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, There is a lad here, with five barley loaves and two small fish: but what is that among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down (about 5000). And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and they in turn gave to them that were seated; and in the same manner the fish, as much as each one wanted. When they were filled, he said to his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together and filled twelve baskets with the fragments, of which was left.”
Jesus gave thanks for what He had.
He did not ask for what He needed.
He focus on what was provided –
not what was missing!
Luke 9:12-17 “The twelve said to him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get food: for we are here in a desert place. But he said to them, You give them food. They said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people (about 5000 men). And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of 50. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to serve to the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained twelve baskets.”
Mark 8:1-9 “In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said to them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him, how can we satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? Jesus asked them, How many loaves do you have? And they said, seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake and gave to his disciples to serve them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.”
Mark 6:35-52 “And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”
Matthew 15:32-38 “Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.”
“Jesus said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” John 6:12
I think we all know the two stories of Jesus feeding the multitudes with a few loaves of bread and a few small fishes. What we sometimes forget is that after everyone had eaten their fill, there remained either 12 or 7 baskets of fragments of bread and fish.
Have you ever wondered what happened to those
19 baskets of bread and fish fragments?
Jesus gave them explicate directions regarding those fragments. He seemed concerned about them. He said to “collect and gather together” all that was left over, so nothing was lost.
Apparently each fragment was
important to the Lord.
“So nothing was lost”, those wasted days, weeks, months and years can not be reclaimed - they’re gone for good.
But you can take what’s left, that fragment, and dedicate it to the Lord, for my God is the Lord of what’s left!
Joel 2:23-29 “I will restore to you the years that the locust have eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm.... you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that has dealt wondrously with you.”
This passage speaks of the hope of immediate deliverance to those who will give “what’s left” of their lives to God.
- THE LORD OF PROVISION
- THE LORD OF RESTORATION
“But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” Philippians 3:13
You don’t know what God can do
with the time you have left!
Give that fragment to God today.
- He alone is your provision.
- He alone is your restoration.
- He alone will do for you what you cannot do for yourself.
- He alone will be your constant companion and guide.
Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
Think about it - haven’t the caterpillars caused enough damage? To waste the remainder of our days in regret and self-condemnation, to waste the remainder of our days in penance for the call we missed does no good for God or man.
Come today and put your faith and trust in the shed blood and sacrificial death of Christ. Give Him what is left of your time, what is left of you, your strength, your abilities. “Better late than never!”
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