John 6:5-15
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, "Eight months' wagesa would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus 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.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Observations for living today:
The feeding of the five thousand (Jn 6:1-14; Mt 14:12-21; Mk 6:30-44; Lk 9:10-17) and the four thousand (Mt 15:29-39; Mk 8:1-10) provide a unique object lesson to live by. Only John provides insight on how the feeding impacted the crowd.
Jesus and the disciples living with Him were very busy ministering to the people around them. Crowds following them were so large and intense they could no longer openly enter a town nor find time to eat (Mk 1:30-45; 3:7-11, 20-21; 4:1; 5:24-34). Jesus sent the Twelve on an independent village to village mission to preach, teach and heal, while He continued to do the same (Mk 6:4-13; Lk 9:1-6). Just as Jesus learned of the murder of John the Baptist (Mt 14:12-13), the Twelve returned from their mission (Lk 9:10; Mk 6:30). Think maybe it is time for a rest (Mk 6:31)?
How does Jesus restore, recharge and infuse disciples with the capacity for such a great ministry? Show them the character of God: who He cares about, what He is willing to do for them and how He will do it. Remember how Elisha taught his servant how not to be afraid when they were surrounded by an army intent on killing them? First Elisha told him about God’s reality, then opened his servant’s eyes so he could see what was real (2 Kings 6:15-23), and finally, they lived a life of faith believing in God’s power to overcome the seen with the unseen. This is the lesson Paul taught, living with eyes fixed on what is unseen--living by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 4:16-5:10).
Who does God care for? God cares for those who seek Him – for any and all reasons. The crowd, the disciples and even the Apostles were full of mixed motives and levels of understanding; at least one Apostle was a devil (Jn 6:70) and one would be given the keys of kingdom heaven (Mt 16:17-20). Some in the crowd were beginning to accept the truth of what they saw and heard, but could not understand it; while others did not like what they understood and became blind to God (Jn 5).
What does God care about? God recognizes our weaknesses and gives what is needed. All need to be fed, spiritually and physically. Jesus had compassion on the crowd; they were like sheep without a shepherd, so He fed them spiritually, as one with authority (Mk 1:22), while He did not ignore their physical needs, healed and fed their bodies.
How does God do it? Jesus is caring for His disciples, mentoring and teaching, while at the same time showing God’s compassion for the crowd of lost sheep. Jesus was training His disciples for the ministry He would give them; for the life they would live for God—as the Church in the world, which all the powers of Hell could not defeat! He was also setting the stage for another spiritual lesson He would give on the bread from God. Late in the day some of the Apostles came to Him suggesting He send the people away so they could feed themselves (Mt 14:15-18; Lk 9:12-13; Mk 6:35-38). Jesus turned to Philip, who was from the nearest town, Bethsaida, and asked a somewhat rhetorical question to highlight the peoples need, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” The answer was intuitive to them, there really is nowhere for this crowd to find enough food. Jesus’ solution to the dilemma; “You give them something to eat.” And from what food they have (five loaves and two fish), when blessed by God, they learn they have more than enough to meet the needs of the people—everyone full with twelve baskets full of bread and fish left over.
The power of an event is measured by the impact on observers. The people present recognized God at work, seeing in Jesus the prophet Moses wrote about with such clarity they immediately agreed they were going to make this Jesus King right now, whatever it took, i.e., by force if necessary (Jn 6:15; cf. Mt 11:12; Lk 16:16).
Reality in Christ:
Anyone who believes what Jesus said and trusting God lives by faith—will do what Jesus was doing and by living with faith in Christ he will do even greater works than these (Jn 14:12). What works could be greater than His? Goal is not to try doing something greater, but to be doing the same works as the Father, i.e., to be one with Him, to be alive spiritually, to be pleasing God by doing His will. Jesus told us our opportunity for ministry (partnership with God) was, even for the least in the kingdom, greater than John the Baptist (Mt 11:11; Lk 7:28). When you think about the opportunity before you today, consider what Paul said about those who lived by faith until John’s ministry: “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Heb 11:40). Answer to the question what could be greater: God is doing something greater than we have already seen Him do and in Christ/with Christ we are going to be part of it!
Think Father, Son and Holy Spirit indwelling you now and forever; you are never separated, always growing from one degree of glory to an ever-increasing degree of glory (2 Co 3:18), totally perfect before God now while being made holy by God as He puts His law into your mind and writes His love in your heart (Heb 10)! Now think what does God want done today, or what need does God have a planned opportunity for me to meet today.
So why do you not see this happening in your Reality in Christ? You be the judge or rather let the promised counselor sent from God be heard; the Holy Spirit directly from God the Father dwelling within you showing you what you need to know (Jn 14:16-17). Do not forget the lesson Jesus taught about Lazarus and the rich man (Lk 16:19-31), who every day walked by an opportunity to reflect God’s love in this world, but did not even see it (Mt 25:31-46).
The feedings of the crowds by Jesus clearly show God wants “us” to be doing His work with Him. Paul taught we are not saved by doing works, but once we are His, we are God’s workmanship—the Greek denotes a work of art, a masterpiece, which, only God the Father could do through Christ Jesus—a body prepare to do His will (Heb 10:5-7; Eph 2:4-10; Phil 2:12-13). John had a very simple, practical form of Christianity; love your brother as Christ loved you, see him and his need and let the love of God reflect in your actions (1 John 3) remembering who God believes your brother/neighbor is and how he is to be treated (Gen 4:9; Mt 5:38-48; 22:37-40; Mk 12:28-34; Lk 10:25-37). Always remember the commandment given by Jesus before His passion, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn 13:33-35; 15:9-17).
God is teaming with His creation, with you; God busy being God, at work touching the lives of those He loves, creating a very personal masterpiece/work of art through the disciple of Christ—so the world could see and know Him—what an honor.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, "Eight months' wagesa would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus 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.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Observations for living today:
The feeding of the five thousand (Jn 6:1-14; Mt 14:12-21; Mk 6:30-44; Lk 9:10-17) and the four thousand (Mt 15:29-39; Mk 8:1-10) provide a unique object lesson to live by. Only John provides insight on how the feeding impacted the crowd.
Jesus and the disciples living with Him were very busy ministering to the people around them. Crowds following them were so large and intense they could no longer openly enter a town nor find time to eat (Mk 1:30-45; 3:7-11, 20-21; 4:1; 5:24-34). Jesus sent the Twelve on an independent village to village mission to preach, teach and heal, while He continued to do the same (Mk 6:4-13; Lk 9:1-6). Just as Jesus learned of the murder of John the Baptist (Mt 14:12-13), the Twelve returned from their mission (Lk 9:10; Mk 6:30). Think maybe it is time for a rest (Mk 6:31)?
How does Jesus restore, recharge and infuse disciples with the capacity for such a great ministry? Show them the character of God: who He cares about, what He is willing to do for them and how He will do it. Remember how Elisha taught his servant how not to be afraid when they were surrounded by an army intent on killing them? First Elisha told him about God’s reality, then opened his servant’s eyes so he could see what was real (2 Kings 6:15-23), and finally, they lived a life of faith believing in God’s power to overcome the seen with the unseen. This is the lesson Paul taught, living with eyes fixed on what is unseen--living by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 4:16-5:10).
Who does God care for? God cares for those who seek Him – for any and all reasons. The crowd, the disciples and even the Apostles were full of mixed motives and levels of understanding; at least one Apostle was a devil (Jn 6:70) and one would be given the keys of kingdom heaven (Mt 16:17-20). Some in the crowd were beginning to accept the truth of what they saw and heard, but could not understand it; while others did not like what they understood and became blind to God (Jn 5).
What does God care about? God recognizes our weaknesses and gives what is needed. All need to be fed, spiritually and physically. Jesus had compassion on the crowd; they were like sheep without a shepherd, so He fed them spiritually, as one with authority (Mk 1:22), while He did not ignore their physical needs, healed and fed their bodies.
How does God do it? Jesus is caring for His disciples, mentoring and teaching, while at the same time showing God’s compassion for the crowd of lost sheep. Jesus was training His disciples for the ministry He would give them; for the life they would live for God—as the Church in the world, which all the powers of Hell could not defeat! He was also setting the stage for another spiritual lesson He would give on the bread from God. Late in the day some of the Apostles came to Him suggesting He send the people away so they could feed themselves (Mt 14:15-18; Lk 9:12-13; Mk 6:35-38). Jesus turned to Philip, who was from the nearest town, Bethsaida, and asked a somewhat rhetorical question to highlight the peoples need, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” The answer was intuitive to them, there really is nowhere for this crowd to find enough food. Jesus’ solution to the dilemma; “You give them something to eat.” And from what food they have (five loaves and two fish), when blessed by God, they learn they have more than enough to meet the needs of the people—everyone full with twelve baskets full of bread and fish left over.
The power of an event is measured by the impact on observers. The people present recognized God at work, seeing in Jesus the prophet Moses wrote about with such clarity they immediately agreed they were going to make this Jesus King right now, whatever it took, i.e., by force if necessary (Jn 6:15; cf. Mt 11:12; Lk 16:16).
Reality in Christ:
Anyone who believes what Jesus said and trusting God lives by faith—will do what Jesus was doing and by living with faith in Christ he will do even greater works than these (Jn 14:12). What works could be greater than His? Goal is not to try doing something greater, but to be doing the same works as the Father, i.e., to be one with Him, to be alive spiritually, to be pleasing God by doing His will. Jesus told us our opportunity for ministry (partnership with God) was, even for the least in the kingdom, greater than John the Baptist (Mt 11:11; Lk 7:28). When you think about the opportunity before you today, consider what Paul said about those who lived by faith until John’s ministry: “God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Heb 11:40). Answer to the question what could be greater: God is doing something greater than we have already seen Him do and in Christ/with Christ we are going to be part of it!
Think Father, Son and Holy Spirit indwelling you now and forever; you are never separated, always growing from one degree of glory to an ever-increasing degree of glory (2 Co 3:18), totally perfect before God now while being made holy by God as He puts His law into your mind and writes His love in your heart (Heb 10)! Now think what does God want done today, or what need does God have a planned opportunity for me to meet today.
So why do you not see this happening in your Reality in Christ? You be the judge or rather let the promised counselor sent from God be heard; the Holy Spirit directly from God the Father dwelling within you showing you what you need to know (Jn 14:16-17). Do not forget the lesson Jesus taught about Lazarus and the rich man (Lk 16:19-31), who every day walked by an opportunity to reflect God’s love in this world, but did not even see it (Mt 25:31-46).
The feedings of the crowds by Jesus clearly show God wants “us” to be doing His work with Him. Paul taught we are not saved by doing works, but once we are His, we are God’s workmanship—the Greek denotes a work of art, a masterpiece, which, only God the Father could do through Christ Jesus—a body prepare to do His will (Heb 10:5-7; Eph 2:4-10; Phil 2:12-13). John had a very simple, practical form of Christianity; love your brother as Christ loved you, see him and his need and let the love of God reflect in your actions (1 John 3) remembering who God believes your brother/neighbor is and how he is to be treated (Gen 4:9; Mt 5:38-48; 22:37-40; Mk 12:28-34; Lk 10:25-37). Always remember the commandment given by Jesus before His passion, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn 13:33-35; 15:9-17).
God is teaming with His creation, with you; God busy being God, at work touching the lives of those He loves, creating a very personal masterpiece/work of art through the disciple of Christ—so the world could see and know Him—what an honor.
RSS Feed