1 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberius). 2 And a great multitude was following Him, because they were seeing the signs which He was performing on those who were sick; 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to Him, said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?" 6 And this He was saying to test him; for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii (one day's wage) worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little." 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?" 10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 12 And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost." 13 And so they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When therefore the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is of a truth the Prophet who is to come into the world."
Message: Multiplying Loaves and Fishes
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: To review Chapter 5, a lame man is healed, but Jesus makes sure to speak to the man about his need to address his sin. The Jews accuse Jesus of being equal with God and Jesus gives witness that the Father gave Him life and every work He does is from the Father and yet He is equal with the Father and has always existed. We have been given eternal life resulting in deeds of righteousness. One day all of our deeds will be judged resulting in eternal life and judgment. John testified of Jesus, and Jesus and His miracles also testify of Him as well as the words of Moses and Scripture. Jesus is from the Father, doing the deeds of the Father and eternal life is only found in Him. If you reject the Son, then you reject the Father.
And now in Chapter 6, Jesus goes to the other side of Galilee. In verse 2, John describes the fact that people are following Jesus in great numbers. Why? Because of the signs that He is performing. These works are part of His mission (5:36) and they testify of who Jesus is, and yet Jesus knows that a healing or sign alone does not save a person and people must believe in Him, placing their complete faith in Him, in order to have eternal life.
The people following Him are great in number (verse 5). Matthew lets us know the number to be 5,000 men and yet there are women and children also, so the number is greater than 5,000. Jesus upon seeing this remarks that the people need to eat. Jesus asks Philip and Philip responds that 200 days' wages would not meet the need (verse 7). Andrew also mentions there is a little food but what are people going to do with that small amount (verse 8 and 9). Jesus provides the food, multiplying the loaves of bread and fish into not only enough for the people but leftovers as well.
Jesus provides, not only for His disciples but beyond this. I don't think we can necessarily think that every person following Him was his true follower and yet Jesus still provides. He provides to people beyond those who are His followers. Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethsaida in chapter 5 and yet we have no real assurance of this man's salvation. Jesus will work in our world today as well, healing people as well, even those that are not His true followers. We would hope that people would come to an understanding of Him through those miracles.
In verse 14 is a proclamation, "This is of a truth the Prophet who is to come into the world." This is the appointed Messiah. This could be the outcome of the statement from Deuteronomy 18:18, "I will raise up for them a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them everything that I command him." A text and promise that had come over 600 years prior. And yet this is a text that many Muslims also claim to be Mohammed and LDS believe also point to Joseph Smith. In John 1:21 Jesus does not say he is Elijah or a Prophet, and yet the people still blur this idea of the two, as is mentioned here.
Summary: Jesus feeds the multitudes following Him multiplying 5 loaves and 2 fish to provide for more than enough and the people testify that He is the prophet prophesied.
Promise: The Lord meets all of our needs, now and forever.
Prayer: Thank you for this passage O Lord and the great reminder that you are our provider. And you heal people and provide for them, all people, your followers and beyond. You are good, all good and that good transcends beyond just your chosen people. You impact many more. And hopefully people through that process come to know You as Savior and Lord. You are to be praised. Bring clarity and understanding to people.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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