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Lesson 4 |
The feeding of the five thousand. |
John Chapter 6 |
This miracle is recorded in all the gospels, this shows its importance
v3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
The Lord loves to have his disciples around Him to instruct and guide them in the task that lies before them.
v4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
This feast of the passover would draw a great crowd to the city.
The Lord always used the opportunity to tell His message to the crowd
v5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
v6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
The Lord will test us at times to prove our measure of faith.
v7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
Philip knew the area and if food could be found who would know better.
God expects us to utilise our local knowledge to further His work.
One penny was equal to a days wages so he calculated that 1/25 of a penny per person would only give a little.
v8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
v9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
Andrew was not asked but because he was so close to the Lord he heard His request and brought the only food to be found. Little is better than nothing in fact " Little is great when God is in it"
v10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
v11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
The surroundings were made acceptable and the Lord depended on His disciples to make sure that His provisions were faithfully distributed.
v12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
v13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
What a change from Philips estimate. Now they had too much (not little)
And there were twelve baskets over. The lord not only supplies the need of the crowd but also gave the over flow to His disciples.
This Sign shows that the all powerful God can make much from little and bring satisfaction with the bread of life
v14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
v15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
They desired to make Him King because He could supply their human need but the Lord was sent to supply their spiritual need and this can only be done by the death of the cross for sinful man.