John 6:1-15 Feeding the five thousand
This miracle is the only one, except the resurrection, recounted in all four gospels. The other accounts are found in Matthew 14, Mark 6 and Luke 9.
This miracle is a demonstration of Jesus’ miraculous authority over all creation and Jesus’ compassion upon the people. But mostly this is a sign of the eternal perfect provision of the true Bread from Heaven, Jesus himself. It is a sign of Jesus’ ability to miraculously multiply life. John 12:24 says, “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
Jesus filled the bellies of the crowd that day but all of them were soon hungry again. Jesus healed them of all kinds of sickness yet they all eventually got old and died. What use is it to have the power of the eternal Creator used for what amounts to band-aids applied to the terminally ill? 1 John 2:15-17 reminds us that this world is not permanent but the Life that comes from Jesus is forever. In Matthew 6:31-33 Jesus tells us that if we pursue Him as of first importance the rest of life will follow without undue care.
How was the bread and fish multiplied to the crowd? There isn’t much explanation given. Jesus gave the food to the disciples and they gave it to the people and there was plenty but no waste. See how this mirrors the propagation of the Holy Spirit among believers. In Acts chapter 2 God gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples and they give it to all who will receive it. Luke 11:9-13 assures us that God is pleased to give us his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the best gift ever given or received. Feeding this crowd was a complete impossibility. They were far from any towns or villages. Even if they had the means to buy that much food, which they didn’t, there was nowhere to get it. In Luke 18:27 Jesus tells us that, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” The disciples balked at the idea of feeding the crowd because they had no resources. They forgot that God himself was there with them, teaching them that all they have to do is pass the loaf in their hand to the next person and leave the multiplying to Him. As it says in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
brotherpayne 