In The Word
Read: John 6:1-21
Five Thousand Men Fed
6 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (orTiberias). 2 A large crowd was following Him, because they were watching the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 But Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?” 6 But He was saying this only to test him, for He Himself knew what He intended to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?”10 Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat.” Now there was plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, He *said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Jesus Walks on the Water
15 So Jesus, aware that they intended to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself, alone.
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 In addition, the sea begangetting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He *said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle, or as John would say, “sign,” mentioned in all four gospels. There are many important side notes to this event. As we see in 6:15, this particular miracle would move the people to make Jesus king. Why this event? This miracle is performed during the time of Passover, which the Jews believed would be the moment when the Messiah would be made known to them. Also, the feeding miracle resembles Moses’ manna miracle that they believed was another sign of the Messiah. This is the reason the people almost forcibly took Him to be king. Jesus rejected their offer and chose to withdraw from the crowds. He then spent more time with His disciples. His decision to ignore the people’s plea for Him to be king would begin the decline in His popularity.
Jesus knew His mission did not include the occupation of being king of the Jews. God had not chosen Him to lead them into battle against their enemies, the Romans. Jesus’ mission was to save us all from our sins, which would require Him to give up His life! How many times have we been offered another path, another opportunity that would remove us from the path God had chosen for us? Did you take it, or did you realize it was not your path after all? Study the path you are on. Is it your path or God’s path for your life?