God’s Mission in John 6:1-14
John 6:1-14
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
“It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” ~ John 6:7-9
6:1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
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, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to 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 they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 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 sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Pondering Point
A treasure is not always in the form of money. It can be resources, time, or even unique abilities. For example, when there is a crowd of hungry people and you are the only one with food, you will have plenty of would-be friends lining up to share your treasured resource.
That might have been the case for the young boy who had a meager five barley loaves and two fish. As the disciples themselves remarked, “how far will they go among so many?” Well, never underestimate what God can do with your ‘treasure’, no matter how insignificant you think it to be. How far can it go? Well, you will never know if you keep it to yourself. But give such a thing to God and who knows, he may turn around and use it to bless thousands of people.
Prayer for the Day
Father, remind me to give freely and generously, AND to neither diminish nor magnify the impact of my gift-giving based on its size in the eyes of men. In Jesus I pray. Amen.