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FEEDING THE MULTITUDE

John chapter 6, v. 1 to 14

A whole year may have intervened between the events of chapter 5 in Jerusalem and those in chapter 6 in Galilee, for after these things is an indefinite note of time in John (John 3:22; John 5: 1; John 6: 1; John 7: 1). The disciples had returned from the tour of Galilee and reported to the Lord Jesus. It was near what is called His third Passover (John 6:4) just a year before the end.

The feeding of the five thousand is the only event before the last visit to Jerusalem recorded in all Four Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13). In the Gospel of John, the Lord follows this miracle with a discourse on the fact that He is the true Bread of God.

In order to get some rest, as they did not even have time to eat, at His suggestion they departed by boat from Capernaum along the northern coast of the sea of Galilee to a desert place, near a city called Bethsaida (Luke 9: 10). The sea of Galilee was originally called the Sea of Chinnereth (Numbers 34:11), in our Lord's time it was also called the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1), changing to Sea of Tiberias when Herod Antipas built his capital Tiberias (verse 23) on the western shore in AD 22.

But a multitude from all the cities found out where they were going and run there on foot arriving there before them to receive them. They had been seeing the signs which Jesus had been performing on the diseased, and were eager to hear Jesus again (Luke 9:11) and to get the benefit of his healing power.

From the level of the shore they went onto the slopes of the high hill on the eastern side, and then He sat with His disciples, a picture of repose.

The Passover mentioned here is probably the third during Christ's ministry. He failed to go to this Passover because of the hostility in Jerusalem (John 7: 1).

Lifting up his eyes is particularly expressive here, as the Lord looked down from the mountain on the approaching multitude. He had earlier been teaching and healing them (Mark 6:34; Matthew 14:14; Luke 9:11) till mid-afternoon.

He then took up the matter of feeding the multitude with Philip, to test him. Philip was a quiet person: he never had much to say, but it was he who brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Christ. The Lord, of course, already knew quite well what he was going to do, something far beyond Philip's imagination.

Philip immediately calculated that two hundred denarii (payment for two hundred days' work to a common labourer) would not be enough to provide a little bread to each one, inferring it was far beyond their means.

In the other gospels we read that, at this point, the disciples suggested that He send the multitude away so that they might go into the surrounding towns and country to lodge and get provisions. But He commanded that they themselves give them something to eat.

Andrew then spoke: he is here described as Simon Peter's brother: the great distinction of Andrew was precisely this, that he brought Simon to Christ even though, like Philip, he was a quiet person. Philip and Andrew appear together again when some Greeks wished to see the Lord (chapter 12:20-22).

Probably to show how impossible this task was, he told the Lord what food was available to them: five barley loaves, considered an inferior sort of bread, and two small fish - ridiculous, everyone except the Lord must have thought!

The Lord Jesus now took the matter in hand:

1. He commanded the loaves and fish to be brought to him (Matthew 14:18).

2. He told the disciples to make the people sit down, though they had nothing to set before them: he thus tested their trust and obedience, but they obeyed. In Mark it is explained that they sat in groups on the green grass, in ranks like garden beds, in hundreds and fifties. This made it easy to count them, and to serve them. It would have been very orderly, because our Lord was doing it, and a great entertainment, representing that of the gospel, which is a feast for all nations (Isaiah 25:6), a feast for all comers.

3. Taking the five loaves and fishes, He looked up to heaven, gave thanks (blessed - Deuteronomy 8:10) and broke the loaves (Mark 6:41). Likewise we ought always to give thanks to God for our food, for it is a mercy to have it, and as we have it from the hand of God, we must receive it with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:3-5, Acts 27:35).

4. He distributed the pieces of bread to the disciples, who in turn gave them to those sitting down. There were approximately five thousand men, plus women and children (Matthew 14:21). All our provision originates from the hand of Christ, no matter who brings it. In distributing spiritual provisions to those that follow Him, he is pleased to make use of the ministration of his disciples.

5. In the same way He distributed the fish, as much as any one desired. It was done to universal satisfaction. All had as much as they wished, not a short allowance, but a full meal. This reminds us that the grace of God and the gift by the grace of Christ abounds to many (Romans 5: 15, Philippians 4:19). (Those who call feeding upon fish fasting, reproach the entertainment Christ here made, which was a full feast.)

6. After eating a meal, the Jews used to make sure they left a piece of bread on the table, for they regarded it to be a curse upon the wicked man (Job 20:21) that there should none be left. So after everyone had been satisfied (they were filled), He told the disciples to gather up what was left over, that nothing be lost. They filled twelve baskets with fragments of the loaves, not crumbs or scraps on the ground, but pieces broken by the Lord (Mark 6:41) and not consumed, and of the fish (Mark 6:43). There was to be no wastefulness in Christ's munificence. The Jews were very careful not to lose any bread, nor let it fall to the ground, to he trodden upon. He who despises bread falls into the depths of poverty, was a saying among them. Though Christ could command supplies whenever he pleased, yet he would have the fragments gathered up. When we are filled we must remember that others want, and we may want. Christ did not order the left overs to be gathered up till all were filled; we must not begin to hoard until our present needs have been satisfied.

7. The Jews had a custom of leaving something for those that served, so there was a stout wicker basketful for each of the apostles! They were thus repaid with interest for their willingness to part with what they had for public service (see 2 Chronicles 31:10).

This sign, added to those already performed (verse 2, see also chapters 2:23; 3:2), caused them all to begin to say that He was the Prophet that was to come into the world: there was a popular expectation about the prophet spoken of by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15) as being the Messiah (chapters 1:21; 11:27). They were beginning to believe that Jesus was the political Messiah of Pharisaic hope. Although the Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law, it would now seem that they knew more of Him that is the end of the law than the Pharisees themselves did.

 

R David Jones

 

 

 

 

1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.

2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.

3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.

5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"

6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"

10 Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."

13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."