Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
5When 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?" 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8Another 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?"
10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus 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.
12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
1. What response do you think Jesus was looking for by asking Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" (vs.5-6)
2. Jesus not only fed the multitude but gave them 'as much as they wanted' (vs 11) to eat. What does this say of His heart for His sheep?
3. After the five thousand were fed, there were twelve baskets of leftovers. What is the significance of this miracle? How does it challenge your faith in the midst of your current circumstance?
1 comment:
Q1: Jesus was looking for response such as, "Lord, you are the Creator of the universe. Why do you ask, 'Where shall we find bread to feed these people?'?"
Q2: Jesus has a heart to respond to our godly desires above and beyond what we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Q3: The basket of leftovers represents the reality of how much our needs can be and are provided for, in spite of appearances that there is lack. It symbolizes how much more God can come through for us and meet our need or needs, than what we typically expect before He works His hand on our behalf. I also find that the fact that leftovers were collected is an example to us that we should not be wasteful ... everything that passes through our hands counts and should be used faithfully.
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