The Fourth Sign: Multiplying Food
October 13, 2023
John 6:1-15 | Psalm 11
This is a classic story, a go-to for kids and adults alike. (And the only miracle/sign told in all four gospels.)
Just read it and note Jesus’ posture. We’ll soon see that this sign doesn’t really impress him and he has feelings about the impression it makes on the people.
In the end, we find Jesus alone on a mountain, escaping the crowd rather than succumbing to the power it wants to offer him.
John 6:1-15
After this Jesus went across the Galilee Sea (that is, the Tiberias Sea). A large crowd followed him, because they had seen the miraculous signs he had done among the sick. Jesus went up a mountain and sat there with his disciples. It was nearly time for Passover, the Jewish festival.
Jesus looked up and saw the large crowd coming toward him. He asked Philip, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?” Jesus said this to test him, for he already knew what he was going to do.
Philip replied, “More than a half year’s salary worth of food wouldn’t be enough for each person to have even a little bit.”
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, “A youth here has five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread. When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, each getting as much as they wanted. When they had plenty to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves that had been left over by those who had eaten.
When the people saw that he had done a miraculous sign, they said, “This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.” Jesus understood that they were about to come and force him to be their king, so he took refuge again, alone on a mountain.
Psalm 11
I have taken refuge in the Lord.
So how can you say to me,
“Flee to the hills like a bird
because the wicked
have already bent their bows;
they’ve already strung their arrows;
they are ready to secretly shoot
those whose heart is right”?
When the very bottom of things falls out,
what can a righteous person possibly accomplish?
But the Lord is in his holy temple.
The Lord! His throne is in heaven.
His eyes see—
his vision examines all of humanity.
The Lord examines
both the righteous and the wicked;
his very being hates anyone who loves violence.
God will rain fiery coals and sulfur on the wicked;
their cups will be filled
with nothing but a scorching hot wind
because the Lord is righteous!
He loves righteous deeds.
Those whose heart is right will see God’s face.
Prayer
God,
I believe that you don’t desire that anyone go hungry.
I also believe that Jesus indeed could feed 5000 people with one tween’s lunch.
…so there are times when I really wish you’d do just that. I’m mindful of those 1,000,000 in the Gaza Strip today without food and water. And so many millions more around the world every day.
Lord, I pray for them - the hungry, the thirsty, the endangered. I know I am not in a position to help them all. But give me eyes for the need right around me. And if I can’t see any need, help me beyond my privilege and comfort.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.