Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never go thirsty. John 6:35
Today read John chapter 6 verses 1-9. Why were the crowds following Jesus? Can you imagine hearing about a man like Jesus in today’s world? What request would you make of Him? Reread verse 4. What time of year did this occur?
This miracle happens during the Passover festival in the springtime. The Passover was celebrated in remembrance of God delivering the Hebrew people (the Israelites) from Egypt where they were slaves. The Passover celebrates God as their deliverer. This was a spiritual growth time for the Hebrew people. This very well could be a place where they put their hope in God for their future. Who would rescue them once and for all?
Is there a promise from God that you are waiting to be fulfilled? Is there anything that you asked over and over with no tangible result? Is your heart filled with hope or is it hardening?
Pray that God will soften and open your heart to hear from Him. Ask him to help you to trust Him.
Read John 6:5-9 again. What a hopeless situation for Philip and Andrew. To them, it was an impossible situation. Why do you think Jesus asked Philip where to buy the bread if Jesus already knew the answer? Have you ever had God show up in an impossible situation in your life or in the life of someone you know?
Let’s continue reading John 6: 10-15. Look closely at verse 11. What is Jesus doing here? He is giving thanks. He is simply saying a blessing. Thanking God opens up the miracle. Jesus being thankful open the door for what God had planned for the 5,000 people. Do you ever have negativity that stops you from being thankful? For example, being too heartbroken, too hurt, too fearful, too disappointed, too made, too depressed, to hopeless to be thankful. Maybe, just maybe your problem or issue is that you are not thankful. Give thankfulness to God a try and see what happens.
Jesus provided food to a group of hungry people. He gave thanks and then they ate and were satisfied and full. The five thousand were ready to hear what Jesus had to say.
Let’s take a look at Mark’s story of the feeding of the 5,000. Read Mark 6:30-42.
30 then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Five Thousand are Fed
Matt. 14:13–21; Luke 9:11–17; John 6:1–14
32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
33 But 6the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 hAnd Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”
37 But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”
And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled.
What were the disciples telling Jesus? What was Jesus’ reaction to what they were telling Him? Did he praise them for their efforts or encourages them to do more? Did he look into their souls and see a different kind of need? What do we learn in verse 36? The disciples relied on their own human logic to solve the problem. What did they suggest? What did this tell us about their understanding of who Jesus is?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your ways. Thank you for being our miracle worker. I pray that we will know who you truly are.
In Jesus Name
Amen
