Unexpected kindness shown to a large number of people. John’s Gospel chapter 6, verses 1 to 15
A change of scenery
6 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 those who were ill. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.
John 6:1-3
A different scene. Galilee, not Jerusalem. Hungry people in good health.
Some wanting to see and hear him. Some just to see another miracle.
Jesus welcomes the crowd
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards 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!’
John 6:5-7
Philip says, we can’t feed them. Jesus knows what he is going to do.
Jesus’s unexpected kindness and creative power
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, ‘Make 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.
John 6:8-13
5 loaves and 2 fish only. “Have them sit down” He says. A vast crowd, yet all is orderly and quiet. Do you believe what he did? Multiplying the food so that all had enough and were satisfied. And there were leftovers!
How should we react?
They said “Here is the Prophet” foretold by Moses in Deut. 18:17-19 “The Lord said to me: ‘What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.”
They wanted to make him King, an earthly warrior King. But later many stopped following him. Many, are impressed with Jesus at first, but then turn back.
24 ‘Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:24
Persevere, press on and in to His eternal life.
