Feeding the 5k

In the men’s Sunday School class today [July 31, 2022], we considered the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 which is recorded in all four gospels.  While a well-known story, as with all of Scripture, every time one ponders on it, it proves informative and nourishing.

First, the twelve had just returned from doing ministry in pairs with God’s empowerment and were surely both full of stories to share with Jesus and the others and likely tired as well!  They were likely looking for some down time.  Also, word had just been received that Herod had brutally murdered John the Baptist.  Jesus was grieving and also needing some private time.  John, not only a relative and a very great man (none greater born of woman, Matthew 11:11), was Jesus’ herald, His forerunner.  John was murdered for speaking the truth as would be Jesus’ fate in time (after feeding the 5k, He did get away, but alone).

John 6:4 notes that Passover was near meaning that people were either already moving toward Jerusalem or in the midst of preparing.  That might, in part, account for the great crowd – 5,000 men along with women and children.  [It could be that people who had been touched by the disciples during their time of ministry had followed them in order to meet their Jesus.]

Jesus saw the masses as sheep without a shepherd – that is, without spiritual leadership or care.  Not to let an opportunity slip away, He set into teaching.  Toward the end of the day, the disciples suggested to Jesus that He might send them away as they were likely in need of food.  Jesus’ response suggests that the desire to send them away had another motive – the disciples wanted a break.  Rather than being enriched or entranced with Jesus’ teaching, the 12 were thoughtful of their stomachs, rest, and stories to share.

Jesus needed to teach them again the lesson taught at the Samaritan well some two years earlier (John 4).  Jesus there noted that ministering was more important than having a sandwich.  Jesus had “food they did not know of,” John 4:32.

The disciples, wanting to get away, were put to work:  1) You feed them. 2) You take inventory.  3) You make them sit down. 4) You distribute the food. 5) You gather up all the remains.  Ugh!  They: “Can’t we just get away and rest?  These people are so needy and a hindrance to our schedule!  Ugh!”

So, a lad – only one among the thousands – had a lunch!  The boy must have been sick!  I mean, what kid still has his lunch at the end of the day?  In fact, what kid has his lunch past midmorning?  The kids I know are bottomless pits!  Besides, there are many women present and what Mom sets out with packing lunches, snacks and extras.  Just five biscuits and two fish – NOTHING in the face of the crowd.  In fact, the disciples noted that it would take a half-year’s wages to buy enough bread to only give each a bite or two.  This situation appeared impossible!  Or NOT!  Just what did the 12 experience as they reach into their basket for more bread for the next mouth?

After the meal, the 12 gathered 12 baskets of crumbs – a full basket for each disciple!  A lesson for each.  God calls His followers to serve and serve and then serve and He will more than meet their needs.

It is also of interest that it was near Passover (John 6:4) and the harvest of barley.  The bread used to feed the people was of barley.  And what happened the Sunday after His death?  A sheaf of barley was waved before the altar in the temple as a firstfruits offering to God.  And what did Jesus do the Sunday of His resurrection?  John 20:17, “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father.’” And I Corinthians 15:20, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  Jesus is the barley offering – the bread offering to God.  John 6:27, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

Furthermore, in seeing that every crumb of bread was consumed or gathered speaks of the resurrection of every person ever conceived (miscarried or aborted included).  His body was broken and raised to life so that every single person will be resurrected.  John 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth… done good, to the resurrection of life… done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”  Broken bodies ALL resurrected!