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TRUE MIRACLES – Studies in the Gospel of John For the True Man
4. The Feeding of the 5000 - John 6:1-15
Part 1—Introduction
The answer is right in front of us, all we have to do is open our eyes to the truth.
This last summer I installed a new screen door at my house. It took me four hours. I guess I really am inept when it comes to being
a handyman around the house. But as I look back on it, it shouldn’t have taken me that long to do the job if I would have
understood what the directions where trying to tell me.
The Bible can be the same way. The answers are right there, but something gets in the way of many of us men understanding what
it is God is trying to tell us.
The disciples were watching the crowds gather and gather and gather. They kept looking at their watches, noticing that it was
getting near suppertime and they didn’t have any food or money to feed all these people. These same disciples who saw Jesus turn
water into wine now doubt that Jesus can feed this mass of people. Jesus, on the other hand, let everything happen that day the
way it did to teach his disciples – and us – something very important.
Let’s look at what Jesus tells us today in this miracle.
Part 2—Don't Back Down
Both chapter five and chapter six of John show the powerful opposition to Jesus by the leaders of the Jews. Instead of lying low
until he can put together a formidable defense, Jesus does increasingly more dramatic signs that bring even more attention to
himself – which is the whole point, really. This is about Jesus, who he is and what he is saying. He has come to seek and save the
lost and he will not do it in a sly or sneaky way. He’ll do it by bringing attention to who he is and why he came.
Verse 2
a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
Even though Jesus is disappointed that the people are focusing on the signs above all else, he doesn’t stop them or change his
methods.
Verse 3
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
Jesus needs time to grieve the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus really is just like us. There’s a great lesson in how Jesus
deals with his grief. He shows that it is ok to grieve – it isn’t a wimpy or unmanly thing to do. But he deals with his grief in a very
“manly” way – he goes off into the wild, he goes off with his closest friends.
Verse 5
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so
that these people may eat?"
“John briefly sketches the situation and adds from the conversation with the disciples what serves his purpose in showing their
helplessness to meet the problem that was facing them” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, pg 430). Just as a side note, this is
one of the few instances that John repeats a story from the Synoptic Gospels (Synoptic Gospels = Matthew, Mark, Luke).
“They act as though Jesus had forgotten to think of their needs and, therefore, also add that it is high time to act if all these people
are to reach the neighboring villages and are there to by bread” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, pg 431). We also do this
sometimes. The disciples were not these giant pillars of faith that always did the right thing. They were giant pillars of the faith
because they never gave up. They did wrong, confessed their sin, were forgiven, and lived in that forgiveness. We can aspire to be
like them because what they were was not something they did for themselves, but something that God gave them the power to do
and he gives us the same power.
“Jesus all along had in mind that he and his disciples should feed these people. That is why he had taught and healed all this time,
unworried about the eating” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, pg 431). So often we do not understand that Jesus can meet all
our needs (even our deepest, secret needs) as well as taking care of our physical needs.
“And he purposely waited until the disciples could keep still no longer, until they felt that they must take the initiative” (Lenski, The
Interpretation of St. John, pg 431). This is a testing of the disciples’ faith. Jesus has to prepare them for this miracle and what this
miracle would lead to - his teachings about the “bread of life.” This would be the first step in preparing them for the Lord’s Supper.
Verse 6
He said this to test them, for he himself knew what he would do.
“Jesus selects Philip merely as being one of the entire number of the Twelve…. The test was intended for all of them…none of them
thought of the wine furnished at Cana…. The fact that Jesus knew all along what he was about to do, John reports as something
that he discovered later. Only afterward he saw why Jesus spoke to Philip so early and yet continued until evening, until the Twelve
could stand it no longer and felt that they must tell Jesus what to do.” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John ,pg 432-33). We are
given insight into John’s character that he “admits” that at the time he didn’t understand what was going on.
Verse 7
Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little."
Philip is hindered by the amount of money. Money often gets in the way of miracles in our lives.
Verses 8 & 10
One of his disciples, Andrew (Simon Peter's brother) said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but
what are they for so many?"
We know from the other accounts of this miracle that “The disciples tell Jesus to send the multitude away.” This is not the only time
the Twelve tried to send people away from Jesus. Think about that for a second. How could they even harbor the thought that it
was a good idea to suggest that some people shouldn’t be near Jesus.
We often feel that Jesus cannot possibly meet all our needs. The disciples are like many men today. The disciples, like us, just couldn’
t get around the fact that no person could do all these things. But we miss, like them, that Jesus is not only True Man, but also True
God and can - and does - meet all our needs. Sometimes he does it in dramatic fashion, sometimes he does it through conventional
means, sometimes he does it quietly. But he does it!
Verse 10
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in
number.
Because this miracle is recorded in all four Gospels, we know a lot about the logistics of it. We know they sat down in ranks, by
hundreds and fifties (we know this from Mark). This gives us a pretty accurate number. Matthew and John mention the “grass”
because of their eyewitness to this account (Mark and Luke weren’t there). “The impressiveness of the miracle is thus also brought
out, for over five thousand at one meal is quite a host” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, pg 435).
Verse 11
Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as
much as they wanted.
How John actually describes this miracle is pretty conclusive evidence to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If this account were made
up, it seems almost certainly that the account would have been elaborated on. The telling of this miracle is so simple that it makes it
all the more genuine and awesome.
Note that Jesus “gave and gave and gave, and as he gave, there was always more to give” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, ,
pg 436). Jesus always has more to give than we can even imagine.
Verse 12
And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost."
There is no waste here. This is a good point of stewardship. Note that Jesus also doesn’t intend to keep feeding the people with an
endless supply of earthly food. This isn’t why Jesus came. If it were, he wouldn’t have waited so long to feed the people. His mission
goes beyond just feeding the hungry (although feeding the hungry is a wonderful secondary result of the primary mission of Jesus
Christ).
Verse 13
So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.
Note also that only 12 baskets were filled at the end. But Jesus makes 13. It seem that Jesus expected the disciples to share with
him from what he gave them. This is also a good stewardship lesson.
Verses 14 & 15
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" Perceiving
then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus met the people’s needs. They recognize this. They also recognize that Jesus is not an ordinary man. They use a Messianic title
and this indicates that they ”get it." Well, almost. They almost come to the point where they believe Jesus to be who he claimed to
be. But Jesus knows that they are still focusing on the miracle, or sign, itself and not on him. They want to keep him around as a
sort of glorified vending machine.
But Jesus came in order to have a more intimate, authentic relationship with us than just as a “drive-up window.”
Part 3—Jesus Meets our Needs
Trusting that Christ can meet my every need is the point of this miracle.
Christ meets more than just my “felt needs.” He is more than just a guy who can feed me, clothe me, take care of me, protect me.
He meets my inner most need – the need to be in a relationship with my heavenly Father.
Stewardship – its not a four-letter word (its actually an eleven letter word).
© 2004 True Men Ministries
4. The Feeding of the 5000 - John 6:1-15
Part 1—Introduction
The answer is right in front of us, all we have to do is open our eyes to the truth.
This last summer I installed a new screen door at my house. It took me four hours. I guess I really am inept when it comes to being
a handyman around the house. But as I look back on it, it shouldn’t have taken me that long to do the job if I would have
understood what the directions where trying to tell me.
The Bible can be the same way. The answers are right there, but something gets in the way of many of us men understanding what
it is God is trying to tell us.
The disciples were watching the crowds gather and gather and gather. They kept looking at their watches, noticing that it was
getting near suppertime and they didn’t have any food or money to feed all these people. These same disciples who saw Jesus turn
water into wine now doubt that Jesus can feed this mass of people. Jesus, on the other hand, let everything happen that day the
way it did to teach his disciples – and us – something very important.
Let’s look at what Jesus tells us today in this miracle.
Part 2—Don't Back Down
Both chapter five and chapter six of John show the powerful opposition to Jesus by the leaders of the Jews. Instead of lying low
until he can put together a formidable defense, Jesus does increasingly more dramatic signs that bring even more attention to
himself – which is the whole point, really. This is about Jesus, who he is and what he is saying. He has come to seek and save the
lost and he will not do it in a sly or sneaky way. He’ll do it by bringing attention to who he is and why he came.
Verse 2
a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
Even though Jesus is disappointed that the people are focusing on the signs above all else, he doesn’t stop them or change his
methods.
Verse 3
Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
Jesus needs time to grieve the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus really is just like us. There’s a great lesson in how Jesus
deals with his grief. He shows that it is ok to grieve – it isn’t a wimpy or unmanly thing to do. But he deals with his grief in a very
“manly” way – he goes off into the wild, he goes off with his closest friends.
Verse 5
Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so
that these people may eat?"
“John briefly sketches the situation and adds from the conversation with the disciples what serves his purpose in showing their
helplessness to meet the problem that was facing them” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, pg 430). Just as a side note, this is
one of the few instances that John repeats a story from the Synoptic Gospels (Synoptic Gospels = Matthew, Mark, Luke).
“They act as though Jesus had forgotten to think of their needs and, therefore, also add that it is high time to act if all these people
are to reach the neighboring villages and are there to by bread” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, pg 431). We also do this
sometimes. The disciples were not these giant pillars of faith that always did the right thing. They were giant pillars of the faith
because they never gave up. They did wrong, confessed their sin, were forgiven, and lived in that forgiveness. We can aspire to be
like them because what they were was not something they did for themselves, but something that God gave them the power to do
and he gives us the same power.
“Jesus all along had in mind that he and his disciples should feed these people. That is why he had taught and healed all this time,
unworried about the eating” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, pg 431). So often we do not understand that Jesus can meet all
our needs (even our deepest, secret needs) as well as taking care of our physical needs.
“And he purposely waited until the disciples could keep still no longer, until they felt that they must take the initiative” (Lenski, The
Interpretation of St. John, pg 431). This is a testing of the disciples’ faith. Jesus has to prepare them for this miracle and what this
miracle would lead to - his teachings about the “bread of life.” This would be the first step in preparing them for the Lord’s Supper.
Verse 6
He said this to test them, for he himself knew what he would do.
“Jesus selects Philip merely as being one of the entire number of the Twelve…. The test was intended for all of them…none of them
thought of the wine furnished at Cana…. The fact that Jesus knew all along what he was about to do, John reports as something
that he discovered later. Only afterward he saw why Jesus spoke to Philip so early and yet continued until evening, until the Twelve
could stand it no longer and felt that they must tell Jesus what to do.” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John ,pg 432-33). We are
given insight into John’s character that he “admits” that at the time he didn’t understand what was going on.
Verse 7
Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little."
Philip is hindered by the amount of money. Money often gets in the way of miracles in our lives.
Verses 8 & 10
One of his disciples, Andrew (Simon Peter's brother) said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but
what are they for so many?"
We know from the other accounts of this miracle that “The disciples tell Jesus to send the multitude away.” This is not the only time
the Twelve tried to send people away from Jesus. Think about that for a second. How could they even harbor the thought that it
was a good idea to suggest that some people shouldn’t be near Jesus.
We often feel that Jesus cannot possibly meet all our needs. The disciples are like many men today. The disciples, like us, just couldn’
t get around the fact that no person could do all these things. But we miss, like them, that Jesus is not only True Man, but also True
God and can - and does - meet all our needs. Sometimes he does it in dramatic fashion, sometimes he does it through conventional
means, sometimes he does it quietly. But he does it!
Verse 10
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in
number.
Because this miracle is recorded in all four Gospels, we know a lot about the logistics of it. We know they sat down in ranks, by
hundreds and fifties (we know this from Mark). This gives us a pretty accurate number. Matthew and John mention the “grass”
because of their eyewitness to this account (Mark and Luke weren’t there). “The impressiveness of the miracle is thus also brought
out, for over five thousand at one meal is quite a host” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, pg 435).
Verse 11
Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as
much as they wanted.
How John actually describes this miracle is pretty conclusive evidence to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If this account were made
up, it seems almost certainly that the account would have been elaborated on. The telling of this miracle is so simple that it makes it
all the more genuine and awesome.
Note that Jesus “gave and gave and gave, and as he gave, there was always more to give” (Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John, ,
pg 436). Jesus always has more to give than we can even imagine.
Verse 12
And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost."
There is no waste here. This is a good point of stewardship. Note that Jesus also doesn’t intend to keep feeding the people with an
endless supply of earthly food. This isn’t why Jesus came. If it were, he wouldn’t have waited so long to feed the people. His mission
goes beyond just feeding the hungry (although feeding the hungry is a wonderful secondary result of the primary mission of Jesus
Christ).
Verse 13
So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.
Note also that only 12 baskets were filled at the end. But Jesus makes 13. It seem that Jesus expected the disciples to share with
him from what he gave them. This is also a good stewardship lesson.
Verses 14 & 15
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" Perceiving
then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
Jesus met the people’s needs. They recognize this. They also recognize that Jesus is not an ordinary man. They use a Messianic title
and this indicates that they ”get it." Well, almost. They almost come to the point where they believe Jesus to be who he claimed to
be. But Jesus knows that they are still focusing on the miracle, or sign, itself and not on him. They want to keep him around as a
sort of glorified vending machine.
But Jesus came in order to have a more intimate, authentic relationship with us than just as a “drive-up window.”
Part 3—Jesus Meets our Needs
Trusting that Christ can meet my every need is the point of this miracle.
Christ meets more than just my “felt needs.” He is more than just a guy who can feed me, clothe me, take care of me, protect me.
He meets my inner most need – the need to be in a relationship with my heavenly Father.
Stewardship – its not a four-letter word (its actually an eleven letter word).
© 2004 True Men Ministries