Tag Archives: five thousand

HAMBURGER BUNS AND PILCHARDS – 10

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John 6:5, 8 NLT‬
[5]”Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”

[8] Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up.
[9] “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

Imagine attending a prestigious assembly hosted by a world-famous preacher only to find that the catering consisted of a packet of hamburger buns and a tin of pilchards. You would have been outraged by that kind of treatment.

Well, Jesus didn’t exactly plan to host a prestigious assembly, but it happened that so many people followed Him out into the country to hear Him teach that they had no time to arrange the catering. In fact, there wasn’t even time to pack a picnic basket for the day.

So, when evening came and stomachs growled with hunger, something had to be done about the situation. Jesus had a plan but He first gave His disciples opportunity to think up a solution before He gave them His version.

Since they were human and only thought in human terms, their outrageous solutions didn’t cut it.

‭John 6:6-7 NLT‬
[6] He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. [7] Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

Philip’s hesitant suggestion floated away on the evening breeze and left them with one conclusion. “Impossible!”

Andrew tried tentatively to dip into Jesus’ way of thinking but, in the end, it sounded silly and his voice trailed off before his whole plan came out.

‭John 6:8-9 NLT‬
[8] “Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. [9] “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

At least Andrew came a little closer to Jesus’ way of thinking but he, too, felt that his idea wouldn’t work….too little food, too many people.

But… from Jesus’ perspective, it was the perfect answer. Any small resource in His hands, in partnership with the Father, would be enough to do the job. Whether the picnic lunch was given by a small boy or by the disciples didn’t matter. Bread and fish was all that was needed even in small quantities, a feast in Jesus’ hands for everyone, and some.

‭John 6:11-13 NLT‬
[11] “Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. [12] After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” [13] So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.”

How did this miracle happen? Jesus didn’t wave His hands over the bread and fish and mutter magic words. He simply thanked the Father for His provision and began to break up the barley buns and fish. Then He just kept breaking… and breaking… and breaking the bits… until everyone was satisfied. He trusted the Father and did what the Father instructed.

True to humans, after the meal, the ground was littered with fragments of bread. Did Jesus simply leave the mess for the birds and insects? No way! He made sure that they would leave the place as they found it. Just to enhance the miracle, the disciples cleared the picnic spot of twelve basketsful of scraps! From five hamburger buns?

This story had a sequel.

‭John 6:22 NLT‬
[22]”The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them….
[24] So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. [25] They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Did these people have nothing else to do but follow Jesus around the country? Jesus was quick to realise what they were after, another free meal at His expense. They were opportunists at heart. His teaching was great but a free meal was even better.

‭John 6:26-27 NLT‬
[26] “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. [27] But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

His conclusion ended in a clash with the people and a priceless disclosure of His identity and purpose. “Believe in me,” He urged.

‭John 6:30 NLT‬
[30] They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?”

Jesus wasn’t about signs to initiate faith. Israel had many miraculous signs but they still persisted in their unbelief and disobedience. Signs only confirm the witness of God’s Word.

‭John 6:35-36 NLT‬
[35]”Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. [36] But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me…
[41] Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” [42] They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” They were just like their fellow Jews in Nazareth.

So, you see, not even a banquet for thousands from a picnic lunch could convince them that Jesus was who He said He was. To them, He was just another man! Really? Could just another man do what Jesus did? Say what Jesus said?

He was either stone crazy or dead serious. Faced with the evidence, we also have to make a choice. We either believe Him and commit to His demand, “Believe in me,” or dismiss His claim and go to hell for our choice.

It wasn’t the miracle that should have convinced them. The miracle was only a sign. The crux of the matter was… Did the miracle convince them that He was who He said He was, the Son of God?

‭1 John 5:10-12 NLT‬
[10] “All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. [11] And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.”

An Impossible Problem

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AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM

By this time it was late in the day, so His disciples came to Him. ‘This is a remote place,’ they said, ‘and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and buy themselves something to eat.’ But He answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to Him, ‘That would take more than half a year’s wages. Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?’ (Mark 6: 35-37).

Listen to this exchange between Jesus and His disciples.

He had a huge, hungry crowd on His hands. The people were becoming restless. It was getting late; they were far from home, and the disciples wanted to get rid of them. They had no way of providing for them so they told Jesus, “Send them away.” In other words “Get them out of our sight so that they are no longer our responsibility.” That was the only way they knew how to handle the situation. Their perspective was purely human and practical.

But the disciple’s solution was as impractical as it was impossible. Mark had already mentioned that this was a remote place – far from anywhere. Where on earth would a few thousand people find food at this time of the day? Families in far-off villages and towns had probably already eaten and the preparation of fresh food would take hours. There were no refrigerators from which they could take food to prepare on the spur of the moment.

On the other hand, Jesus had two opportunities – to feed a few thousand hungry people God’s way and to teach His disciples what happens when God is brought into the equation. Problems usually seem much bigger when God is left out. So He said to them, “Don’t send them away. You feed them.” That put them on the spot! In those three words, Jesus was saying to them, “You can’t just send needy people away to become someone else’s responsibility. As long as they are here, they are your responsibility. What are you going to do about it?”

They scratched their heads and came back with their best answer. ”Must we spend all our money to feed them?” they asked. The only solution they could think of involved money. If they had enough money, they could buy their way out of this one. Isn’t that just how we think?

‘How many loaves do you have?’ He asked. ‘Go and see.’ When they found out, they said, ‘Five – and two fish.’ Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all (Mark 6: 38-41).

Where did they find the five loaves and two fish? In their own picnic basket? Some thoughtful mother packed a picnic lunch for her son. He had eaten some of it but there was a little left over – just enough to satisfy his hunger until he got home. How did he get there anyway? Did he go with a relative or friend? No one knows. All we know is that he was willing to surrender his supper to Jesus.

Five barley loaves and two fish! Enough for a child’s supper. But that didn’t faze Jesus. He was not a magician who could turn stones into bread. He was a mathematician who could multiply what He had. He didn’t turn bread and fish into roast chicken and vegetables but He did keep breaking the bread and dividing the fish and passing it on. That’s how it is with God. He takes what He is given and makes it go a long way.

The disciples’ job was easy after that. All they had to do was to pass the food around. To their utter amazement there was always more . . . and more . . . and more.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand (Mark 6: 42- 44).

Mopping up time was even more surprising. Five loaves and two fish fed five thousand men (of course the women and children didn’t count – or weren’t counted!), and there were twelve basketsful of leftovers to take home; “doggy bags” of food they could eat tomorrow! What did the disciples think of that?

Lessons learned – we hope. Number one: never turn needy people away. You may miss the opportunity to see a mighty miracle. Lesson two: don’t leave God out. He is the answer, not money. Give Him the little you have and see what He can do.

I love the third lesson, which was always so typical of Jesus. Look for every opportunity to put God’s glory on display. That’s what Jesus did, and the Father never failed Him.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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God’s Banquet

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GOD’S BANQUET

“The apostles returned and reported on what they had done. Jesus took them away, off by themselves, near the town called Bethsaida. But the crowds got wind of it and followed. Jesus graciously welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God. Those who needed healing, He healed.” Luke 9:10-11 (The Message).

Now this was a cause for irritation, if ever there was one! Jesus must have been eager to hear from His disciples how their first preaching tour had gone and they, no doubt, were just as eager to tell Him. At the first opportunity He spirited them away, perhaps even under cover of darkness, to a remote place where they could be together without the ever-present clamouring crowd.

But what happened? Someone noticed and split. They had hardly settled down for a chat when the people began to arrive. The disciples must have groaned when they saw them coming. Not again! If ever there was an opportunity for Jesus to show His true colours, this was it. But what did He do? He welcomed them, taught them and healed their sick. His nature shone through, the ever-loving, compassionate Jesus!

“As the day declined, the Twelve said, ‘Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the farms or villages around here and get a room for the night and a bite to eat. We’re out in the middle of nowhere.’

“‘You feed them,’ Jesus said. They said, ‘We wouldn’t scrape up more than five loaves of bread and a couple of fish — unless, of course, you want us to go to town ourselves and buy food for everybody.’ (There were more than five thousand in the crowd.) Luke 9: 12-13 (The Message).

 

Did the disciples really care whether the people were hungry or not? Did they really think that more than five thousand people would find accommodation and food in the area? Wasn’t it just a ploy to get rid of them so that they could be alone with Jesus again? Their attitude was heartless and faithless.

Jesus’ response was to challenge the disciples to take responsibility for the people in their need. Most of them had probably left home in too much of a hurry to make provision for the day. This was a golden opportunity for the disciples to learn to partner with God to meet the needs of other people. It was a lesson they were going to have to learn if they were to be followers and imitators of Jesus.

“But He went ahead and directed His disciples, ‘Sit them down in groups of about fifty.’ They did what He said, and soon had everyone seated.”

“He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted His face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke and gave the bread and fish to the disciples to hand out to the crowd. After the people had all eaten their fill, twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered up.'” Luke 9:14-17 (The Message).

Seeing that His disciples had not yet caught on to God’s way of bringing heaven to earth, Jesus went ahead and put His own plan into action. First, He needed some order in the crowd. He instructed the disciples to gather them into small groups to ensure that everyone had a share in the banquet.

Then He used the available resources, five loaves and two fish, to feed the people instead of doing what the devil had tempted Him to do in the wilderness, perform magic by turning stones into bread. God is not a magician although we sometimes pray as though we think He is.

Why did Jesus insist on feeding the people? To have sent them away hungry would have been a message to them that God was not interested in their physical need and that they would have to go elsewhere for help.

We must never forget that He is our Father and loves to take responsibility for us, His children. Don’t turn away from Him; turn to Him!