John 6:1-141After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. (John 6:1‑14)
One day the Lord Jesus and the disciples were in a country place near the shore of the Sea of Galilee and also near a mountain. The people learned where Jesus was, and wanted Him to do more niiracles for the sick, so a great crowd followed Him to this place.
When it came near evening, Jesus asked one of the disciples, Philip, where they could buy bread that all those people could have food, for he knew they were hungry.
Philip said that two hundred pennyworth would not be enough to buy even a little bread for each person. It is said that amount would be about the same as thirty dollars of our money. Jesus knew before He asked Philip what He would do, but He wanted the disciples to think of the needs of the people.
Then another disciple, Andrew, said that there was a boy there who had five barley loaves and two small fish, but he asked, “What are they among so many?” For there were over 5,000 persons there, and probably the loaves, which a boy would carry with him, were not very large. No doubt he had taken these for his own lunch, so he gave all to Jesus.
The Lord Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down on the grass. He gave thanks to God for the bread, and broke the loaves in pieces and gave to the disciples to pass to all, and the saute with the fish.
All that crowd of people ate, not just “a little”, as Philip said, but all had plenty.
After all had finished eating, there was still bread left, and Jesus told the disciples to gather up the pieces in the baskets. That would teach them, and us also, to be careful of the food God has provided, for all we have, really comes because of His care for us. Then too, when the disciples or others who ate those pieces of bread they would think more of the kindness and great power of Jesus to do this for them.
Boys and girls now who read or the Lord Jesus’ care for the hungry people, may have something to be used for good to others, as that boy’s barley, bread and fish. Whatever we have to give, we can do as though giving to Him to use, and for His blessing. The very best you can give anyone is God’s word, or learn His words and tell Om to someone: His words are for the, souls of all, as bread is food for their bodies.
The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 men (besides the women and children: is told in all the gospels, but this book of John is the only one which tells that us a boy had the loaves and fish.
The king over that land did not care, for the people, and they wanted to have Jesus their king. He knew this, He knew this, but He could not be their Holy King until all sin was judged, and He sent the people away, and went on the mountain alone (Matt. 14:2323And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (Matthew 14:23)).
ML 08/18/1946