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.
All the people knew that a great miracle had been done for them, and they believed Jesus the One God had, promised to send. They said, “This is of a truth that Prophet tha: should come into the world” (Deut. 18:15, 18).
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. 14:23).
ML 08/18/1946