Today we will look at the fourth miracle Jesus performed in the Gospel of John. In each miraculous event, Jesus went from small groups to ever larger groups of people. Remember, the first miracle was at a family wedding in Cana, where He turned water into wine. This sign was at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. This is an important message for each of us who are called to serve the Lord. The message is that our ministry starts in the family. The family is the proving ground where some of the difficult lessons of life are learned. Show More
From there, Jesus performed a miracle for the Centurion whose son was dying and then the disabled man at the crowded Pool of Bethesda.
The next miracle is often referred to as the “feeding of the 5000”. After performing the mentioned signs and wonders, Jesus had many people following after Him. The multitudes were hungry for more signs, wonders, and profound sayings of Jesus. They were so hungry that they traveled great distances and even crossed the Sea of Galilee to see and hear Him. The question that we must ask is, why were they following Jesus? Some thought that Jesus would solve all their problems. Others thought He was the deliverer of Israel as King David was in his day. and still others were just “thrill seekers” looking for an exciting time. Then some were drawn to His message of hope, healing, and wholeness. The lesson we learn here is that people are no different today. Everyone is seeking something.
Beginning in John 6:4, “Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” There are two points I would like to make here.
Philip Fails the Test
The first is Jesus is not afraid to test our faith. The testing of our faith is how we grow in maturity in Christ. James 1 says, “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
The testing of our faith is how we learn who we truly trust. I remember an expression I heard long ago about faith, “We are legends in our own minds!” This means that in our minds, we are mighty people of faith, always doing the right things, and overcoming the greatest challenges. However, it is not in our minds that life is lived; it is in the everyday ups and downs of life that our Christianity is worked out.
Being a Christian is all about who you trust! If you trust in your own strength, then you can only go as far as your strength will endure. If you trust in your intellect, then you can only go as far as your intellect can take you. However, if you trust in Jesus, there are no limits, and nothing is impossible. So, it makes a lot of sense to learn how to put our faith in Jesus in our everyday life, and this is how our faith is proven.
Jesus wanted to show Philip and the other disciples who they were trusting in. Jesus already knew the answer, but He needed to show His disciples what was really in their hearts. In this case, Philip failed the test! He forgot the message in Matthew 6 that he heard when Jesus said, “31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Instead of trusting in Jesus Philip trusted in his own understanding of the circumstances.
Jesus and the disciples had two hundred denarii! What is a denarius worth? A denarius was equal to a day’s wage; therefore, 200 denarii would represent over a half year of wages. Later we find out that there were about 5000 men, not including women and children. This means there may have been 10-20 thousand people to feed with their money. In the natural, it was an impossible situation, and it’s always a challenge for us to “walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)”, but when Jesus is with us, nothing is impossible with God!
Andrew Fails the Tests
Then Andrew, Peter’s brother, also fails the test when he speaks unbelief in John 6:8, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?“ Andrew expressed doubt which is the enemy of faith. All he could see were five loaves and two fish, quickly forgetting what Jesus had done at the wedding at Cana, the Centurion’s son, and the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda.
In the Gospel of Mark is a great story that Jesus used to teach His disciples and us about doubt and faith. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, where he encountered a fig tree with no fruit on it. When He saw the barren tree, He said, with in the hearing of the disciples, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” Later, when they passed the tree again, it was withered and dead. Listen to what Jesus said in Mark 11:22, “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Clearly, belief or faith cannot coexist with doubt and unbelief! The lesson for us is to combat doubt and unbelief, which the devil will use to weaken our faith. We need to learn how to rebuke the doubt and unbelief and walk in faith in the One who saved us and delivered us from darkness, and placed us in His glorious light.
The Stage is Set for another Miracle.
John 6:10 “Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.”
Jesus is the Lord of abundance. There is no shortage in heaven or supply chain issues.
Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (the Holy Spirit), 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” We often try to “figure out” how God will do something instead of simply trusting and believing that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
An important detail to note is that Jesus did not distribute the food Himself. Jesus provided the food to the disciples, and the disciples were the ones who provided the food to the people. This is true of our outreach to our families, friends, and communities. The Lord has given all Believers the ministry of reconciliation to provide an atmosphere where the Gospel may be presented and received. There is a time to pray and a time to act. If Jesus is to be our example, then we should get the mind of God and go forth, as it says in Mark 16, “15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” We reach the lost through words and deeds, in particular, Holy Spirit anointed words and supernatural deeds!
There is no lack in the Kingdom of God on Earth
John 6:12, “So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
Can you imagine, they started with five loaves of bread and two fish, and ended up with 12 baskets full! One basket for each disciple that served. As I said earlier, there is no lack of abundance through the Lord. As Believers, we hold the keys to the Kingdom as it says in Matthew 16:10, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
This important saying of Jesus reminds us that whatever is allowed in Heaven is allowed on earth; whatever is not allowed in Heaven is not allowed in the Kingdom on earth. This should help us to know what we should be praying for and praying against. There is no sickness, disease, bondage, condemnation, or evil in Heaven. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the Holy Spirit living in us, we have the authority and power to establish His Kingdom on earth.
The Purpose of the feeding of the 5000
“14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” To many of the Jewish people, this miracle was evidence that Jesus was the Messiah who was prophesied in the Old Testament. These words and deeds of Jesus stirred up hope in a people who were downtrodden and without hope under Roman rule. They heard a message and saw a Man who gave them hope, and for many, that hope became faith, and that faith led people to make a decision to follow Jesus.
The same is true for us today. Our responsibility as Christians is to know Jesus and make Him known. Each one of us has been given different talents and abilities as well as a circle of influence. There are people that others may not be able to reach, but you can. Just as there are people you can’t reach, but hopefully other Christians can. We are all in this together, serving the same Lord and Savior. Your testimony of how and why you came to Christ may inspire others in your sphere of influence to make a decision for Jesus.
Finally, remember the disciples are the ones who passed out the bread and fishes Jesus gave them, but all the glory goes to our Jesus. It is not about you; it is about Him!