Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
Jesus is mourning. He retreats from the people, but ends up ministering to a crowd. And He feeds five thousand men at the end of their time together.
John the Baptist has just been beheaded. I’m certain that Jesus felt the loss. He needs time to process this pain. At the same time, His disciples learn of John’s death. They had been ministering to people throughout the land of Israel. The amazing results don’t stop them from coming to their Teacher; knowing that He is in pain.
In an effort to grieve as a group, Jesus leads His brings His disciples with Him for time alone. Let’s rejoin our story as Jesus and His disciples come back together.
Holy Spirit, please guide this journey today. Give me understanding and insight into Jesus’ time with His disciples. Let me enter the story with the people. And show me what You would have me take from Your story today.
♥ ♦ ♥
Jesus’ disciples have gathered around Him to lend their support. They are amazed at how He is handling the loss.
“Lord, wasn’t John Your cousin? Do You want to go home and comfort Your family?”
“There is much work to do. Let the dead bury the dead.”
“Well, what would You like to do” asks James.
“I would like to hear of your time ministering to the people as we journey to a solitary place. A little time away would refresh My spirit.”
Simon hurries to hire a boat. Once everything is ready, they all climb aboard and begin their journey. The sea is quiet and the wind favorable. They sit back and enjoy the journey.
“So, tell Me. How did the people respond to you” Jesus asks.
“Teacher, It was AMAZING! The people were like sponges, soaking up Your words. And the healings! My mouth dropped on the first day out. I must have sand in my teeth from all the times the Spirit of the Lord amazed me. The lame walked, the mute spoke, the blind saw, and the demons couldn’t leave fast enough when Your name was invoked” exclaims Thaddeus.
“The same with us” replies James.
“Us too” echoes around the boat.
Jesus’ smile is genuine and free of grief as He listens to His disciples reports. “This is only the beginning. The work will get harder from here on though. You will carry my words to the world, in due time, and the world will hate you for it. But I will ALWAYS be with you wherever you go; even to the ends of the world and unto death.”
The excitement of the journey buoys Jesus’ men. They believe they are ready to face anything! Jesus knows the truth but He keeps this to Himself. “There is time enough for the worries of tomorrow when tomorrow comes” He thinks to Himself.
As the boat nears the shore, there is a crowd already waiting for them. The people had seen Jesus’ direction on the sea and they ran around the sea, from all the villages, to meet Him when He steps on shore.
Simon looks at the huge crowd. “Teacher, should we choose another spot to come ashore?”
“No. We will come ashore where we originally planned.”
“But I thought You needed time alone” interjects Andrew.
“There is much work to be done. Time alone will have to wait.”
Simon shakes his head but hops from the boat to pull them ashore. As they reach land, the rest of the disciples and Jesus leap from the boat. Jesus begins walking through the crowd. People press in all around Him but His disciples try and maintain a little buffer for Him.
Jesus leads the crowd away from the shore and up a small grassy incline. Here, He stops and turns to the people. He begins teaching them using parables. Many are ones that He has shared before as He traveled from town to town. Jesus also shares many of the concepts He brought out in His, now famous and controversial, teaching of the people on the mountain.
The people lap up the teaching of Jesus. After some time, Jesus sets aside teaching and begins to minister to the sick and injured. The people crowd near Him, leaving little space for others to move forward to reach Him. Space is cleared by those who He has just touched retreating farther back and allowing someone else to press forward.
The work goes long into the evening. The disciples are tired and hungry. They know that Jesus must be as well.
“We have to get Him to stop. These people need to go so they can find somewhere to eat as well.”
“Who is going to tell Him” asks Thaddeus.
“We will tell Him together” suggests James.
The disciples move closer to Jesus. “Master, ‘This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves’ (Matthew 14:15).”
Jesus looks directly at His disciples and says; “They need not go away; you give them something to eat” (Matthew 14:16).
Eyes go wide and mouths drop open. Andrew speaks up. “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little” (John 6:7).
“How many loaves do you have? Go and see” (Mark 6:38).
The disciples set out, scouring the crowd. They ask everyone what they have in the way of food. Most of the people brought nothing with them. One young boy brought a lunch. He quickly surrenders it to Simon when questioned.
After a thorough search, the disciples return to Jesus. Simon is the only one holding anything. He looks down at what he is holding and gives Jesus his report.
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (John 6:9).
Jesus nods. “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each” (Luke 9:14) He says.
The disciples dive into the crowd again. “Jesus asks that you all break up into groups of about fifty and sit down on the grass. He has something planned for everyone.”
The enormous crowd takes time getting settled, but they are finally spread out and awaiting whatever Jesus plans to do next.
Returning to Jesus, the disciples wait expectantly. They are also a little nervous. They have no idea what Jesus has planned, but they trust Him.
Jesus knows His disciples’ hearts. He knows that He is stretching their faith. “Wait ‘til they see this one” He thinks to Himself.
Jesus is holding the five loaves and two fish. He raises them towards heaven and blesses them. “Thank You Lord for providing food for the body as well as the soul. Bless this food for the use of the bodies of all those gathered here.”
Turning to His disciples, Jesus tells them; “Lay your cloak across your arms. I’m going to fill them, then you take what I have provided and distribute it among the people.”
The disciples do as Jesus instructs. Jesus begins breaking the loaves. As He breaks a piece, the loaf looks full again. It takes quite a while before the loaves are fully divided. Jesus does the same with the fish. As Jesus is doing this, the disciples’ eyes are wide in astonishment. Smiles replace astonishment at the process is repeated over and over again. When the disciples’ cloaks are full to the point of overflowing, Jesus sends them into the crowd.
Moving carefully, so as not to spill anything, the disciples disperse through the crowd. “Please take as much as you believe you will eat.”
At first, the people are hesitant. “I’m not hungry” several ima’s say as they take portions only for their children. The disciples smile but don’t force anyone to take more. Astonished looks abound as the pile in the disciples’ arms isn’t decreasing as people take from it.
The disciples move through the crowd once, then twice, offering more. The reluctant ima’s gratefully accept food for themselves, along with a little more for their children as it is still plentiful.
The disciples take from the supply at the end of the second time through. They are satisfied before beginning a third trip through the crowd.
By the third time through the crowd, the supply is visibly dwindling. The people receive the remainder, with thanks, but also with reluctance, as their hunger is decreased.
With all the supplies distributed, Jesus’ disciples return to His side. They made sure that He was served at the end of the first time through. Jesus watches the people enjoying their meal. When it appears that everyone is settling and finished eating, Jesus turns to His disciples.
“Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost” (John 6:12).
The disciples dive back into the crowd and begin gathering what remains. Their cloaks are becoming full again. A merchant who is in the crowd offers his supply of baskets.
“Please, accept these with my gratitude to Jesus for all He has provided today.”
Simon thanks him and empties his cloak into one of them. He calls to the other disciples and they bring their cloaks and empty them into baskets provided by this generous man. When all is collected and deposited into baskets, there are twelve baskets FULL of fragments. Five loaves and two fish feed five thousand men, besides women and children, and have twelve baskets of fragments remaining when everyone is satisfied.
The disciples carry their baskets back and set them at the feet of Jesus. He looks at the remainder and nods. The crowd watches the disciples making their way to Jesus. They are all amazed at what they have received today.
Murmurs begin to move through the crowd. “He is the One!” “He can overthrow the Romans.” “We won’t have to worry about starving if we make Him our king.” “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (John 6:14).
Jesus knows what they are thinking. This is NOT His, or the Father’s, plan. Jesus stands and addresses the people.
“Thank you for joining Me today. It is late though, and time to go home.”
The people begin standing up and reluctantly leaving the area. As the people are retreating, Jesus calls to His disciples. “Get in the boat and make your way to the other side.”
“But what about You?”
“I need some time alone. I will join you later.”
Jesus stands watch as the disciples head out onto the sea. Many of the people have turned back to watch Jesus and they see Him part with his disciples. No one approaches Him as He turns from the sea and makes His way back up onto a nearby mountain.
(to be continued)
Those of us who know the stories of Jesus, know what story comes next. It is an exciting one! I thought about going on and including it in today’s story, but decided to wait. I want to give it my full focus; or at least primary focus next time.
I am also struggling with divided attention right now. My husband’s health is taking a lot of my focus. I would appreciate all the prayers you can send our way.
From our story today, I’m reminded that there is NOTHING that Jesus can’t do or that is beyond His notice. He knew the people’s needs; spiritual AND physical. ALL of their needs were important to Him and HE met them.
He meets our needs too. Not always in such a grand way, but He does. There are so many times in my life where I can look back and see His hand sustaining me. And I KNOW that He will sustain me for the rest of time. He gives me what I need.
Father God, thank You for Your hand in my life. Thank You for sustaining me through the bad times and the good. You know exactly what I need and how to keep me close to You. I also KNOW that, just because I’m Your child, doesn’t mean that I won’t face trouble in this world. I trust You to hold my hand, whatever we walk through.
I Love You Lord and I surrender ALL I have and ALL I am to You.
