Day 898: More than a prophet - John 6 vs 1 - 14

1-3 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.

4-5 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8-9 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

10-11 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12-13 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” John 6:1-14 English Standard Version

The feeding of a huge crowd, which appears in all four gospels, is one of the best known miracles of Jesus even among those who don't attend Church. An evidence of its authenticity is the amount of detail that John gives. He tells us that the Sea of Galilee was also known as Sea of Tiberias. He gives a date, the nearness of the Passover feast. He describes conversation between Jesus and the disciples, and even tells exactly how many loaves and fish there were. He points out that there was 'much grass' in the area, and how many baskets of fragments were gathered up afterwards. It all suggests an eye witness account of something that really happened.

It's also a section which people love to draw out lessons from. For example, our helplessness in demanding situations, as expressed by Jesus asking Philip “where are we to buy bread so that they can eat?”, and Andrew's reply: “There's a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” It's certainly true that the needs of the world around us are way beyond our ability to meet. Others draw lessons from the boy's willingness to share, and give Jesus the little he had, and from the Lord's insistence to gather up the fragments. And yes, Jesus surely can multiply the little services we offer Him and we shouldn't be wasteful. And we definitely should not want any souls to be lost. But those aren’t the main issues of what this event was all about. What does John highlight as its vital truth. (vs 14)

This was yet another sign to the people that there was something very unique and special about Jesus. Verses 1-3 already said that a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. And towards the end of this gospel John tells us that “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31) At this stage the miracles Jesus had done led them to believe that He must be the prophet Moses had spoken about, whom God would send into the world.

Jesus once pointed out to the Jews that the man they knew as John the Baptiser was 'more than a prophet'. (Matthew 11:7-11) He was the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah's arrival. The same thing could now be said of Jesus. He is 'more than a prophet', indeed, much more. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and those who believe on Him will have life in His name. By all means, let us bring to Jesus whatever small abilities we have, and let us look to Him to use our little congregations to touch the lives of many. May we labour that none be lost. But, above all, let us recognise Him for whom His miracles prove Him to be, and give Him the praise and worship He is worthy of.