seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 6:1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
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Here's the link to the commentary I read.After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee: John now records some of the acts and words of Jesus in the Galilee region, north of Judea. John mainly recorded things that Jesus did and said in Judea and Jerusalem, but sometimes included material that the other gospel writers also wrote of, mainly in the Galilee region.
The Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near: John is the only one of the four Gospel writers who told us this took place near the time of the Passover. Perhaps this great multitude was made up of Galilean pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem.
Went up on the mountain: “The ‘high ground’ is the sharply rising terrain east of the lake, well known today as the Golan heights. From there one overlooks the level plain east of the river and the lake.” (Bruce)
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother said to Him, “There is a lad here”: Andrew once again introduced someone to Jesus. First it was his brother Peter (John 1:40-42). Now it was a lad with some barley loaves and two small fish.
“The word for ‘lad’ is a double diminutive, probably meaning ‘little boy’.” (Morris)
Five barley loaves: Barley was always regarded as simple food, more often fit for animals than for people. This means it is likely that the young boy came from a poor family.
Two small fish: “While the other Evangelists use the ordinary word for fish (ichthys), John calls them osparia, indicating that they were two small (perhaps salted) fish to be eaten as a relish along with the cakes of barley.” (Bruce)
What are they among so many? There wasn’t much to work with, but God doesn’t need much. In fact, God doesn’t need any help — but He often deliberately restrains His work until He has our participation.
“Small things are not always contemptible. It all depends on the hands in which they are.” (Taylor)
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There is so much more in the commentary. You should really follow the link above. I've been using it for years. It's a safe link to an Online Bible and a safe link to commentary. There's a lot to learn from these verses. I wouldn't want you to miss anything.
Jesus was no longer just one of the crowd. They didn't know Him when He turned water into wine for the wedding at His mom's request. They didn't know who He was when He had the temper tantrum in the Temple and pissed off all the venders by dumping their tables and running their livestock off. They figured out who He was when He healed the paraplegic at the Pools of Bethesda. He told them who He was when they confronted Him about "working on the Sabbath".
A lot of people were at the Pools of Bethesda when He healed the paraplegic. A lot of people knew the man had been laying around for 38 years and it only took Jesus a few minutes to totally cure the man and send the man on his way.
A lot of people must have told a lot of people who must have told a lot of people and so on and so forth... because by the time the next Passover Celebration was upon them, people were following Jesus everywhere He went.
There were about 5,000 men who sat down on the grass that day. Those 5,000 men would have had women and slaves and children with them. The women, slaves, and children were not counted but they were fed.
Jesus started with five loves a barley bread and a few tiny fish meant to be put on the barley bread like a sandwich. From that sandwich He fed all those people.
I would guess some people had food. After all, the commentary tells us the people following Jesus might have been on a trip to Jerusalem. They would have packed a little food in their provisions. Perhaps they would have pulled out a little of their own provisions to share with the provisions Jesus was offering. Their food along with the original offering would be more than enough for all the people.
That little boy shared and then Jesus shared and then the people shared... Is that how it went? You know, it might have been like a "sharing is caring" campaign.
Anyway, at the end of the day, everyone was full and there were baskets of food left over.
I wonder if there is a preacher out there who would say the people didn't share anything. I wonder if there is a preacher out there who would say Jesus didn't need them to help. Well, the commentary would agree. Jesus didn't need their help. He could have had His Angels do all the work. He could have shown the people His power by producing a huge dinner out of thin air. But what good would that be for the Mission?
Jesus taught them to share. Jesus taught them to love on another. Jesus taught them "Social Conscience".
They knew the Law.... Jesus taught them to use their conscience.
It's no wonder they wanted to put Him on a Throne. Everyone loved Him. Everyone loved His Healings. Everyone loved His Generosity. Everyone loved His Humility. They wanted to bow down and worship Him. This is when Jesus would choose to blend in with the crowd. He was a human so He didn't glow or anything.... so, He could just blend in. Why doesn't anyone notice that it must have been another miracle for Him to just blend in?
And of course.... Jesus always had some mighty fine wine!
I think what I took from these verses isn't even mentioned in the commentary. I don't think David Guzik would have contemplated it when he wrote his commentary. Here lately it has become a norm to talk about "Social Media". We know the meaning of the word "social" now. I wonder if we know the meaning of the word "conscience" as a people yet.
Jesus always had some mighty fine wine!
These verses show....
Social Conscience!
