This miracle took place as the Lord was entering the last year of His earthly ministry. As we shall see, this was much more than just a miracle of provision.
4th Miracle and Sign
Feeding of the thousands
John 6:1-14, 22-71
I am the bread of life. (John 6:48)
Jesus, as a true shepherd, had concern for the multitudes as they were physically tired and hungry. The only provision that could be found was the lunch of a young boy, consisting of 5 barley loaves and a few fish. This was an impossible situation in the natural. Yet, the Lord was able to use this scenario to convey powerful truths that endure to our day. So, what did Jesus do?
1) He gave thanks
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. (John 6:11)
Jesus took the few items that were available and presented them before His Father with thanksgiving. The Bible instructs us to give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Oftentimes, we focus on the impossible need without taking stock and being thankful for what we have. The provision of God comes as we look to Him while being thankful in all things.
2) Jesus hid from the limelight
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:15)
The people now wanted Jesus to be their king because of all the miracles He was able to perform. How did He respond to this? Jesus withdrew Himself as He knew that they wanted Him to be king for the wrong reasons. Jesus wants to be King and Lord over the hearts of His people; they wanted Him to be king because of the miracles. What about us, Why do we serve the Lord?
3) Jesus introduces New Wine
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
You might be saying, where does the Lord speak of New Wine in John 6? The New Wine represents a message that can only be received into a new vessel or wineskin. What is this New Wine? It is the revelation of the Lord being the “Bread of Life”. The Lord is addressing the spiritual appetite of man by identifying Himself as “Living Bread”. Jesus elaborates by stating that if we come to Him, we shall never hunger or thirst, in addition to knowing eternal life (John 6:47). Jesus is addressing the true need in man, but will it be received?
Jesus goes on to emphasize the cost in being recipients of this New Wine. He did this by referring to Himself as the Bread of life.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)
Earlier, Jesus broke bread and fed the appetites of thousands of people. Now he speaks of Himself, His body, as the Broken Bread that will satisfy the spirit of man with eternal life. The cost of this bread is reflected in Jesus having to lay down His life. This message is directing our attention towards the Cross.
4) An Inconvenient Truth
Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” (John 6:60)
This New Wine and message of the Lord being Broken Bread was not appealing to the multitudes of people. They were looking for more tantalizing miracles to be performed. They soon became offended (John 6:61) with many turning back and no longer following Him.
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. (John 6:66)
How quickly things changed! A few days earlier everyone wanted to associate with the Lord, now many of the Disciples are deserting Him. The Lord then asked the following question to those who remained:
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67)
How would you answer that question? Which of the two groups do you see yourself in? The group that followed Him because of the miracles and wanted to make Him king for the wrong reasons? Or the group of 12 who recognized Him as the Bread of Life and were willing for Him to be Lord.
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)
The feeding of the multitude is much more than just a miracle. May the Lord help us to embrace and partake of the Living Bread, the Bread that gives eternal life.
DAILY MEDITATIONS:
Monday: Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
Wednesday: Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Thursday: Deuteronomy 8:3
So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
Friday: 1 Corinthians 11:24
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Saturday: Exodus 16:4
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.
Sunday: Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
All scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV).
By Pastor Timothy O’Connell
