John 6 (New International Version)

John 6

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

¹Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ²and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. ³Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. ⁴The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

⁵When 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?" ⁶He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages^[a] would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

⁸Another 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?"

¹⁰Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹Jesus 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.

¹²When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." ¹³So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." ¹⁵Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

When Philips is saying that "eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite", he is actually look at the massive crowd of people that is on desperation for food and got overwhelmed, but not Jesus. So how many people there is exactly in the crowd? The bible tells is that there is 5000 men; and adding their wife and children, there should had been around 20000 hungry people desperate and wasn't sure what to do.

Woah..... Just imagine 20000 people run around, yelling, crying, and showing their desperation for food; that looks like it is a total chaos.

Besides having Philips that look to massive crowd and got worried about it, Andrew also question God with the limited resources that they got. He said "here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among many"

I think during that point of time, the situation over there is that chaotic that Jesus decided to ask them all to sit down. Question, why did Jesus asked them all to sit down? It is because Jesus wanted to teach and show them something. It is exactly like that the illustration when a father wants to discipline his son. The father will not be able to discipline his son when his son is all around running, thus the only way to get the son's attention is to get him to sit down. In his case God is like the father that wants to discipline his son. Sometimes, when we are in head blasting chaotic situation, God is asking you to sit down so that He can guide you and teach along on what you should be doing; never allow the limitation of your resources or situation to divert your focus on God.

After which, we all know the story continues when Jesus gave thanks to God for the little amount of food and it multiple to many that can feed the thousands.

We want to be CHAMPIONS remember? And that also means that, we need to trust in the Lord more.

Jehovah jireh (Gen 22:14)        "The Lord will provide a sacrifice"

Jehovah rapha (Exodus 15:26)        "The Lord our Healer"

Jehovah nissi (Exdos 17:15)        "The Lord our Banner"

Jehovah shalom (Judges 6:24)        "The Lord our Peace"

Jehovah raah (Psalms 23:1)         "The Lord our Shepherd"

Jehovah tsidkenu (Jeremiah 23:6)    "The Lord our Righteousness"

Jehovah shammah (Ezekiel 48:35)    "The Lord is Present"

GOD IS OUR EVERYTHING!