Put a paintbrush in my hand, and you’ll see something fairly mediocre. Put a paint brush in Rembrandt’s hand? And you’ll something incredible.

Put a basketball in Lebron James’ hands, and you can see him play an incredible game. Put a basketball in my hands? And you’ll see something much, much less impressive. It could be the same basketball, the same paintbrush, but the skill of the hands makes all the difference.

In the Christian faith, we formally confess that Jesus Christ rules over all things, that He, as the children’s song puts it, holds the hold world in His hands. Yet, subjectively, Christians often functionally deny this truth and believe that we hold the world together. So we feel like we have been given Rembrandt’s brush, but cannot paint like Rembrandt.

And I know that is true because of how often we burn up with stress and anxiety. Hudson Taylor was the pioneer missionary to China, who was so surprised by how little He believed that God was the one who took care of the world, that he did not anticipate how freeing it felt when he actually began believing it: “I am no longer anxious about anything,” he wrote:

“It little matters to my servant whether I send him to buy a few cash worth of things, or the most expensive articles. In either case he looks to me for the money and brings me his purchases. So, if God should place me in serious perplexity, must He not give much guidance; in positions of great difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is with me and dwells in me.”

[Page 891]

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward 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 worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 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 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 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!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

• John 6:1-15

If we set the death and resurrection of Christ aside, this story is the only miracle Jesus’ performs that is recorded in all four gospels. The early Christians thought this story—the feeding of the five thousand—was really important.

Why?

There must be something really essential about Jesus that is disclosed in this memorable miracle.

John’s account is going to expand into a lengthy discourse on the bread of life—which we will get to in time—which will make sense of why John wants us to know that this miracle took place around the time of the Passover.

But for now, let’s just reflect on the miracle itself.

Two examples of people misunderstanding Jesus’ Power, and one who got it.

The Disciples

“Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”” - John 6:5

Why are we told that Jesus lifts up his eyes and sees the large crowd? The same phrase is used back in John 4:

My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. - John 4:34-35

John repeats the same phrase here for Jesus’ act of beholding the crowds here. What is John trying to tell us? Jesus is modeling for us what it is like to feast on the food of God’s will, to be prepared to go out into the fields and harvest.

In the synoptic traditions of this story, the disciples are returning from their own short-term mission trip of sorts and return wearied and in need of rest. Jesus invites them away to this desolate place for a respite, but upon seeing the crowds He has compassion upon them and so spends the entire day teaching them.

I don’t know if you have ever spent an extended period of time doing public teaching, but it is tiring work. Jesus’ disciples started the day out tired. Jesus, certainly, must also be tired. Yet, when His disciples request for Jesus to send the crowds away, a tired Jesus turns to tired disciples and says, “Where are we going to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”

7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” - John 6:7

The crowd, we are later told, has about 5,000 men. But this isn’t including the women and children present (see Matthews gospel where he makes that explicit). D.A. Carson estimates that there may have been as many as 20,000 people present. As Philip looks out at the crowd, he does some back of the napkin math. One denarius was what a day laborer would be paid. If they offered only Costco samples of bread—just bread, no meat—it would cost them seven months of wages!

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” - John 6:8-9

These loaves would have been much smaller than what you are thinking of for a loaf of bread. This was probably the boy’s lunch, with each loaf being about the size of a twinkie. This an unusual word used for “fish” here—a word typically used to describe a kind of pickled fish used almost as a relish or condiment to put on top of other food. So, maybe like a sardine? The diminutive size of the five loaves and two fish only further highlight Andrew’s comment—what are they for so many?

If you were expecting ten dinner guests, and twenty arrive, you get stressed out; you can rummage around the pantry and see if you can pull out some more food, water down the soup, cut all the cookies in half, stare angrily at your children if they try to scoop too much on their plate, etc. But if twenty thousand show up? In a way, you aren’t even stressed out. There is nothing you can do. The amount of work and planning and money and time and sheer volume of food so far outweigh the realm of possibility, that you don’t even entertain the thought that you could pretend to respond to this issue. So too, here, with the disciples.

When Jesus asks them “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” I’m guessing that all of the disciples laughed, slapped Jesus on the back, and assumed He was joking.

But remember, before we are given Philip or Andrew’s comment, John tells us: “He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.” - John 6:6

Jesus was testing His disciples?

Think about what the disciples had seen Jesus do thus far.

• Jesus had supernatural foresight to tell Nathanael that he was sitting under the fig tree (John 1:48)
• Jesus had turned water into wine (John 2:1-11)
• Jesus performed undescribed “signs” in Jerusalem (John 2:23)
• Jesus heals on official’s son by simply proclaiming “your son will live” (John 4:46-54)
• Jesus healed the invalid at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9)

The disciples have seen Jesus do remarkable things. Here, they encounter a remarkable situation. And Jesus tests them—it makes you wonder why they didn’t say, “We have no idea how to feed these people…but we have you here, Jesus, so we know you can do anything!” But they don’t. I don’t know if that means that they failed the test that Jesus set up—they didn’t rebuke Jesus or harden their hearts, they just point out that what Jesus is asking them is so over the top that they cannot even consider His request.

Two reasons why I think the disciples respond this way.

First, the transformation of the water to wine miracle at the wedding in Cana is the most similar to this. The large crowd, the provisions, and Jesus’ miraculous power all are highlighted in both stories, only in this story everything is amplified. But in the wedding miracle, Jesus performs the act single handedly. He doesn’t consult his disciples or ask them, “Where are we to buy wine for these people?” The disciples just sit back and get to enjoy Jesus working. Here, Jesus places a corner of the problem into the disciples’ hands just so they feel the weight. In the other three gospels, Jesus’ words are more pointed to the twelve: You give something to eat. This is the first time Jesus has done this and the disciples aren’t ready for it.

The disciples have been with Jesus for over a year now. And as they are growing in their understanding and faith, Jesus decides to put new weight into their hands. As Christians grow in their faith, the Lord gives new weights to carry, new responsibilities and new problems. Maybe you have been a Christian for some time now and you look back on the relative ease with which you followed the Lord as a young Christian—you were so passionate and on fire and it seemed like God answered prayers left and right…and now? Now, the life of faith feels harder; the problems seem more complex, more stubborn. If sin is making life harder, then don’t seek shelter in what I am about to say—repent of sin and walk in the Spirit. But, sometimes the hill of faith gets steeper the further on the path we go because God intends to strengthen us, to feel the weight.

Second, the disciples’ response reveals to us that Jesus’ power did not always remove every obstacle. Back in John 4, the disciples have to leave Jesus to go buy food in the nearby town (John 4:8). Meaning, Jesus did not use His power the way we would expect Him to. He didn’t perform miracles every time there was any need. Which meant that there were times where Jesus could have intervened to make the lives of His disciples easier, more comfortable, but chose not to. Which makes more sense of why the disciples do not say, “Heck, Jesus, we don’t know how to feed these people, but we can’t wait to see what you’ll do!”

If Jesus has the power to miraculously multiply bread, why would He not have that power “switched on” all the time? There must be something good for us to reside in this realm of relative uncertainty, where we lack the mechanical guarantee of outcomes. That’s what we want, isn’t it? Manufactured outcomes, where I can predict precisely what happens. Because if I know the outcome, then I can negotiate whether or not I undertake the endeavor, I remain in control.

God has something more wonderful in store: a life of faith. Faith that says, I am not God, I don’t know how this is going to work out, but if it is your will, I trust that you will see to it, Lord.

I really like the way Jesus puts it: “where are we going to buy bread?”

Jesus loves placing us in situations that seem so far beyond our control, so far beyond our ability, so far beyond what anyone would expect, that when the miracle happens, it demonstrates that God is the one who did it! And He is inviting you to join Him today to look at the problems facing you and says, “What are we going to do about it?”

Practically, what is the Lord “testing” you in today?

• How are we going to forgive your spouse? How are we going to get rid of this hatred and bitterness you’ve been harboring?
• How are we going to open this home, this budget, this calendar so that we can be hospitable to our church, our neighbors?
• How are we going to start this Bible study? How are we going to join a Discipleship Group and commit to opening our life up to others through prayer and confession?

The Crowd

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 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 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. - John 6:10-13

Each of the four gospels emphasize different aspects of the miracle. John’s gospel emphasizes the abundance of what Jesus provides. The people ate “as much as they wanted,” until all were full. Remember, this is an agrarian subsistence economy the people live in. There is no Winco where you can buy inexpensive groceries. Most people had to grow or hunt their own food, and while you could buy food, it took nearly all of the money you made to buy just enough food to not starve. To eat as much as you wanted, to feel full would have been a very rare experience. Thousands upon thousands of people take as much as they want, can stuff their pockets for the trip home, can be so full, that there are twelve baskets of leftovers!

The comment about the crowds being seated among the abundance of grass before they are given food evokes the imagery of psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures.” And God prepares a table in the wilderness for His flock. Jesus is the good shepherd who feeds His flock among green pastures.

The crowd is under no misunderstanding that this miracle was performed by the disciples—they know Jesus did this:

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 6:14

Who is “the Prophet”? In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses promised that God would raise up another prophet like him (Deut 18:15-18). Moses was the prophet who led Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into a covenant relationship with Yahweh. He was also a prophet specially connected with bread—he inaugurated the feast of unleavened bread during the Passover (see John 6:4), and provided the bread from heaven to feed the twelve tribes of Israel in the wilderness. And here comes Jesus, during the time of the Passover, feeding the people of Israel out in the wilderness with miraculous bread—even the detail about there being “Twelve baskets” leftover seem to hint at the twelve tribes of Israel.

Even further, the other major prophet in the Old Testament was the prophet Elijah, whose protege (Elisha) performs a miracle that is eerily similar to Jesus’. In 2 Kings 4:42-43, Elisha feeds 100 men with twenty barley loaves and the Lord miraculously multiplies the bread so that there are leftovers remaining.

The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, concludes—the very last words of the whole Old Testament—encouraging Israel to remember Moses and to be on the lookout for the arrival of Elijah (Malachi 4:4-5). And here, Jesus performs a miracle that makes everyone think of (1) Moses and (2) Elijah.

The crowd sees what this miracle means. And yet, here is what we read next:

“15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” - John 6:15

We will examine more deeply the crowd’s misunderstanding when we return to John 6, but the crowd assumes that if Jesus is the new Moses, then He is the messiah, and so He must be king! Which is true.

So, why does Jesus flee from them? Why are they prepared to “take him by force to make him king”?

Later in John’s gospel, Jesus will again be taken by force to be made into a king; He will be dressed in purple, have a crown placed on him, and have a sign erected over his head that states: “This is the king of the Jews.” But the purple robes will be placed on him to mock him…the crown will be a crown of thorns…and the sign will be placed at the top of the cross where He is hung to die. The same energy fomenting in the crowd in John 6 that is so excited about Jesus is the same energy that will lead to the crucifixion of Jesus.

The crowd was so close to seeing the truth, so close. But, like the disciples, they misunderstand Jesus’ power. Like the woman in John 4 who is slow to pick up that the natural appetite Jesus is appealing to (thirst) serves as an illustration of a deeper, soul-thirst, so too here the crowds who are hungry and receive sustenance from Christ fail to see that the bread He provided pointed to a deeper hunger they had. They loved Jesus because He brought bread, and if He did that, He must be the new Moses, and if He is the new Moses, then He will probably lead them out of slavery like Moses did, this time from the Romans, and so we need to make sure he will do it, so we will grab him by force, guarantee that he will stay in his place (he’ll get used to it), we will provoke the Romans, and then our new Messiah-king will have to fight them, and then we will have our nation back, we will have the salvation that we want, that we expect, that we crave!

And Jesus withdraws from them. They don’t see that there is a deeper slavery that they are in bondage too than the Romans, there is a deeper hunger that their soul has than just bread. Jesus later warns the crowd that they will die in their sins! Their sins have enslaved them and so they are disconnected from the fullness of God.

Jesus has come to reconcile you to God.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. - John 1:16

If you try to have Jesus on your own terms, you won’t. You can be so close to the truth…and lose it.

The Boy

Who is the one person who rightly understands Jesus’ power in the story? The little boy who offers up his lunch.

Children are free from the limits of grown ups, grown ups who are stiff and rigid with the burdens of the world, who lack the limber flexibility of child like faith.

What do you have to offer Jesus?

Prayer?

Money?

Presence?

It is now our turn to respond in childlike faith and go and do likewise—as the Father has sent me, so now I send you.