THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND–JOHN 6:1-15–LESSON 13
Introduction:
The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only sign recorded by all four Gospels with the exception of the Jesus’ resurrection. This fact alone points to its importance. The significance of the sign was expounded by the Lord in a long discourse in verses 22-71.
I. EVENTS OF THE TIME.
A. Herod Antipas had killed John the Baptist.
1. John was not in prison earlier, John 3:24, “For John was not yet cast into prison.”
2. By this time Herod had already killed him, Mark 6:14-16, “And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 15-Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. 16-But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.”
B. The disciples had preached throughout Galilee, Mark 6:7-13, 30-31.
C. Multitudes of people were curious about Jesus and Herod Antipas was seeking Jesus. Luke 9:7-9, “Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; 8And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.”
II. PLACE
A. The Lord had gone to the Northeast side of the Sea of Galilee with his disciples for some rest, v. 1, “After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.”
1. The Sea of Galilee was also called the Sea of Tiberias, name for a town east of the sea built by the Romans, John 21:1.
2. It is also called the “lake of Gennesaret” from the flat district lying on its west coast, Luke 5:1, “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,”
3. In the Old Testament it is called the “sea of Chinnereth,” Numbers 34:11; Joshua 12:3; 13:27.
B. The multitudes had followed Jesus to the hillside.
1. Even in this “solitary” desert place, Matthew 14:13, “When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.”
2. It was a very “remote” place, Matthew 14:15, “And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.”
III. THE TIME
A. About a year before the Lord was crucified.
B. The Jewish Passover feast was near. This is the second mentioned by John, John 13:1, “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” (This is the third Passover mentioned).
C. The thoughts of the people were on the theological aspects of the season, thinking in terms of blood, flesh, lambs and unleavened bread.
D. They longed for another MOSES who would deliver them from Roman bondage.
IV. THE MIRACLE
A. “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” vs. 5-6. The question was put to Phillip.
1. Phillip was from Bethsaida, the nearest town.
2. He would know the conditions for acquiring so much bread.
B. The answer to the question was that it was impossible, humanly speaking, to feed that many people under their conditions.
1. The amount of money needed was equivalent to 8 months wages.
2. Secondly, there weren’t enough ovens to bake that much on the short notice.
3. The Lord was testing Phillip to refine his faith, 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”
C. Andrew, in contrast with Phillip, had gone into the crowd to determine its resources, vs. 8-9, “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9-There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”
D. The Lord begins to act, vs. 10-11, “Make the men sit down.”
1. The number was 5,000 men plus the women and children, Matthew 14:21, “And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” Perhaps there was as many as 10,000 people.
2. They were seated in groups of 50 and 100, Mark 6:40, “And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.”
3. Jesus gave thanks and distributed the food, Mark 6:41, “And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.”
E. The disciples learn that the Lord is more than adequate for their needs.
1. Everyone eat to his full satisfaction.
2. Twelve baskets of fragments left over was part of the disciple’s education, Mark 6:42-43, “And they did all eat, and were filled. 43-And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.”
F. Seeing this miraculous sign the people recalled Moses’ prediction that a PROPHET like him would arise, Deut. 18:15, “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;”
G. Understanding the sign, the people wanted to make Jesus their King.
1. Jesus was at the height of His popularity.
2. Could He have the kingdom WITHOUT THE CROSS? NO!
H. Jesus’ kingdom would be given Him by the Father, Psalm 2:7-12.
1. It would not come from the world, John 18:36, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
2. Before Jesus can be the REIGNING LION of Judah, He must be the LAMB WHO BEARS THE SIN OF THE WORLD, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”