Feeding the Hungry

God's Creative Word
The Word Will Be
The Bread of Life

John 6:1-15

The Message

Bread and Fish for All

 ^1-4After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews. ^5-6When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.
 ⁷Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece."
 ^8-9One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."
 ^10-11Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.
 ^12-13When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.
 ^14-15The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. They said, "This is the Prophet for sure, God's Prophet right here in Galilee!" Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself.

For Reflection 

The word lives on in stories about Jesus and God's willingness to reconcile his people into his children.  This story is a microcosm of God's call.  God uses what is available.  In this case, a small boy who has fish and bread.  After prayer the meal was served. The people immediately saw Christ as the savior that was prophesied. They wanted to make him King.  While they recognized the importance of Christ they did not yet comprehend the kind of king He was to become.

God deals with us according to our humanity.  He leads us through compelling circumstance to choose Him over the seductive alternatives.  While he appeals to our body he fulfills our spirit.

After the Christ event, truth became knowable.

Pray

that you will seek out the living word of God to fill your spiritual need.  Pray that will used by God in his plan for reconciliation of all people.