The Passage
John 6:1-15
1 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.
Word Work
Put it in your own words. Read the passage or verse slowly, then rewrite each phrase or sentence using your own words.
Word Thoughts:
The gathering crowd poses a problem for Jesus to solve, a problem Jesus takes upon himself: “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?’” (v. 5).
We might ask why Jesus believes it is his responsibility to feed these people. He has not invited them, nor has he sought to gather a crowd, but when the people of Israel gather to the King of Israel, he proves himself to be their Shepherd (cf. Mark 6:34). Jesus assumes responsibility for these people because he is good, because he loves, because he came not to be served but to serve. No crowd is too big for Jesus to feed.
Word Reflection:
- What stood out?
- Here we see Jesus seemingly running away? Why is He withdrawing now and not in the garden when He is arrested?
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!”
End in Prayer
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