CSSA 1-4-12 - A DAY AND A NIGHT OF MIRACLES: FEEDING THE MULTITUDE

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87. A DAY AND A NIGHT OF MIRACLES: FEEDING THE MULTITUDE

€ I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger"

Aim

To show how Jesus fed five thousand and walked upon the water.

Jesus had now been preaching for two years. The cities of Israel had heard the gospel of the kingdom and seen the power of God as he moved among them. In the south of Judea, that wicked man, Herod, had put John the Baptist into prison. At a special feast in honour of his birthday Herod agreed to have John beheaded. When the disciples of John had buried their beloved teacher, they went and told Jesus. Saddened by the cruel death of this faithful prophet, Jesus and his disciples went away by boat into a desert place, to be by themselves.

John 6:1-21. See also Mark 6:30-52; Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17

THE PEOPLE FOLLOW JESUS

Jesus took his disciples across the lake of Galilee to a deserted spot, opposite Capernaum. They were not to be left in peace, however, for lots of people had seen them go. The word passed around that he had gone and thousands ran from all the neighbouring cities until they came to the spot where Jesus and his disciples were seated on the hillside. News of his miracles had spread and the people came to be healed. Though full of grief at the death of John, when Jesus saw all these people in need of his help, his heart went out to them, "because they were as sheep not having a shepherd" (Mark 6:34). So he spent the day preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and healing all their sick.

THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES

As the day drew on the disciples became anxious, for this was a desert place and the people were getting hungry. So they suggested to Jesus that he should send them away to buy food (Mark 6:36). Jesus turned to his disciples and said, "Give ye them to eat'' (v37). They were astonished. Where would they even find enough money to go and buy food to feed a crowd of this size? Jesus asked Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?" (John 6:5).

Now Jesus already knew what he would do, but he wanted to test the faith of his disciples. All Philip could say was they would need more than two hundred pennyworth of bread to give all these people even a little bit to eat. It would take a working man months to earn that much money.

Jesus sent them to find out if anyone in the crowd had brought food with them. Andrew found a young lad with five barley loaves and two small fish. That was all. "But what are they among so many?" Andrew said (v9). "Bring them hither to me," Jesus replied (Matt. 14:18).

Then he told the disciples to make the people sit down on the grass in groups of hundreds and fifties. As the people waited to see what would happen, Jesus took the loaves, and looking up to heaven, gave thanks to God. Then he broke the bread and kept on breaking it and handing it to the disciples to pass around to the people. He divided the fishes in the same way, until there was enough to feed those five thousand people.

Philip knew how much it would have cost to give them a little bit to eat, but Jesus had fed them till they "were all filled" (Luke 9:17).

NOTHING IS LOST

When the meal was ended there was still food left over. Jesus told his disciples to "gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost" (John 6:12). So they took a basket each and filled them will all that was still left of the five barley loaves - twelve baskets full. They had more food now than when they started.

So God's power was seen in a remarkable way. All day long Jesus had fed them with spiritual food, the Word of God, and now he had also provided them with food to satisfy their hunger.

This is just what Jesus had taught his disciples on the mountain (see Lesson 10 - God knows what we need). "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things (our daily food etc.) shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).

THE PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE JESUS KING

The people were truly amazed at this miracle. It made them remember the words of God to Moses in Deut. 18:18-19, where God promised that one day He would send a prophet like Moses to the people. "I will put my words in his mouth," God had said, "...he shall speak in my name". So the people thought about all they had seen and heard that day and decided that Jesus must be "that prophet" whom God had promised. They began to get very excited, but as soon as Jesus realised that they wanted to make him their king, right there and then, he sent his disciples off in their boat. He was indeed "that prophet" and he had been anointed by God at his baptism, but it was not yet time for him to be their king. So he sent the crowds away to their homes, while he himself went alone into a mountain to pray to his Father.

JESUS WALKS ON THE SEA

While Jesus was on the mountain praying to his Father, the disciples were in their ship on the lake struggling to row against a very strong wind. A storm had blown up on the lake of Galilee and their boat was being tossed with the waves. No matter how hard they rowed they did not seem to get any closer to land. They toiled away for hours making very little progress.

In the very early hours of the morning, somewhere between 3 am and 6 am, called "the fourth watch", Jesus saw them. Seeing their difficulties, he went to them, "walking on the sea". When the disciples looked up and saw him walking towards them on top of the waves, they were terrified. Full of fear, they cried out, "It is a spirit!" (Matt. 14:26). Realising how frightened they were, Jesus immediately spoke to them saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (v27). How glad they would have been to hear their Master's voice.

Peter was the first to speak. "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water" (v28). Jesus said, "Come".

So Peter stepped out of the boat into the raging sea and began to walk towards Jesus! Two men actually walked upon the water. Then Peter suddenly became aware of the strong wind around him. His mind had been fixed on Jesus as he got out of the boat, and he had forgotten the storm. Now his courage failed, as his faith wavered and fear rose up inside him. He began to sink. "Lord, save me", he cried (v30).

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him. "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt¹?" Jesus asked Peter. As the other disciples watched in amazement Jesus and Peter got back into the boat. Suddenly the wind stopped blowing altogether and they were immediately at Capernaum (John 6:21). Now that Jesus was with them, all their problems disappeared. For many long hours they had struggled against that strong wind, seeming to get nowhere. Then Jesus appeared and the wind suddenly stopped and their boat was safe in harbour.

No wonder they were amazed. "Of a truth thou art the Son of God", they exclaimed. Such things had happened that night, that there was no doubt left in their minds.

LESSON FOR US

How many lessons there are for us in the events of that day and night. Jesus preached and healed. He had provided food for five thousand men with their wives and children by a wonderful miracle. By a miracle also he walked on the water and caused the storm to cease. As the Son of God, using God's power, he was able to do all those things that day, helping everyone as they needed him. Those he helped believed on him. If we believe, God will provide for us too, both our natural daily food, and that spiritual food in His Word. If we eat this food we shall live forever.

Peter believed and was able to walk on the water. When he looked away from Christ, his faith failed him and he began to sink. It teaches us to put our trust in God at all times, no matter how great our problems are.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

We are constantly being taught in these stories of Jesus' life, spiritual lessons to help us in our lives to prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus from heaven.

When the multitude had been fed, the disciples were told to collect the bread that was left "that nothing be lost" (John 6:12). Each of the twelve disciples had a basket full of bread. That bread could be used to feed other people. When we remember that the bread represents the Word of God, we can see that Jesus was teaching his disciples that they must preach the Word to many others also. The Word of the gospel was first preached to Israel (represented by the number twelve - twelve tribes, twelve apostles, twelve baskets) and then to the Gentiles.

In John 6, we are told that the people whom Jesus had fed with bread and fish, came all the way back to find him. He tried to teach them the spiritual lessons from the miracle.

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger" (v35). "If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever" (v51) and "the bread that I will give is my flesh" (v51).

When we study his life and think about what he said and did, we are "feeding" on him. If we follow him in this way and copy his example God will give us everlasting life - we shall live for ever in His kingdom. Because he was perfectly obedient to his Father in all his thoughts and words and actions, people could clearly see in Jesus the Word of God itself. Every commandment God wrote in His Word Jesus obeyed. The last wonderful thing he did to obey his Father's word was to allow wicked men to put him to death on the cross - without complaining, without backbiting, without getting angry. (1 Peter 2:21-24). So Jesus gave his body upon the cross. Those who believe in him and are baptised, remember this when they eat a little bread together at the Memorial Meeting every week.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. Where did Jesus go when he heard of John the Baptist's death?

Why did Jesus feel sorry for the crowds who followed him?
Why did the disciples want to send the people away?
Did anyone in the crowd have any food? How much?
What did Jesus do before he broke the bread?
How many people did Jesus feed that day?
How much food was left over?

When the people saw the miracle what did they want to do to Jesus?
In the fourth watch Jesus saw the disciples rowing against the wind on the lake. What did he do?