“Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” John 6.8-13
Fact: Only two miracles are recorded in all four Gospels — the feeding of the five thousand and the resurrection of our Lord. Some might say the resurrection is the most important miracle because it is the “basis for our faith,” ((www.dabhand.org/Essays/NT511). However, I think they are equally important. Whereas the resurrection points to the ability of God to defeat death by overcoming sin, the feeding of the five thousand not only reveals the divinity of Christ by creating something out of nothing but his grace as well.
So if only two miracles are listed in all Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, why this one? Why not the woman caught in adultery or the healing of the man born blind? Why not the curing of the persons with leprosy or the walking on water? Surely some of these are as great if not greater!
But the Gospel writers (driven by the Holy Spirit) recorded this miracle in every account. I’m convinced that beginning with Jesus’ question to Philip “Where can we buy the food to feed all these people?” to “Have everyone sit down” on the grass, this miracle was different than all others because it shows not just the divinity of Jesus but his humanity as well.
Jesus’ humanity is found in that he had a human body of flesh, that he traveled to the destination by Galilee in a boat and that he walked there as man (i.e. he didn’t fly on a magic carpet, wasn’t transported by angels or was carried by a parade of elephants as a prince). Jesus was human. Also, in his question to Philip about how to feed all these people, he showed his humor and his prompting of his disciples to have faith.
But when Jesus took the simplest sack lunch from the smallest of boys, Jesus grew nothing into something. Just as God created man from the dust in Genesis, so Jesus who is fully God, created a meal for thousands from the power in his hands.
The feeding of the five thousand displays a God who is human who shows mercy, compassion, empathy and grace. Jesus cared for the needs of these persons not only by feeding them, but by teaching them the word of God. He who is fully human and divine.
“O Lord, you are amazing in all your ways. Thank you for showing your goodness in how you love and bless people. Thank you for your grace demonstrated in this miracle. I praise you Lord for your willingness to take something ordinary and turn it in to an extraordinary blessing. Come now, Holy Spirit, reveal yourself to your people. Reign now love upon us that we might know you fully and experience you this and every day. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen
