Feeding the 5000

This miracle is told in all four gospels. The fullest account is in John 6.

John 6:1-13

• It had been a busy day of teaching and healing.
• It was in the springtime, near Passover season (v. 4).
• Jesus asked a rhetorical question: Where can be buy food for all these people”
• Philip, like many church trustees, countered with “We can’t afford it.” (v. 7).
• Andrew, for whatever reason and with whatever mindset, present a little boy with 5 barley loaves and 2 small fish (v. 8-9).
• Jesus instructs the men to be seated in groups of 50 (v.10). [Aside: did the women stand?]
• Jesus prayed and then distributed to the disciples who, in turn, distributed to those who were seated in groups of 50. [Do the math: 12 disciples, 5000 men in groups of 50=100 groups, or more than 8 groups per disciple]
• Everyone got as much to eat as he wanted (v. 11) and there were still 12 baskets bread left over (v. 13).

Meditation Point:

1. He who created a world from nothing can surely create more from something.
2. Deny the miracle if you will; but do not call yourself a believer.

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