We love the happy surprise story of the feeding of the five thousand. Let’s take a look at the points of view from the gospel writers. This is one incident that all four record.

They all agree that Jesus and the disciples have been out on a boat and find a huge crowd gathered on the shore waiting for him. Each writer gives responses from Jesus as he sees the crowd. 

…he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14

…he had compassion on them, because they were like a sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Mark 6:34

Luke mentions both healing and teaching, a common practice for Jesus.

John jumps right into the concern for the people’s food. The other writers mention that “the disciples” tell Jesus to send the people home because they don’t have enough food to feed everyone. John keys in on what is to be the big lesson for the day and gives us specific names. 

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Eight month’s wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite.” John 6:5-7

The other writers tell us that Jesus says, “You feed them.” But John gives us that wonderful little part of the story we enjoy telling children to demonstrate how children can be of help to Jesus.

Andrew spoke up, (Thank you, John, for another specific name) “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:8-9

Jesus tells the disciples to have the people sit on the grass and specifically in groups of 50. Why sit? And in groups? This is a wonderful example of Jesus’ organizational skills. It will make the “passing around” part more manageable. 

Oh, there are so many more lessons to learn in this whole miraculous setting. This may become my next series soon!

Of course, the dynamic part of the day is when Jesus begins to multiply the bread and fish then feed the multitude, and yes, even have leftovers—enough for all twelve disciples to have a basket to bring in. 

Another time, we’ll look at the final insight John gives us. For now,  just think of the impact this “all hands on deck” lesson in faith might have had on the disciples. Powerful and dramatic as it was, within the night they would be scared by the sight of Jesus walking on water. They hadn’t totally learned the faith lesson.

But then, we too see God’s powerful hand at work in our lives, only to worry, doubt, and forget as well. How patient is our God with his weak children.

~ Joyce ~