After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 2 Now a large crowd was following Him, because they were seeing the signs which He was doing on those who were sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He was sitting down with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, “Where should we buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 And this He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive 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 these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they were filled, He *said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had done, they were saying, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” John 6: 1-14 LSB
John 6: 1-14
After these things - There is a break in here of quite some time, and then we pick up with the only other of two miracles that are shared by all four gospel writers, the feeding of the five thousand and the resurrection. So a lot is happening and has happened as we see in the other gospels that cover different places and times during Jesus' ministry.
Bruce Barton (Life application, Gospel of John - Borrow) writes - John left unspecified how long this some time was (see also Jn 5:1 and Jn 7:1). According to the chronology that emerges when the Gospels are harmonized, the events during that time include:Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)
Jesus heals the Roman centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10)
Jesus raises a widow’s son to life (Luke 7:11–17)
Jesus heals a bleeding woman and restores a girl to life (Matthew 9:18–26; Mark 5:21–43; Luke 8:40–56)
John MacArthur explains after these things - "does not necessarily mean that the events recorded in chapter 6 immediately followed the events recorded in chapter 5. It simply indicates that what happened in chapter 6 occurred subsequent to the events in the previous chapter. Evidently, there was a significant time gap between chapters 5 and 6. According to Jn 6:4, the events of chapter 6 took place shortly before Passover. If the unnamed feast of Jn 5:1 was the Feast of Tabernacles, about six months would have elapsed between the two chapters; if it was Passover, the gap would have been a year. - Precept Austin
V. 2 Because they were seeing the signs He was doing on those who were sick - He was drawing large crowds, and when it says in places 5,000 you have to keep in mind that they were seated by families, so it says 5,000 men because they represent the head. When you take this, the 4,000 men listed at another feeding and the sort of crowds that healing, actual healing would draw in, Jesus saw and spoke to a lot of people. There are modern day charlatans who claim to be able to heal now and draw in hundreds of thousands of poor, hurting people who want physical healing. The thrust of Jesus ministry is not this, it is to conquer sin, to pay for it on the cross, but the healings all point to Who He is, that what He says is true, they attest to the Speaker. J Mac points out that you have these massive crowds here, but when it comes to true disciples you only have about 500 people that He shows Himself to as witnesses to the resurrection. He has already healed a man who turned Him in to the religious rulers. We will see some of the reasons that people come to Jesus, believing in His ability to heal and to feed, but not in what He says. Someone said it well once, "they don't believe the Jesus they say they believe in." In other words, everything that Jesus says is tied to action, God so loved that He gave, Jesus says, "if you love Me then keep my commandments, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow." It may look different to you across the different people, groups and interactions, but there are only two types of belief, unbelief and belief, in the realm of unbelief is a shallow belief linked to the miracles, feelings, an experience, euphoria, and this encompasses the multitudes. They follow Jesus like the Little Mermaid would, they want to be where the people are. It's like me picking out or judging a restaurant, look at the crowd, look how long the line is, it must be amazing. People are followers by nature and just step back and look at the history of the evangelical church over the past 70 years. Look at the number of mega churches. People flocked to these places for programs, for music, for socializing, a place to drop off their pesky teenagers at youth group. We are supposed to judge based on the message being preached, and church worship isn't supposed to be a concert where we march our idols across the stage or worship ourselves through the feels, but where we corporately take our eyes off ourselves and place them on the person of Jesus, this another reason why what songs say is so important as well.
…24News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them. 25 The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Matthew 4: 24-25
…24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true. 25 There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written. John 21: 24-25
V. 6 And this He was saying to test him - Remember, belief ends in obedience, it is the fruit of regeneration, it works through faith. God says trust Me and do this, or don't do this, and our thoughts and actions show what kind of belief we have. Satan didn't come out saying he hated God to Adam and Eve, that he wanted them to do evil because it fed his pride, no, he brings them a little doubt. When God calls a thing sin then the response of the regenerate heart is to see it as sin, and then to pray that we see it as God sees it, so abominable as to cover the whole earth with water, so unimaginably traitorous as to require the sacrifice of someone infinitely good so that I can live. Instead of playing down our sin, if we really believe what God says about it then we would know that there is nothing to go back to, it separates us from the One we love and that is too much to bear. Phillip has seen a lot of healings and other miracles up to this point, but why, and I ask myself this too, why did He ask this question?
1Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. 2“Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.… Genesis 22: 1-3
Barton - God allowed the test to occur, not expecting failure, but placing the person in a situation where his or her faith might grow stronger. Jesus did not want Philip to miss what he was about to do. (Life application study Bible, Gospel of John - Borrow)
Ryle on purpose of God testing - We find the same kind of procedure on other occasions. When our Lord appeared to the two disciples at Emmaus, we read that after His discourse with them, “He made as though He would have gone further.” (Luke 21:28.) This was “to prove” whether they really wished for more of His company.—When on another occasion He came to the disciples walking on the sea, St. Mark says, “He would have passed by them.” (Mark 6:48.) When in this very chapter He would draw forth an expression of faith from His disciples, He says, “Will ye also go away?” (John 6:67.) Our Lord knows the sluggishness and coldness of our hearts, and He sees it good to stir our spiritual senses, and draw forth our spiritual desires by such a mode of dealing with us. (John 6 Commentary)
Blum reminds us that God tests people to refine their faith, never to tempt them to do evil (cf. Gen. 22:1–18; James 1:2, 13–15; 1 Peter 1:7). (See Bible Knowledge Commentary)
James 1:12+ Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial (TEST); for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:13-15+ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone (THIS IS THE SAME GREEK WORD FOR TEST BUT WHEN GOD TESTS US IT IS NEVER WITH THE INTENTION TO CAUSE US TO SIN). 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
V. 7 Two hundred denarii of bread is not sufficient for them - Phillip starts working out some of the math for the problem, and this would be a large sum to him, but he has to admit that it would still be insufficient. It is the equivalent of about 8 months wages, and that was far too little, so this is good for him that he not miss this, "Philip, consider the magnitude." He will put many problems like this before them as their teacher. When we consider the magnitude of the problem then how great is the miracle of the deliverance. You're out in a field, you have insufficient funds, probably not a lot of Chick Fila's back then to handle this kind of crowd efficiently, or places that would have the stock for this that wasn't already reserved for Passover. This was a dilemma for Moses back in the day as well. "God, don't promise people things You can't deliver on. Do you realize what you are saying?" We are all like this, we see a problem bigger than us, realize something should be done, it hurts to see what is happening sometimes, but we look at our means and instead of going to God Who has the power to do anything we just block it out of our minds, walk by quicker, but we never stop and pray. Jesus is asking Philip to do or consider something that he can't do in his own power, even if he were wealthy this would be too much logistically speaking.
…21But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ 22If all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?” 23The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not My word will come to pass.”… Numbers 11: 21-23
…24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”… Matthew 19: 24-26
V. 9 There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish - They are taking stock of what they do have, and we should always do this, being ready to offer up all that has been entrusted to us, as insignificant as it may seem. Andrew even points out, that while this is food it is really nothing compared to this sea of people. They all seem to come to the conclusion, based upon what they see and have, that the situation is hopeless. They have all witnessed Jesus' miracles though too, and I am sure that all would say they believe the miracle of the manna from heaven, the feeding of Elijah by the Ravens, the widow's bottle of oil that never runs out, and didn't Jesus already turn water into wine? There are many things we say we believe, but Jesus is the great Refiner.
…18They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved. 19They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? 20When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”… Psalm 78: 18-20
MacArthur - Andrew’s faith, too, collapsed as he considered the enormity of the logistical problem. After recounting what he found, he added skeptically, “But what are these for so many people?” Andrew’s response showed that he, like Philip and the rest of the Twelve, failed the test of faith. No one responded by affirming the power of Jesus to provide. (See John Commentary)
V. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks - The answer is always Jesus. We should never grumble about our food, it is not even owed to us, and none of it can be preserved so long and against eternity.
…29But they pleaded with Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.… Luke 24: 29-31
…17Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not extinguish the Spirit.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 17-19
…30If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 32Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—… 1 Corinthians 10: 30-32
V. 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets - This wasn't some weird, hippy visualizing meal where they pretended to eat. They started out with what wouldn't fill my lunch bag and ended up with 12 large baskets. Everyone was fed, everyone was full, and there was still a striking visual left over. What is going through the disciple's minds as they are carrying the baskets?
V. 14 This is truly the prophet - They are referencing Moses and possibly Elisha, which could start a rabbit trail, the prophet he said would come like him. This is a sign, like the Manna from heaven, but Moses did not make the Manna, God sent it. This is clearly a declaration, a testament to Who Jesus is, but is it enough for these people to truly believe? They are saying it now, but we will have to wait and see.
…9Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? 10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. 11He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.… Genesis 49: 9-11
…16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.… Numbers 24: 16-18
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.
16 “This is according to all that you asked of the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’
17 “The Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well.
18 ‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. Deuteronomy 18: 15-18
Barton - Elisha foreshadowed this Prophet (who was one and the same as the Messiah) to come. According to 2Ki 4:42–44, Elisha fed one hundred men with twenty loaves (a 5:1 ratio). But Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves (a 1000:1 ratio)! In Isaiah 25:6–9, the prophet said that the Messiah would prepare a great feast for all people, Jews and Gentiles. This miracle shows Jesus to be the Messiah (ED: TO THOSE WHO HAVE EYES TO SEE!). (Life application study Bible, Gospel of John - Borrow)
William MacDonald - They were waiting for an earthly monarch. But their faith was not genuine. They were not willing to admit that Jesus was the Son of God or to confess their sins and accept Him as Savior. (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary)
Henry Morris - This is the third of seven great miracles of creation described by John (John 20:31) to demonstrate the deity of Christ. Jesus superseded the law of conservation of matter by creating a great amount of bread and meat for the multitude. This law, considered one of the most basic and universal laws of physics, states that matter (or "mass") can neither be created nor destroyed. The miraculous feeding of the multitude is one of the few events described in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17). (Borrow The Defender's Study Bible) - Precept Austin
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