John 6:12

When everyone has eaten their fill, Jesus tells his disciples, “Please collect the leftovers.  Don’t let anything go to waste.” John 6:12 EFP

It’s amazing to think over ten thousand people are fed with two fish and five loaves of bread.  It’s baffling to imagine how it all happens, just like that. But now it’s done, and all that remains is the cleanup and commentary.

The words “when they had all had enough to eat” are intriguing.  They must have been eating for a while.  Somehow they eat until they are full: a full first helping, a second helping for those who do not have much to eat at home; a third helping for those who want to hedge their bet in case there will be nothing to eat for some time.  There is enough!  No one is left wanting more.  Jesus provides sufficient to meet the need.  The parallels with the gracious gift of salvation is captivating.  Jesus anticipates their need.  Jesus sets in motion the plan to meet the need. They receive without cost.  They are gifted with enough to meet the need. 

There is no shortage of grace provided for my benefit.  Salvation is not given in measured portions.  In fact, the fact that Jesus asks the disciples to collect the leftovers confirms the words of Paul, “where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more.” (CSB)  There is more than enough grace to exceed my need for it.  That’s good news!

John 6:11

With no fanfare, Jesus takes the barley loaves, give thanks to God, and distributes them to those who are seated—all they can eat. He then takes the puny fish and does the same with them.  John 6:11 EFP

A flood of questions invades my mind when this scene develops.  Are the women seated yet?  Do they get to eat if they are not seated?  Who distributes the food?  How do they distribute it?  Do they carry the bread with their hands?  Their robes?  Do baskets appear as well?  Do they serve everyone bread first and then fish later?  Is the fish cooked?  Raw?  Salted?  There are more….

I realize those questions are really pointless at this time.  I either believe the miracle happens or I don’t.  And if the miracle is taking place, then the incidentals take care of themselves at the time of the miracle.  The miracle is in fact only a preamble to the main event.  But even the opening act of this watershed day in the ministry of Jesus is beyond comprehension.  It is simple and comprehensive at the same time.  Jesus gives thanks and then makes sure there is more than enough for everyone.  Everyone!  More than enough. Sort of like…salvation!

It reminds me of another hoard of people in the desert being fed miraculously by heaven-sent bread…. God is always prepared to give me what I need when I need it. And he always has more than enough. It’s one of the benefits of being God.

John 6:10

Jesus must have smiled as he says to Andrew, “Just have the people sit down.”  There is lots of green, lush grass all over the hillside.”  So, the men get comfortable when instructed to do so.  There is about five thousand men in the crowd.  Add to that number women and children.  Their number must have exceeded ten thousand!  John 6:10 EFP

Jesus already knows what he is going to do before they arrive.  I am almost certain he smiles when he asks his disciples to tell the crowd to sit down on the hillside lawn. I had to chuckle when the narrative says “the men sat down” (NIV).  I can understand the children not sitting, since they were probably spread all across the hillside running on the carpet of grass, jumping off the countless boulders, chasing insects, doing the things children do when they are in the great outdoors.  But what about the women?

At first I thought it was just another “inclusive” use of the word men.  But then it occurs to me the women do not sit down.  The men do!  The women remain standing until the men are taken care of.  Bring them water.  Make sure they are comfortable.  Find the children and settle them down.  Then, and only then, can the women sit down.  But in the midst of this cultural and time-tested custom, the stark reality of the number of people begins to sink in.  At least ten thousand hungry, thirsty, and tired people spread all over the mountainside.  They came to hear a sermon.  Boy, were they in for the surprise of a lifetime.

Get comfortable.  Things are going to get a bit dicey before the day is done on the “far side of the sea.”

John 6:9

“Look, Jesus!” Andrew injects, “Here’s a young lad with five smallish loaves of barley bread and two equally small fish.  I don’t suppose these will go very far with so many people to feed.”  John 6:9 EFP

Well, there it is!  Andrew being Andrew.  But there is also more to this text than meets the eye at first glance.  Yes, this is Andrew doing what he does best; he finds someone and brings him to Jesus.  Just like when he went and found his brother.

But there is a somewhat self-deprecating side to Andrew as well.  Perhaps it is the fact that he lives in the shadow of his bigger-than-life brother.  Maybe life taught him that being quiet and yielding is better that being loud and headstrong (aka Peter).  But note how he make his “pitch.”  He brings not just a lad—he qualifies it by adding “young.”  The five barley loves are “small”—and only five.  To boot he mentions two fish that are—you guessed it…small.  And to add the obvious to the meager supplies he adds, “I don’t think this is going to do!”  I picture Eeyore, the A. A. Milne character from the Winnie the Pooh series of books.

But in spite of his limitations; in spite of his hesitancy; in spite of his thinly-veiled negativism, Andrew does the one thing the other disciples, including Phillip, do not do.  He brings his meager effort to Jesus.  He carries his doubts to Jesus.  He discloses his lack of resources to Jesus.  He exposes his lack of faith to Jesus. There is lesson I am trying to learn. I gain nothing from bringing a gussied up version of myself to God. I need to come just as I am. But I must also remember, Jesus already knows what he is going to do! He’s just waiting for me to come to him in a spirit of honesty. Teach me, Lord!

John 6:8

All of a sudden, here comes Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, with a suggestion to add to the mix.  John 6:8 EFP

 Andrew—well there’s another name we haven’t heard in while—chapter one of the Gospel of John, to be exact!  The last thing Scripture records him doing before this moment is found in verse 41 of chapter one, when he recruits his brother, Peter.  “We have found the Messiah” are his exact words on that day.  He finds the Messiah and then goes out and finds his brother in order to get him to meet the Anointed One.

That’s a pretty important act to Andrew’s credit.  Considering the impact Peter would have on the church after Jesus’ departure, it is monumental.  The fact is that at this point no one could have imagined the impact of his decision to recruit his brother would have on the fledging church.  So it is a bit of a surprise to have Andrew speak up.  He doesn’t say much.  Two times.  That’s it.  Two other times.  Once when he calls his brother (John 1:41), the other, when Phillip and him go to inform Jesus of some Greeks that are looking for him (John 12:22).  The rest of the times when he is mentioned, it is in the context of his relationship to Peter, his brother.

But there he is bringing a suggestion to Jesus.  There is something to be said about speaking up only when you have something to say, isn’t there?  I might pay better attention to what I have to say if my words are measured.  Well, let’s see where this goes…. 

John 6:7

“What?” responds Phillip. He is not aware of Jesus’ reason for asking him such a question. “I figure if I had all my wages for the past eight months I would still come up short.  And by short I mean I would barely have enough to buy bread to have everyone have a measly bite, certainly not enough to feed them a reasonable meal.”  John 6:7 EFP

True to his personality, Phillip does not waver.  He gives Jesus an answer.  He is resourceful and ever-ready to seek a solution.  “Tall order, Jesus.  But here is my assessment.”  He does the math and figures out the minimum amount needed to fit the situation.  Isn’t that just like us?  Isn’t that like me?

Remember, Jesus already knows what he was going to do.  This is a test.  Phillip challenges the test and comes up with the best solution based on his ability.  He does not consider Jesus’ ability to solve the dilemma to a degree he can even imagine.  Perhaps Phillip’s answer should have been, “What do you think, Jesus?”  But how many time have I “solved” a problem by simply taking it on, rather than by pausing to ask God for some clarity.  My solution might suffice, but I miss out on God’s perspective.  This is a hard lesson for me to learn.  I am a problem-solver.  I deal with crisis most every day—other people’s crises.  But when it comes to my life, I need to learn to be less self-sufficient and to resort to the power of prayer to tap in to a source of strength and insight infinitely greater than my own. “Do you have any ideas, God?  I’m stumped!”  That is the best place to start.

John 6:6

Jesus was asking Phillip the question about feeding the crowd to test him. The fact is he already knew the answer and what he was planning to do.  John 6:6 EFP

Well, I guess this answers the question as to why Jesus asked Phillip the question.  In short—he is testing him.  It is, after all, God’s prerogative to test us, isn’t it?  It may be uncomfortable and disconcerting, but there is no doubt God has his reasons for doing so.  Perhaps it is for no other reason than to make us uncomfortable or disconcerted.  Those moments of testing and trial are often needed to get us to wake up or stand up or shore up.  Living in a state of stupor, taking life as it comes with no clue, is dangerous, even deadly.  It’s like driving when you’re half asleep.

This text remind me of a second truth regarding God’s choice to test me—he already knows what he is going to do before he leads me into the maze.  He has the solution.  He has already processed the best way to resolve my predicament.  He knows how to get me out!  God is never caught off guard.  Oh yeah, I may not be all that willing to sign on to what he has in store.  My response might not line up with his solution.  I may choose a totally different path to take than the one he knows is best.  He can handle that too.  But if I am willing to wait and listen to his promptings, God will work it out.  He knows what’s best before he sets up the scenario to shake me out of my lax living. The critical part is for me to learn to listen to his prompts…and fall on my knees to tune in to his leading. This lesson is not an easy one to learn.

John 6:5

Jesus’ time with his disciples is interrupted when he notices an immense crowd climbing the hill where he and his disciples are seated.  He calls Phillip over and asks him, “Where do you think we are going to find enough food to feed this crowd?  And how are we going to pay for it?” John 6:5 EFP

This verse is pretty straight forward, except the part where he asks Phillip the question that must have startled him.  How are we going to find the food to feed all these people, and how are we going to pay for it?  Before we address why Jesus asks Phillip, am I the only one wondering why Jesus feels it is his duty to feed the hoard at all?  Jesus and his crew are the foreigners.  Is anyone expecting them to feed the locals?  But back to Phillip…why does Jesus ask him?  Why not Peter—he seems a bit more resourceful.  Judas is the money man of the group (although Judas has not been mentioned yet, he will be…soon).

Certainly his hometown is nothing extraordinary.  Nathanael, Peter, and Andrew are all from Bethsaida, a fishing town on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee.  The only hints I find in the text are a couple of verses in chapter one of John—both having to do with his role in the calling of Nathanael, and the preceding text about his own calling to follow Jesus.  Phillip, it appears, is a go-getter, one that is not afraid to make spot decisions and follow those choices with fervor and passion.  When Jesus comes calling, he follows.  Period.  When confronted with Nathanael’s less-than-enthusiastic response to his invitation to join him in following Jesus, he simple says, “Come and see!”  Jesus sees in Phillip a committed and confident disciple—one willing to put his faith on the line and not shrink away from a challenge. 

What does God see when he sees me?  Does he see commitment?  Devotion?  Faith?  Passion?   Or am I a reed flailing in the wind of uncertainty and self-doubt?  I want to see more Philip-like confidence in my life, one that flows from a conviction in the power of the One who calls me even today.  

John 6:4

It so happens that Passover, a high feast for the Jewish, was nearing. John 6:4 EFP

This is the second Passover of Jesus’ ministry.  The first one is mentioned in the second chapter of John.  It is helpful to make note of this major event in the Jewish calendar because it helps keep track of the length of Jesus ministry.

I pause to consider that each Passover must bring a sobering reminder to Jesus that the time clock leading to his sacrifice as the Lamb of God is also drawing nearer.  How does he process these feelings?  Is this one of the topics he shares with his disciples?  It must have forced him to spend time alone with his Father clarifying the path that laid before him.

Jesus would experience three Passover feasts during the course of his earthy ministry. This one is the second.  The third one would cost him his life.  It is called a “high feast” of the Jewish people—yet so few realized the magnitude and the significance this “feast” would forever carry.  But Jesus knew…and another Passover was nearing, drawing him closer to the “highest” Passover of them all. 

John 6:3

After spending considerable time healing the masses, Jesus and his disciples climb a nearby mountain and sit down together. John 6:3 EFP

We all need some down time.  I am acquainted with the fact Jesus spent many hours in prayer. I can also surmise he spent many hours becoming versed in the Scriptures.  We are reminded in the previous verse he spent time healing the people in this new territory on the “far side of the sea.”  Let’s not forget his sermons, or the time he spends constantly defending his ministry and credentials as the Son of God.  That’s a pretty full docket for anyone.

But even the Son of God relishes the time he spends with his friends, whether in his hometown, in a boat crossing the sea, or even on the side of a hill after a long day.  Down time.  Some of us are better at this concept than others, but God does not only give us a Sabbath to enjoy and the night to sleep; He also gives us an example of the importance of getting away to relax and spend “down time” with friends.  I would have given anything to be there to hear what they talked about.  I have to believe it was not serious all the time.  Can it be they laughed at humorous incidents that had taken place that day?  Did they reminisce about simpler days on the banks of the River Jordan?  Did they just lay back and soak in the Palestinian sunshine?  I hope so.  Someday I look forward to doing just that with my best friend Jesus in heaven…soon I hope.

John 6:2

No sooner does he arrive, an immense mob begins to follow him due to the miracles he performs on their sick. John 6:2 EFP

There is no down time for Jesus when he arrives in Perea, on the far side of the Sea of Galilee.  Apparently Jesus begins to heal people immediately, and as a result a large crowd begins to follow him around.  There is no record of preaching or teaching.  He gets into town and heals the first person sick he sees! And then another.  And another!

I guess that’s sermon enough.  It is a new day on the backwash side of the Sea of Galilee.  There is excitement.  There is healing.  A great healer has come to “the country beyond.”  Jesus must have known that there is no time for formal introductions in the “wild west”—they probably did not take well to strangers from the other side of the pond, especially those uppity Jews that consider themselves better than everyone else!  Jesus knows actions speak louder than words.  This was one of those moments.

Lord, help me identify those moments when I need to let your light shine through my deeds even if my words remain silent.  

John 6:1

Some time passes and the encounter with the Jerusalem interrogators seems a distant memory. Jesus decides to journey to the far side of the Sea of Galilee (which is also known as the Sea of Tiberias). John 6:1 EFP

Jesus and his crew have been on the near shore of the Galilee for an indefinite time.  It is as close to a comfort zone as there is for Jesus.  He is familiar with the people and the places.  He is known by his family and friends, which is good, but which brings its own set of challenges.  But it is home after all, and it seems to be a place where he feels comfortable and at ease—he will retreat to the near side of the Sea of Galilee multiple times during his ministry.

But there is also the “far side of the sea.”  This is not familiar territory by any stretch of the imagination.  It is not Galilee anymore.  It is not Jerusalem or any part of Judea for that matter. It is not even Samaria, where there is a distant, albeit strained, connection with Israel.  This is Perea, the “far side of the sea”—literally “the country beyond.”  But Jesus’ life is led by a higher calling, and it is that calling that leads him to venture out of his comfort zone to “seek and save” the lost, even those that live on the “far side of the sea.”  I am happy he came to my side of the sea—I would be lost and hopeless without him.

But that reality causes me to ponder where that “far side of the sea” is for me today? I am sure each day brings those moments that confront me with opportunities to go outside the familiar and cozy into the unknown. Lord, help me recognize and seize those moments in my life.

John 5:46

“If you truly believe in Moses and what he says, you will believe in me and in what I say, because he writes about me.” John 5:46 EFP

The strongest condemnation leveled against a Christian community of faith is they do not place enough importance on the centrality of Christ.  It is interesting to note the Jewish nation, who valued the coming of the Messiah above all, failed to recognize the Messiah when he arrived.  They were well acquainted with the Scriptures, but missed the “forest for the trees.” Jesus claims the Torah speaks of him—or stated differently, it was written to point to him.  Moses’ writings are, according to Jesus, a narrative that speaks of the coming Messiah.

I am not immune to the danger of being immersed in the Bible while failing to soak in the life-changing truth about Jesus.  Do I see that evidence in the Books of Moses?  Do I see the hints pointing to Jesus in the Creation story, the fall of man, the flood, and the journeys of the patriarchs?  Does the reading of Exodus story, the Levitical code, the countless numbers and lists, or even the recounting of the story by Moses before he ascends Mount Pisgah lead me to love Jesus more?  According to Jesus, his name is woven into the very fiber of every story.  Obviously, Moses never mentions Jesus by that name, but his presence is etched in the very canvass of the scenes depicted by Moses.  I do well to let them sink in when I read the story again…and again.

It’s not just a story; it’s not just history…it’s His story.

John 5:45

“You need to realize it is not me who points out the fallacy of your position.  That role belongs to Moses, the one on whom you pin your personal and national hopes.” John 5:45 EFP

Jesus appears to be saying if our hopes, beliefs, doctrines, and tenets find their bedrock on a human source or some charismatic personality, the day of reckoning will come.  The very words of that human source will come back to accuse and condemn us.  That is a sobering thought, particularly for a church that must continually defend itself from that very accusation. 

My core must always and only be Jesus.  All must flow to and from the Rock of the Ages.  If I fail at this, I fail at everything.  My “hope is built on nothing less that Jesus blood and righteousness.”  Any house of faith that either ignores or neglects the foundation of Christ will fall under the weight of its unsubstantiated claims.  Jesus’ words remain a solemn warning to all who claim to be disciples of Christ.

John 5:44

“Is it even possible for you to believe in me?  How can that be when you are willing to accept affirmation from anyone but me—the one who offers the highest form of praise—direct from God?”  John 5:44 EFP

I imagine there existed a “mutual admiration society” in those days as it exists today.  Religious circles are not immune from the propensity to establish a “school of thought” of like-minded thinking people.  What develops as a result is the tendency to work toward perpetuating the pet idea and ensure it endures outside critique by mounting a counteroffensive aimed at minimizing the damage or eliminating the threat.

I can’t help but feel I need to guard myself from this bent.  I have to answer only to the God who calls me to proclaim the Gospel, and who calls me continually to honor that calling through an unending search for a clearer understanding of the character of God.  This is a risky proposition, since it is possible to come to a conclusion that may deviate from the orthodoxy I have held.  Such is the dilemma of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time.  It is also a lurking danger for any student of the Word and any religious body.  My goal is to receive praise from God, not from those who agree with me.  I was taught long ago, “Truth has nothing to fear from close scrutiny, it can only reveal more truth not discovered previously.”  That is something I can cling to.

John 5:43

“Think about it—I am here with the backing of my father, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes with nothing but his self-appointed credentials, you will undoubtedly accept him.  How does that make sense?”  John 5:43 EFP

What applies to this band of non-believers can easily apply to us—to me.  The truth is we will go to extremes to defend a personal position or to reject a point of view that threatens our personal conviction, our comfort zone, or our personal status quo.  Once we have set the standard of what is true as equal to that which we believe we risk overlooking truth in favor of our personal preference.

What is at stake here is basically, “Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God”?  Their silent response is clear.  They do not, and nothing he says or anything they see will convince them otherwise.  They will defend their rejection to the death…of Jesus.  There is too much at stake personally for them to even consider the possibility that their understanding of Scripture is not infallible. 

The question still stands before all seekers of truth—“Do I believe?”  Jesus is not asking me for mental assent; he is asking me for a life-changing decision to internalize and live out my belief in him.  Having faith in Jesus as the Son of God is a leap that requires a willingness to let go of what I may consider most precious.  There is no such thing as “sort of believing” in Jesus.  It only makes sense, since there was no holding back of anything by Jesus when he entered the human experience.  Do you believe?

John 5:42

“Besides, I know all about you—there is no love for God in your hearts.”  John 5:42 EFP

You know the worrisome part of this verse?  Jesus is talking to people in my business.  These are religious leaders who are challenging him, and this is his response.  It’s sobering to think these religious leaders do not have a love for God in their hearts.  How did this happen?  I can’t believe they began their spiritual path with the idea they would not have any love for God.  It seems so contradictory at its root. 

But Jesus is not just bluffing—he knows them.  He can see right through them and he does not like what he sees.  Their empty condition is made more tragic because they are the ones entrusted with the spiritual nurturing of the populace.  They speak for God.  The help the people understand the will of God.  What happened?  When did they go bad?

There has to be a message for me in here.  Every verse contains at least some morsel for me to nibble on.  When God sees me, does he see a love for Him?  What does a love for God look like?  Is it seen in my words?  In my deeds?  In my thoughts?  In my motives?  I need the love of God “deep, deep; down, down; deep down in my heart,” as the song says.  If it’s in there, the rest takes care of itself.  God will see me and recognize me as his child.

John 5:41

“I do not tolerate flattery from anyone.”  John 5:41 EFP

This statement seems a bit random….  It comes at the end of a series of statements made by Jesus defending his claims to the religious authorities.  He calls on the testimony of John the Baptist and even God himself.  He refers to his miracles as additional evidence of the validity of his claim.  Then this—“I do not accept praise from any person.” 

Is this a proscriptive or descriptive statement?  Is he saying it because it is the way things are with him or because this is the way things ought to be for all?  Praise coming from a person is fickle.  Flattery is nothing more than a manipulative tool used by people to gain advantage.  Yet both are shoveled out on a daily basis in most human circles.  Business runs on this fuel.  Politics would not exist without this fodder.  But is it a solid basis for credibility?  There has to be more to my reputation than simply the flowery words of colleagues or parishioners. In truth, most people can be deceived into seeing genuine character where none exists.  Even close family members can be in the dark about secret lives until the veil of exposure is drawn. 

In the end the only valid and infallible witness is from God. The irony of this reality is the fact that this witness will not be heard until all is said and done. The real judge give the final judgment and everything hinges on his verdict.  Nothing is hidden from his eyes.  The good news is that his heart leans toward his children.  Heaven’s eyes see things differently than human eyes.

John 5:40

“Yet all your knowledge of Scripture falls flat because you refuse to let it lead you to me and to the life I can give you.”  John 5:40 EFP

What is the point of knowing the Bible and ignoring the author?  What is the point of being a master of the details of Scripture and knowing little of the character of the one who inspired it?  What good does it serve to quote verse after verse to support your religious conviction if you fail to honor the spirit on which it was written?  It’s like Paul says in the first letter to the Corinthians, chapter thirteen, verse one, “I am nothing but a gratingly loud gong or an annoyingly clanging cymbal.”

What’s the point of my religious pedigree or my degrees declaring my scriptural erudition if in the end my journey through the halls of higher biblical education has not changed my life as a result of an encounter with Jesus?  There is none!  I am worthless and a wretched stench compared to the fragrant aroma of the Kingdom of God.  I am the worst danger to the Gospel.  I can cause more damage through my pious religiosity than an army of atheists.  My good works fall flat even if they are impressive.  My preaching stinks even if it sounds powerful to the listeners and is entertaining to the masses.  It is pointless vanity with no value to the cause of Christ.  No Jesus – no point!   I get it.  Help me, Lord!