The Gospel of John #25

By Robert Guenther

We are continuing our review of the Gospel of John and the Lord is proving who he is by performing a miracle of feeding 5,000 people from five barley loaves and two small fish.

Vs. Joh 6:4 “And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.” The Gentiles would not understand the importance of this special Jewish feast but under the law the Jews were required to keep this feast of the Passover. In Ex 12:14 “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” It is necessary for the Lord to provide the food for this feast as another way of proving Who He is.

Vs. Joh 6:5 “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” The Lord takes this opportunity to instruct His disciples by asking questions, that He already knows the answers to, as another effective way to teach them.

Vs. Joh 6:6 “And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.” This is yet another method the Lord uses as He tests Philip’s faith to prove how much he believes. Our Lord will test us from time to time to teach us what He would have us to know about ourselves.

Vs. Joh 6:7 “Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” Philip is looking at their bank account and does not have enough funds to pay for food so the Lord will supply the needs of this multitude.

Vs. Joh 6:8 “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,” Andrew is going to come up with yet another solution to this problem by looking at the physical surroundings.

Vs Joh 6:9 “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” The result of his search reveals that there is not enough food available to feed the number of people present.

Vs. Joh 6:10 “And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.” We will read in our next few verses that the Lord not only meets the need but exceeds their expectations and they have food left over.

Vs Joh 6:11, 12 “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”

continued…