. . .
You’re the way the truth and the life
You’re the well that will never run dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
In John 6: 1-15 we read Jesus feeding the five thousand. Having heard this story so many times in Sunday school growing up to now, my eyes were opened to all that I was missing in this passage.
“3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
Jesus is not asking this out of lack of knowledge, he is asking to grow their faith. He is about to do something new, he is about to reveal more of his character to his disciples.
“6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”
Jesus, in full knowledge of the amount of food to people present, was he frantically searching? No the disciples probably were though. Jesus is their rock, he’s requiring them to take what they’ve said they believe and now live it.
“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 they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.”
Throughout scripture, Jesus reveals more of who he is. In him, there is no fault. In this story, we see Jesus and his provision, the assurance we have rooted in him is secure. He always has and always will provide. It is because of who he is that we can have faith. It is by faith that we believe.
“13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
What it would have been like to be one of the 5,000. Then, Jesus was there in the flesh; Now, he is here in spirit, we have free access to him always by the grace of his omnipresent self. He is, was, and always will be. This past year, when reading scripture, I have asked God to reveal more of himself, who he is, and make tangible his character to me through his written word. When reading this passage in John, he reminded me of Psalm 23: 2-3, “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for HIS namesake.” May this be a reminder to you to take time and simply abide in who Jesus is.
Where the Spirit leads
As I’m following
I depend on You
When I pass through death
As I enter rest
I depend on You
From beginning to the end,
Jesus is the provider.
Jesus is freedom.
Jesus is the reason for joy.
Jesus is concrete peace.
Jesus is the word.
Jesus is life.
Jesus is everything.
“12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”
Be my all my treasure my prize
I am Yours forever Your mine
Draw me close and teach me to abide
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