Good Questions - Day 4
- adelebowler
- Nov 19, 2024
- 4 min read
Day Four Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?
Read: John 6.1-15
This story is recounted in all four Gospels. Today’s question comes amid Jesus’ rise in popularity. In the text, we find Jesus traveling to the east side of the Sea of Galilee to a region known as the Sea of Tiberias. This isn’t a place with a large population of Jews; Gentiles live in this area more than any other people group.
People are following Jesus everywhere. His message is captivating. As many as 20,000 people gather on this mountainside.
Verse 5 begins, “When Jesus looked up.” Jesus looks up and sees this great crowd of needy, hungry, and sick people. But He’s not inconvenienced or frustrated by these people. These, too, are His people. And He knows that this group of people will soon walk away from Him. He knows they are not really looking for a Savior—they are just looking for a solution to their immediate need. They are looking to survive.
Jesus knows, He sees, and in an act of compassion, He begins to work to meet their needs. This time, He’s going to involve all of His disciples.
Jesus leans over to Phillip, who is from Bethsaida, the center of this region, and says, “Phillip, where can we buy some pizza and wings for this crowd?”
Inherent in the question is an invitation to Phillip to count the cost. There is an actual cost associated with feeding this crowd. Jesus wants Phillip to do the math so that when He does this miracle, the disciples will know this stuff doesn’t happen in their own strength.
Phillip takes a long look at the crowd and starts calculating. He comes up with the total andsomewhat exasperated says, “Jesus, it would take 200 denarii. It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Meanwhile, Andrew’s been working on the sidelines, also trying to come up with a solution. Then he meets this little boy who has some fish and bread. Andrew gets a crazy idea. He knows it’s crazy, but Jesus is good with crazy, so he decides to pitch it.
Picture Andrew smiling as he and this kid are walking over to Jesus and Phillip. Andrew starts laughing before he can get the idea out. He’s probably even shaking his head, and putting his arm around the boy he says, “Hey guys, I know this is a crazy idea, but I found this kid who has some bread and two fish. I know it can’t feed everybody, but Jesus, I bet you could do something with this!”
I imagine Phillip and the other disciples saying, “That’s the dumbest idea we’ve ever heard…look at all these hungry people. Get that kid and his barley bread lunch out of here.” They scoff at Andrew, “barley bread, that’s for poor people!” Andrew isn’t deterred. He knows it’s not about the food; it is about something much bigger than lunch. Andrew faithfully shows up and says, “I know, I know, crazy idea, but Jesus, you are the King of crazy ideas.”
Jesus smiles and does what only Jesus can do. He sees Andrew’s faith and receives the little boys' packed lunch. The Bread of Life blesses all of it and feeds the entire crowd.
This is not a simple story, but there is a simplicity to it:
A packed lunch Brought to Jesus Jesus feeds everyone.
Our stories are not simple. They are full of the ordinary, dripping with the Divine. Our call is not to feed the world, nor is it to save it. Our invitation is to faithfully pack our everyday, ordinarylunch, bring it to Jesus, and trust Him to do what only He can—to give bread that causes us to hunger no more, to pour a drink that quenches all thirst.
Paul writes to the church in Rome, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him” Romans 12.1-2 (MSG).
Imagine what He could do with your lunch!
Questions to Consider:
Benediction: On that day, at that moment, on that crowded, grassy hillside Jesus took the loaves. He held them up to heaven, and He gave thanks: Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz. Amein. Blessed are You, Adonai, Our God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen.
On this day, at this moment, we remember Your words, Lord Jesus:
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
Our eyes are fixed on You, Adonai, Waiting in anticipation for You to reveal Yourself to us In the breaking of bread. Your presence so real within and amongst us, Our hands outstretched, Your words oh so gently falling upon us— Blessing upon blessing upon blessing. And with full hearts we give thanks as we feed on You, The Bread of Life. |
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