Lesson 16: John 6:1-15 - Feeding the 5,000

1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
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?”
6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get 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 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.
12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”
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!”
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.


Chapter 6 of John is Jesus’ answer, in action and words, to the unbelief of the religious leaders. It was near Passover, so the Jews were thinking of blood, lambs and unleavened bread. They longed for a new Moses who would free them from the rule of Rome. Although this was a wilderness area, many followed Jesus because they were curious to see the miracles He performed. When Jesus saw the crowds coming, He tested Philip by asking him where they would get bread to feed this crowd. Philip responded that even eight month’s wages worth of bread would not feed this crowd. On the other hand, Andrew, who is always seen bringing someone to Jesus, introduced a lad to Jesus who had brought his lunch of five barley loaves and two small fishes. Jesus blessed the food and divided the loaves and fishes and distributed them to the crowd – as much as they wanted. When the crowd could eat no more, they gathered up twelve baskets of leftovers. Nothing was lost. Our modest offerings can be sufficient if placed in His hands. He can even use you and me! The people were greatly impressed and believed this was the Prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15) who was to come into the world. Like Moses, they wanted this prophet to feed them and lead them out of Roman bondage. Rather than allow Himself to be forced to become their leader, Jesus withdrew to the mountain alone.

*What has God asked of you which you thought wasn’t enough, or good enough, to give to Him?