John 6:1-15

Gospel according to John 6:1-15

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber'i-as. And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?" Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 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. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" 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.

Reflections

In these readings, we witness the importance of faith as the disciples rely on Jesus rather than their own resources. When faced with the challenge of feeding a large crowd, Philip and Andrew express their doubts about how they can provide enough food. However, Jesus demonstrates that faith in Him can overcome any obstacle. This passage reminds us that in our own lives, we should place our trust in Jesus and rely on His power rather than our limited resources.

The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand also highlights the concept of spiritual nourishment. Jesus, referred to as the Bread of Life, provides not only physical sustenance but also spiritual fulfillment. Just as the crowd was fed and satisfied, we too can find true satisfaction and nourishment in Jesus. This passage encourages us to seek spiritual nourishment through our relationship with Him, recognizing that He is the source of all that we need.

Compassion is another key theme in this passage. Jesus recognizes that the crowd is in need of rest and nourishment, and He responds with compassion. Despite His own need for rest, He prioritizes the needs of the people and performs a miracle to feed them. This act of compassion serves as a powerful example for us to follow. It reminds us to be attentive to the needs of others and to respond with kindness and empathy, even when it requires personal sacrifice.

The generosity of the boy who offers his five barley loaves and two fish is also noteworthy. Despite the smallness of his offering, he is willing to give away all of his food to strangers. This act of generosity demonstrates the impact that even a small act of kindness can have when placed in Jesus’ hands. It encourages us to be generous with what we have, trusting that God can multiply our efforts to bless others.

Finally, the public demonstration of Jesus’ divinity through this miracle is significant. By feeding the five thousand, Jesus reveals His divine power and authority. This miracle was performed so that the crowd could see and believe in Him. It serves as a reminder that Jesus is not only a compassionate teacher but also the Son of God. This passage invites us to recognize and believe in Jesus’ divinity, trusting that He is capable of providing for all our needs.