Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

- John 6:1–15 

 

In recent readings, Jesus had healed a paralytic while attending the Feast of Weeks, or Old Testament Pentecost, in Jerusalem.  He was challenged by the religious leaders for healing on a Sabbath, and responded regarding His identity as Son and relation to the Father.  In yesterday's reading, He continued, "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  My study Bible comments that the entirety of chapter 6 of John's Gospel is a parallel to the story of the Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt in several important ways.  So, here we note that it is the time of the Passover (this is the second Passover recorded during Christ's earthly ministry in John's Gospel).  We also note another commonality in that, in Exodus (Exodus 11 - 17), God first performed signs against Pharaoh, and then gave instructions of how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  Here also, multitudes follow Christ because of His signs.

 

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  My study Bible says that here Christ tests Philip to increase his faith, as Philip needed help in understanding Him (John 14:8-10).  It notes that two hundred denarii corresponds to over six months' wages for a laborer.   My study Bible adds that Andrew has greater faith than Philip.  He knows that the prophet Elisha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), and so offers the food brought by a particular lad.  But nonetheless, Andrew remains weak in faith, as he questions what a mere five loaves could do for the number of people there.  

  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  Although Jesus had performed greater signs than this one, my study Bible says, the crowds so desired an earthly Messiah that here they declare Jesus the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only after they were filled with earthly things.  Due to this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.  In another parallel to the story of the Exodus, the Jews were said to eat unleavened bread because they were hastily driven out of Egypt and had brought no provisions of food for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  Here Jesus has fed the multitudes with earthly bread, as they had brought no provisions, having rushed out to see Him.  

In today's reading we are given the feeding of the multitude which is the fourth of seven signs reported in John's Gospel.  So central to the story of Christ is this event that it is recorded in all four Gospels.  My study Bible comments that the description of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (Greek ευχαριστω/eucharisto), and distributed them is a prefiguring of the celebration of the Eucharist.  The twelve baskets of left over fragments of loaves suggest the Eucharist -- Christ, the bread of life  -- being taken by the apostles to all the world.  So we come to terms with the concept that feeding is central to our God, and to our understanding of what it is that God does for us.  God feeds us.  Eating is so central to life in the world, and so central to the life of all creatures, we might consider the seeking for food to be our most primal instinct.  There are those who say that more than anything else that we need, food takes a precedence.   The securing of food becomes our greatest incentive motivating behavior in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.  So Christ as Lord -- just as in the feedings in the wilderness with manna -- steps in out of compassion to feed those who have followed Him, suggesting to us that the Lord provides for those who seek Him.  But as this story prefigures the Eucharist, we must consider with what food we are provided by Christ, and how His food feeds us for a kind of eternal day and an eternal life.  In the story of His encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, Jesus promised a living water that would provide that one would never again thirst, water that once given a person by Christ, "will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (see this reading).  Of course, we know that the food Christ will leave us permanently will be His own sacrifice, shared with us in a communal meal in the Eucharist, His Body and Blood that will become even a part of us so that we may live through participation in His life, death, and Resurrection.  This is a kind of sustenance, a food that feeds us through all things, that will help us to live a life that is more than just about flesh, or materialism, but rather a life with grace, with a sense in which God is calling us through all things.  Christ's food for us is God's promise and God's love, that we are not abandoned even when all else fails, and others upon whom we may depend fall through.  In Christ's food we have more than the satiating of a material impulse, here now and quenched a few moments later, but a deeper need sustaining our souls and helping us to recognize God's care for our lives and our well-being in all kinds of ways.  The people who follow Christ in today's reading do so in order to make Him king, because they want the material substance and food He can provide, but to be king is not what He is after, nor is His great sign of feeding in the wilderness performed simply in order that they would think of Him this way.  Christ is a different kind of King with a different kind of Kingdom, one to which we are drawn through something more than the next meal we need, or the food for one day.  What Christ feeds us with is an entire Kingdom, a system of strengths and of values, an energy of grace, the assurance of life and of love, the challenge to live our lives with meanings that surpass the rest of what we know, and the power to keep going even when so much is lost.  Let us be grateful for all He offers, and take in the food He gives to nurture all the ways -- both known and unknown -- we might grow in His sight, and under His care.  We might note a seemingly small detail, that Christ tells His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost," indicating something so priceless, of such valuable substance, that nothing may be lost, so that even the smallest morsel is precious.  For the tiniest morsel of this food has in it the power of life and Resurrection, making all things new all the time.

 

 

 

There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  

 

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting own; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did. said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore, when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by himself alone.

 

- John 6:1–15 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His dialogue to the religious leaders, after healing a paralytic on the Sabbath, and declaring His unity with God the Father:   "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.   There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not see the honor that comes from the only God?    Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

 

After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  My study Bible comments that chapter 6 of John's Gospel, which begins here, parallels the story of the Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt in several important ways.  Here we note that in the Exodus account (Exodus 11 - 17), God first performed His signs against Pharaoh, and then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  Here, we read that the multitudes follow Christ because of His signs, and this also takes place at Passover.

 

 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"   Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting own; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Here is another parallel to the Exodus recorded in the Old Testament.  In the Exodus, my study Bible comments, the Jews were said to eat unleavened bread because they were so hastily driven out of Egypt, and could bring no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  But here, Jesus proceeds to feed these multitudes with earthly bread as they had brought no provisions,  because they had rushed out to see Him.   He tests Philip to increase his faith, for, my study Bible explains, Philip needed help in understanding Him (John 14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii corresponds to over six month wages for a laborer.  Andrew has greater faith than Philip.  He knows that the prophet Elisha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), he offers the food brought by a lad.  Nonetheless, my study Bible says, Andrew is still weak in faith, as he questions what five loaves could do for such a number of people there.   The twelve baskets of leftover fragments symbolize that which the apostles would carry into the world.  

 

 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did. said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore, when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by himself alone.  Although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, these crowds so desire an earthly Messiah that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only when they were filled with earthly things, my study Bible shows us.  Because of this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them. 

 

This feeding of the multitude is the fourth of the seven signs of the Lord reported by John the Evangelist.  This feeding is so central to the story of Christ's ministry that it is recorded in all four Gospels.  My study Bible further comments that the description of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (in Greek, Ευχαριστω/Euxaristo) and distributed them prefigures the celebration of the Eucharist.  Not only is it essential that we tie this important story to the Eucharist, and the feeding of the multitudes in the Exodus, it teaches us about the Lord's capacity to fulfill our needs.  Both the people who've followed Christ in this story, and the Israelites who hastily left Egypt in the Exodus, have done so in following the commands of God.  This multitude in today's story has followed Christ because of the signs He's performed which they've seen (so we are to understand there are many more signs done by Christ than the Gospel gives us), but they have also done so in haste and without thinking of provisions.  In this sense, Jesus is like the sun that draws those who need the light, and so "hungry" are they for what Christ offers that they follow Him up on the mountain.  They've put Him first before their need for food, and this is a sign of the search for something in which to put their faith.  So, just as the Lord fed the Israelites with manna, Jesus teaches the disciples to feed this multitude, and provides the miraculous sign in so doing.  Today's story also teaches us, however, that we need to be discerning in how we read and understand signs.  For not only is Jesus the One who can provide this multiplication of food in a miraculous way, He's also the One the signs point to as Lord -- the One who must teach them about the faith and the reality of God He is bringing into the world.  He does not come simply for material comfort, but to reveal God and how God will lead us forward in our lives, and teach us over the course of our lives to grow in dependence upon God, and also to learn what "works" God calls upon us to learn to do ourselves as we grow in that faith and dependence.  Opening up to Christ is a first step; He must also lead us the rest of the way up that mountain toward a deeper communion with God through our faith, and our lives.  Let us think about what it is Christ has with which to feed us.  We bring to Him our own meager or incomplete provisions as we seek to meet Him wherever we might, but from there we need also to follow Him forward on terms He teaches us, for He has come to lead and to heal.  Perhaps He asks us, in His way, about what we think we need, in order to teach us what it is we really need -- and what food there is that we don't know about (John 4:32).  The people at the end of this story today wish to forcefully make Him king, a political Messiah.  But Jesus has other plans, and greater things to achieve and to bring to us.  Jesus tells the disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  In Him, what there is that may feed us is never lost, and we may always turn to Him for more than we understood before. 

 

 

 

 

 

Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

- John 6:1-15 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been attending the Feast of Tabernacles, an autumn festival which commemorates the time that Israel followed Moses, dwelling in tents (tabernacles).  Jesus has been disputing with the religious leaders, who take offense at His teachings, and especially His references to the Father.  On Saturday, we read that Jesus replied to the religious leaders, "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."  Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"  Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.  And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.  Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."  Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon!  Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.'  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?  And the prophets are dead.  Who do You make Yourself out to be?"  Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing.  It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.  Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him.  And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."  Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"  Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."  Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus his Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. 

 

  After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. In today's reading, we skip back to chapter 6 of John's Gospel (yesterday's reading covered the last verses in chapter 8).  If we recall, the lectionary skipped over chapter 6 earlier, so today's reading would follow this one, in order of the Gospel chapters.  In chapter 5, Jesus had healed a paralytic, and was subsequently accused of violating the Sabbath.  So, after these things, in which Jesus had engaged in disputes in Jerusalem at the Feast of Weeks, He had withdrawn with His disciples to the region of the Sea of Galilee.

 

Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  My study Bible explains that this chapter of John's Gospel parallels the story of the Passover and the Exodus of Israel from Egypt in several important ways.   These verses recall the Exodus account (Exodus 11 - 17), in which God first performed signs against Pharaoh, and then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Exodus11:1-12:14).  Here, the multitude follows Christ because of His signs, and this also takes place at Passover.  

 

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"   My study Bible comments that here Christ tests Philip to increase his faith, as Philip needed help in understanding Him (see John 14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii, it says, corresponds to over six months' wages for a laborer, giving us an idea of the size of this great multitude.  Andrew has greater faith than Philip, however.  My study Bible explains that, knowing the prophet Elisha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), Andrew offers the food brought by a particular lad.  Nonetheless, Andrew is still weak in faith, as he questions what a mere five loaves could do among so many.  This sets up another parallel with the Exodus story, as in the Exodus, the people ate unleavened bread because they were hastily driven out of Egypt, and had brought no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  This multitude has rushed out to see Christ, has brought no provisions. 

Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.   The feeding of this multitude (of five thousand men, and more women and children) is the fourth of seven signs reported in John's Gospel.  So central to the story of Jesus it is, that it is recorded in all four Gospels.  My study Bible comments that the description of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (in Greek, ευχαριστω/eucharisto), and distributed them prefigures the celebration of the Eucharist.  

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  My study Bible says that although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, these crowds were so desirous of an earthly Messiah that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only when they were filled with earthly things (see John 6:26).  Because of this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.  

This miracle (the feeding of five thousand men, and additional women and children as well) is reported in all four Gospels.  Its centrality to the story of Christ, and of the Christian faith, is powerful.  The prefiguring of the Eucharist is clear in this passage from John.  In the reporting of this miracle in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we're told that Jesus was "moved with compassion" for the multitude (Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:34).  In each case, the feeding, and the giving of bread, becomes both a part of the expression of Christ's compassion, as well as a statement about who He is and what He does.  He feeds us.  It may seem somewhat ironic that we are to consider this feeding of the multitude during this midpoint time of Lent, a traditional time of fasting in the Church, in preparation for the feast of Easter, the celebration of Resurrection.  But in this story we have something exemplary to think about, and that is the detail included about how these people, fed miraculously by Jesus in the wilderness, want to force Him to become king.  This is not what He wants, it is not what His power is all about, and it is not what His mission is in the world, so He must flee from them and avoid them.  Consider it -- these are the people He's just fed, the people upon whom He took compassion.  But there is the work of faith to do, and that must divide even providing what is necessary for physical nourishment from providing what is necessary for spiritual nourishment.  For meeting physical need without providing for spirit and soul really doesn't truly provide what's necessary for human well-being, and doesn't address the fullness of what it is to be a human being, a person made in the image and likeness of God.  In Mark's Gospel, this crowd is described as being "like sheep not having a shepherd" (Mark 6:34).  But, just as it has been traditional to practice a fast during Lent from the early centuries of the Church, it is important that we understand what it is hunger and thirst, not simply for physical food, but for what  Christ offers us as the Good Shepherd that He is.  He feeds us with spiritual food, but the spiritual life is not at all separate from the fullness of our human life; in a distorted world, we believe our spiritual and physical well-being to be separate things, or that we can simply forget about one or the other.  But in the Christian purview, this is not so.  We need what Christ has to offer, just as we need food -- and in fact, the spiritual nourishment from Christ is an indispensable part of life, for it feeds and informs all the rest of life, including what we do with our physical resources, even how we may think of food.  For everything becomes blessed in Christ, just as He blesses the loaves ("gives thanks" to God; in the Greek eucharisto), and then they are multiplied through God's grace and power, and distributed.  Lent, in the historical practice of the Church, becomes a time when we can consider how powerfully we need God's grace to infuse our lives, to teach us what properly to do with our abundance -- even physical abundance and wealth -- and how to structure all that we have.  For we truly cannot live well without this, and there is so much, in a modern world, that we take for granted which comes from Christ.  This remains so although we may have lost sight historically just what benefit these Gospels and His teachings have meant for the world.  Why is it we honor compassion, for example?  How is Christ's power different from the power of Caesar?  Why is it significant that although He could feed a multitude, He did not desire to become a king?  What is the message of this Shepherd of His people?  Lent is a time when we can separate for a time from the abundance of "good things" that excite our appetites from the good things we get from Christ, and from faith.  We are invited to consider the spiritual food that accompanies life, and how powerfully that also may influence us, move us, heal us.  The twelve baskets full of leftover fragments symbolize for us that which will be taken up by the Twelve Apostles, to distribute to the world.  Let us understand that we continue to be fed with good things, even -- and maybe especially -- when we pass through our own wildernesses.  He remains the Shepherd, for the lost, and for all of us.

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a  great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then these men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

 - John 6:1-15 

 

Yesterday we read that, in His response to the religious leaders who accused Him of violating the Sabbath, and making Himself equal with God (in Saturday's reading), Jesus said, "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a  great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  As we begin reading chapter 6 in John's Gospel, my study Bible tells us that this chapter parallels the story of the Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt in various ways.  In the Exodus story (Exodus 11 - 17), God first performed signs against the Pharoah, and then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  Here, we're told that the multitude follows Christ because of His signs, and this also takes place at Passover.  

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  My study Bible says that Christ here tests Philip to increase his faith, because Philip needed help in understanding Him (John 14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii, it says, corresponds to over six months' wages for a laborer.  Andrew has greater faith than Philip:  he knows that the prophet Elisha had multipled bread for 100 men (see 2 Kings 4:42-44), Andrew offers food brought by a lad.  Nonetheless, Andrew is still weak in faith, and questions what a mere five loaves could do for the number of people there.  

Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  This feeding of the multitude is the fourth of seven signs reported in the Gospel of John.  Note the description of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (in Greek eucharisto/ευχαριστω) and distributed them.  It prefigures the celebration of the Eucharist.  In another parallel to the Exodus story, in which the Jews were said to eat unleavened bread because they were hastily driven out of Egypt and had brought no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  Here, Jesus feeds the multitudes with earthly bread because they had brought no provisions, as they had rushed out to see Him.

Then these men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  Although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, these crowds so desired an earthly Messiah, my study Bible says, that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only when they filled with earthly things (see verse 26).  Because of this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.  

 

 In recent readings, we have discussed the concept of work as Jesus seems to define it on His own terms and from His perspective.  In Saturday's reading, in confrontation with the religious leaders over their charge that He violated the Sabbath by telling a man to take up his bed (and walk), Jesus replied, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."  This was an opportunity for us to think about work, and the nature of work -- and especially the dignity of work implied here by Christ in that God the Father and Son are "working."  Earlier, in chapter 4, in the story of the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, when the disciples pressed Jesus that He should eat something, He told them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know . . . My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (see this reading from last week).   So there is this subtle thread running through these chapters that involves both food and work, and today's reading is no exception.  Again, let us consider that in an earthly sense, food and work go hand in hand:  we work in order to "have bread," to eat food and supply it to our families and community.  But in an agrarian society like Christ's that connection is that much stronger.  Without a good harvest, people are in danger of famine.  Even today, with our worldwide transportation systems, we see what the disruption of war is doing to grain supplies for the poor.  But to get back to our text, there are things we are offered to think about in this context.  The people want to make Jesus a king, and to do so by force.  This will be addressed by Jesus in our following reading, and it is directly linked to the idea of work and the food they've been given by Christ.  But for today let us look at Jesus' choice when they want to take Him by force and make Him king.  This is not the proper "work" for Him.  He has been sent to do a particular job, on a particular mission, and although we might naturally assume Christ's qualifications for such a position of authority, this is the last thing He wants.  He knows what He is about, He knows what work is proper to Him, and that reason is because He seeks the Father's will in all things and there is where He makes His choices.  So while we think about being fed, and this fourth miraculous sign in John's Gospel, let us consider that for Christ, who can feed a multitude from very little resources through His own authority and power to do so, becoming king is not appropriate, not a part of His worldly mission.  This is because His job, His work, is in fulfilling the plan of salvation, and that has to happen a particular way within a particular life He will live in this world, and does not involve becoming king.  The reason why this is important for us to understand is not only so that we think about what specific "work" Christ does and why, and how that works for our salvation, but also so that we, too, should be as discerning about what work we choose to do  in life and how we make that choice.  A job opportunity might sound like a great thing; the money might be entirely enticing to us.  There are all kinds of ways in which various professions will appeal to us, or various types of avenues of what we choose to do or become in our lives, including the skills and experience that come with them.  But let us put our choices first in the lens of our faith.  Let us turn in prayer and communion to the One who not only knows us best and more deeply than we know ourselves, but to the One who has lived among us and understands something about the choices we need to make, the hardships and struggles, and the ways of the world.  Let us find what it is that is an opportunity to please God through our skills and our efforts and energy -- not that we all have to work for a church or religious establishment, but to seek where we can shine the light shared with us through our energy and creativity and our efforts.  It seems to me that just as a flower blooms in beauty that was contained in its seed or bulb, so God has a hand in our creation with particular ways in which we can express the identity, talents, and beauty endowed in our own creation, regardless of which walk of life we choose to pursue.  Be it artistic, industrial, agricultural, a service work, or any other kind of profession we do, we can bring something of this inner light we're given to that work, in one way and another.  I believe this choice, to follow what seems to be pleasing to God, to start with prayer and communion, is present for all of us all the time.  It's important to note Jesus' action at the time He perceives they are trying to take Him by force to be made king:  He departs to the mountain alone, a place for prayer and communion with the Father.  Let us once again consider what work means -- what we "do" in life, what actions we take -- and seek to find that in which we can "work together" with God in the same way Christ pleases the Father, and says no to what is not the way for Him.  In this way, we also will find the work that will feed us, just as Jesus feeds the multitude.  

There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?

 

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 

- John 6:1-15 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus said to the religious leaders:  "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

 

  After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  My study Bible highlights for us that the entire chapter 6 of John's Gospel parallels the story of Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt in several important ways.  Regarding these verses here, we note that in the Exodus account (Exodus 11 - 17), God first performed God's signs against Pharaoh, then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  Here, the multitudes follow Christ because of His signs, and this also takes place at Passover.  This is the second of three Passover feasts recorded in John's Gospel.  

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  My study Bible comments that Christ tests Philip to increase his faith, for Philip needed help in understanding Him (John 14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii corresponds to more than six months wages for a laborer.  Andrew, my study Bible says, has greater faith than Philip:  knowing that prophet Elisha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), he offers the food brought by a certain lad.  Nonetheless, Andrew is still weak in faith, however, questioning what only five loaves could do for the large number of people there.  

Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  This feeding of the multitude is the fourth of Christ's seven signs reported by John.   Significantly, it is recorded in all four Gospels.  My study Bible notes the description of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (Greek ευχαριστω/eucharisto), and distributed them prefigures the celebration of the Eucharist.  In another parallel to the Exodus, the Jews at that time were said to eat unleavened bread because they were hastily driven out of Egypt and had brought no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  Here, Jesus feeds the multitudes with earthly bread because they had brought no provisions, having rushed out to see Him.

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  My study Bible says that although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, these crowds so desired an earthly Messiah that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only when they were filled with earthly things (see also verse 26).  Because of this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.

Today's reading invites us to think about many things.  It opens up for us questions about how Christ feeds us.  We look at the reading, and we understand that people have followed Him into the wilderness.  St. Mark tells us  that Jesus had compassion on them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd (Mark 6:34).  That implies the people looked to Christ for leadership, guidance, instruction, and indeed, He taught them before this miraculous feeding.  But John places great emphasis on this food, and my study Bible points out the language that ties it with the Eucharist, the gift of Christ Himself, which implies all that He offers to humankind.  Personally, in today's reading of this Scripture, it is striking to consider the things with which we feed ourselves in our daily lives.  How much of our life do we spend "consuming" things that are edifying to us, or that remind us and help to uphold for us the teachings of Jesus, His love and care for us?  Are there things we do or share that remind us of His compassion?  Do we share that compassion with others in an expression of our understanding of His love for us?  Do we create community on that basis, and in His name, as we remember and know that we are loved and cared for, and guided in a good way?  So much of popular entertainment seems to do the opposite.  It is divisive.  It feeds us not with things that are truly nurturing, and not with things that nurture what is good for us.  We are fed with violence, with a great deal of arrogance and pride, with things that teach young woman they're only valued for their appearance, or worse, that lead some very young teenagers to want to change their female bodies out of fear of what it means to be a woman.  (See journalist Abigail Shrier's book on this current phenomenon and its dramatic increase).   Popular literature and entertainment seem to celebrate victory over others more than the value of finding meaning even in suffering, which is what the Cross of Christ shows us is always present to us, in all circumstances, with God's help.  It is important that we use our own capacity for choice, for real decisions to pursue that which is truly good for us and for our families and communities.  The Gospels do not present to us a picture of a perfect world.  In fact, it is quite the opposite, they present to us a world beset by bad influence, temptations of all kinds, and an understanding that we are engaged in a struggle for our salvation.    In John's Gospel, Jesus will tell His disciples, just prior to His Crucifixion, "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me" (John 14:30).  It is important that we understand the clear picture we're given that we have a great need for discernment, for things that build us up, and to avoid that which tears us down.  In the Gospels, it is the demons who are destructive and merciless, causing pain and oppression, and Christ who liberates us.  Let us pay great attention, therefore, to what it is that we choose to feed ourselves with in this life, and reject whatever puts out a message that reflects the nature of that pain and evil and its merciless nature.  In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus teaches, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).  Well, in our great, huge, universal world of entertainment and technology, there is an ever-increasing array and expansion of influence that asks of us our discernment about what's going to be truly good for us to take in and to dwell on and grow on, and the same is true for our children and communities.  That wide gate and broad way seems only to grow with our capacity for new technologies and platforms.  To be sure, there is also our fortunate way of the Savior and the influence of God's grace that inspires people to use these new platforms and technologies to feed people with what is good, saving, gracious, true, and merciful.  But it is, as it always has been, up to us to take refuge in the good things we're given, to grow in that grace and truth, and to share it with others.  For those seeking to turn away from destructive habits or influences -- no matter what they are -- a reliance on God is essential to find the good and narrow way through their difficulties and temptations.  Let us remember, we've been given all we're taught in order to show us the way, for He is the lamp unto our feet, the light we need so we don't walk in darkness.  Let us persist and endure to the end in this good fight.  In this struggle, let us not be discouraged. St. Andrew asks, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  All we need is a little bit, and it is God who does the rest and magnifies the result.

 

This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

- John 6:1-15

In yesterday's reading, Jesus said,  "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not  believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Once again, John's text tells us of many signs that Jesus performed but have not been specifically reported in the Gospel.  Of this new chapter, my study bible tells us that it parallels the story of the Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt in several important ways.  In Exodus 11-17, God first performed signs against Pharaoh, and then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  Here a multitude follows Christ because of His signs, and it also takes place at Passover.

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  In the Exodus, it is said that the Jews ate unleavened bread because they were driven out of Egypt in great haste, and had brought no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  Here, a great multitude has brought no provisions, having rushed out to see Christ.  In this section, Christ tests Philip in order to increase his faith, my study bible says, as Philip needed help to understand Him (14-8-10).  Two hundred denarii would correspond to over six months' wages for a laborer.  Andrew shows greater faith than Philip.  He knows that the prophet Elisha multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), and so he offers food which was brought by a lad.  My study bible comments, however, that Andrew is still weak in faith, as he questions what a mere five loaves could do for the number of people there.

 Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.   The feeding of the five thousand is the fourth of seven signs that John reports, and it is also recorded in all four Gospels.  My study bible remarks that the description of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (Gr. eucharisto/ευχαριστω) and distributed them is a prefiguration of the celebration of the Eucharist.  

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  My study bible remarks that although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, the crowds were so desirous of an "earthly" Messiah that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only when they were satisfied with earthly things (see Jesus' statement in v. 26).  Because of this misunderstanding of Jesus' role, He departed from them.

What does it mean to be fed?  With what do we need to be fed?  These are questions suggested by today's reading.  Let us note that these people have seen signs of healing of disease by Christ, also a normal, hoped-for outcome of "good nourishment."  Today's reading gives us the fourth sign in John's Gospel, another indicator of the nature of Christ, and through the Incarnate Jesus, the nature of God.   My study bible says that all the parallels to Exodus in this chapter reveal Christ's nature as fulfillment of the old covenant.  Similarly to the manna in the wilderness, Christ feeds these 5,000 men (and more women and children), out of whatever is at hand.  He displays the power of multiplicity, an inexhaustible resource.  But to understand our own needs as purely material is a mistake, as His refusal to be made king indicates.  He did not come into the world as human being only to provide for material needs and demands, but rather to give another kind of food for something more deeply a part of us than even our flesh.  In the passage in which the disciples came upon Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman (in this reading), we read that His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."  But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."  So food figures already in the Gospel before this miraculous feeding of thousands in this fourth sign we're given.  Christ speaks of food as something more than the food we know.  He also speaks of a harvest in that reading in figurative terms as well, a harvest of the fruits of the Spirit and of faith.  What we are being conditioned to understand through Christ's works is the "more" there is to life that needs to be fed with the proper nourishment in order to thrive, to grow, and to bear good fruit -- to "be fruitful and multiply," as the command in Genesis was given.  This food that He offers is something more than meeting material needs alone.  Rather, it is a food that leads to our good condition so that we may thrive in all ways, fully benefiting materially, spiritually, and in our souls.  For without the food of truth and beauty and goodness that He offers, is life really fulfilling if only material needs are met?  What of our minds and souls?  What of our creativity?  What of our uses of the talents and resources with which we're blessed?  And there is more to consider:  our very notion of freedom, the choices we make for our souls, and what we serve with our lives.  It is Christ's truth and the fullness of His Person that He brings to us with the food He will offer.  Here in today's reading, He displays His divine capacities, He offers food where there is none.  So it must be when we are short of resources in any circumstance, and when we need help that doesn't seem to be available, including spiritual renewal, creativity, and insight.  The people think Jesus is "the Prophet," and they wish to make Him king, but they are wrong.  The truth about Christ will have to unfold as we continue in this new chapter of the Gospel.

This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberius.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with his disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."

Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

- John 6:1-15

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued speaking about Himself to the leadership in the temple at Jerusalem (at the Feast of Weeks):  "I can of Myself do nothing.  As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.  You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.  He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.  But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish -- the very works that I do -- bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.  And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.  You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  I do not receive honor from men.  But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.  How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?  Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust.  For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberius.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with his disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.   My study bible first comments on the entire chapter we now begin, suggesting that it parallels the Passover and Exodus of ancient Israel in the Old Testament Scriptures.  First of all, in the Exodus account (Exodus 11-17), God's signs were initially performed against Pharaoh, then God gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of the Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  In today's passage, we note that the multitudes initially follow Christ because of His signs, and this also takes place at Passover. 

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Christ first tests Philip to increase his faith, as Philip needed help in understanding Him (14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii, my study bible says, corresponds to more than six months' wages for a laborer.  But Andrew's faith is stronger than Philip's.  He knows that the prophet Elisha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44).  Andrew offers the food brought by a certain lad.  But nevertheless, Andrew also is still weak in faith, as he questions what a mere five loaves could do for the number of people who are there. 

Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.   Here there is a second parallel to the Exodus account.  In the Exodus, the Jews are said to have eaten unleavened bread because they were hastily driven out of Egypt, and they had therefore brought no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).   In this passage, Jesus feeds the multitudes with earthly bread as they have brought no provisions, having rushed out to see Him.   This feeding of the multitude is the fourth of Christ's seven signs reported in John's Gospel.   This miraculous feeding is reported in all four Gospels.  The description given of Christ as He took the loaves, gave thanks (eucharisto in the Greek), and distributed them is a prefiguring of the celebration of the Eucharist.

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.  My study bible says that although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, the crowds are so desirous of an earthly Messiah (that is, an extraordinary man who would be king of Israel) that they declared Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), only after they are filled with earthly things (see also verse 26).  Because of this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.

What would an "earthly" king or Messiah be like?  He would be something like King David, an extraordinary man, truly faithful to God, and a king who would possibly rule Israel within an eternal kingdom on earth, an Israel gloriously "resurrected" to its true place on earth with its fortunes properly restored.  But this is not the story of Christ, the Man who is also God.  This story will take a dramatically different turn.  Far from a glorious kingdom on earth that rules over all, in which bread and honey flow abundantly for all (Exodus 3:6-8), the story of Christ will take on a complex, puzzling, even strange (to us) history of the Church on earth, the Kingdom which struggles midst a world beset with evils.  It is not the story of "worldly success" on earthly terms.  There is little doubt of the beauty and benefits that the Church has brought into the world.  Throughout the centuries and around the world (and right from its beginnings), Christians as communities have been models of industriousness, of good works such as the establishment of hospitals and charities, of efforts at more humane justice systems and relief to enslaved populations.  (For the Eastern world, this took on one form, for example, of ransoming women enslaved in harems, with saints such as this one whose relics remain in central Athens risking and losing their lives in martyrdom to do so.)   Christ Himself, a victim of injustice, stands for us as our King, the One who rules heaven and earth, and whose return we await.  As His followers and subjects, our job is to live as He has taught us to live, to build His Kingdom in the world within us -- in ourselves and our communities.  We worship God in spirit and in truth, as He said to the Samaritan woman;  God's kingdom has no circumference and is found everywhere -- realized through faith which we carry within us and among us, conscious of the temptations, misunderstandings, lack of spiritual sight and hearing, and the myriad ways in which God is neglected and human beings can miss the mark of faith that is the promise of our own  make up which consists of more than the body, but also soul and spirit.  Christ's kingdom in the world will be one to which we come as volunteer citizens, fully engaged, and growing in that engagement and its depth within us, a synergistic human-divine enterprise, like its Founder.  It is consciousness to which we are called -- the so-much-more than merely "earthly" life that makes up the more abundant life that He has promised.  It is this depth of engagement that the miraculous feeding miracle in the wilderness promises, as Christ will come to teach in this chapter that He is the living bread for all of us.  Let us be ready to understand and consider the fullness of this promise, offered freely to all of us, and sometimes seemingly heard and claimed by so few.   He is so much more than simply a prophet, and offers us so much more in Himself.

Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then 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.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

- John 6:1-15

 In recent readings, Jesus has been at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem.  This is an eight-day autumn harvest festival, commemorating the time that Israel wandered in the wilderness of Sinai living in tents or "tabernacles."  It's also a feast of the coming Kingdom.  This festival takes place during the last year of Jesus' life; the leadership plots against Him.  He has been in dialogue and dispute with them at the festival.  On Saturday, we read that Jesus said, "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."  Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"  Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.  And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.  Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."  Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon!  Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.'  Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?  And the prophets are dead.  Who do You make Yourself out to be?"  Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing.  It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.  Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him.  And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."  Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"  Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."  Then they took up stones throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.   Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Today's reading actually takes place two chapters earlier than where we left off on Saturday, and we begin reading chapter 6 in this week's lectionary readings.  So "after these things" refers to events at the end of chapter 5, in which Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath by the Sheep Gate at the pool called Bethesda at the Feast of Weeks in Jerusalem.  For the final reading and commentary of chapter 5, see this reading.  In John chapter 1, we noted how the Gospel patterned itself after the events of creation in Genesis.  In chapter 6, we will observe that John parallels the story of the Passover and Exodus of Israel from Egypt.  My study bible notes that in the Exodus account (Exodus 11-17), God first performed His signs against Pharaoh, and then gave instructions on how to be saved at the time of Passover (Exodus 11:1-12:14).  Here, the multitudes follow Christ because of His signs, and this also takes place at Passover.

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have 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 small fish, but what are they among so many?"  My study bible tells us that Christ tests Philip here to increase his faith, because Philip needed help in understanding Him (14:8-10).  Two hundred denarii is equivalent to over six months' wages for a laborer at the time of Christ.  Andrew has greater faith than Philip.  He apparently knows that the prophet Elisha had multiplied bread for 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44), and he offers the food brought by a lad.  But Andrew also lacks faith to some extent, questioning what five loaves alone can do the the number of people who are there.

Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.    The feeding of five thousand men (and more women and children), parallels the Exodus story of unleavened bread, which the Jews had with them as they were hastily drive out of Egypt and had brought no provisions for themselves (Exodus 12:39).  Jesus feeds the multitudes with earthly bread, because they've brought no provisions, having rushed out to see Him.  My study bible adds that although Jesus had performed greater signs than this, these crowds were so desirous of an earthly Messiah that they declare Jesus to be the expected Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) only when they are filled with earthly things (which Jesus will note later on in the chapter).  Because of this misunderstanding, Jesus departed from them.  

Why did the people want to make Jesus king?  We turn to His own words (in verse 26, later on in John), in which He tells the people, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled."  If Jesus tells them that, then surely His miraculous feeding in the wilderness is meant to give the people something much more than bread to feed them with -- and this will go on to become the theme of this chapter.  As happens so often with John, the people misunderstand.  It's not that they misunderstand through bad intention, but rather that they misunderstand because with Jesus, earthly realities are often metaphors for something deeper, richer, better that he's trying to teach us and trying to give us.  He wants us to look beyond an immediate kind of understanding or feeding and find the things that feed something deeper and more potent within us.  While people need food to live, to be given the "bread of heaven" is quite another thing indeed.  The true bread He is here to teach us about feeds us for an eternity.  It sees us through moments all of our lives.  It's not gone with one feeding, a brief moment of consumption, and its potency affects every single thing about our lives and our potentials for life.  And that's what He's here to give us.  It's a little strange to think about it, but being made king is a way to cheapen that gift, not to understand the tremendous greatness on offer here.  Jesus isn't just a worldly kind of king.  He's not in the world simply to make Israel a prosperous nation.  There is a far greater reality waiting to be opened, comprehended, tapped into.  That greater reality has lasted for 2,000 years so far, and shows no sign of being exhausted in terms of its impact, help, and creative flowering for each successive generation and all around the world.  It's in that deeper place that we must find Jesus' surpassing worth for each of us in our own lives and for the generations still to come.  We think about the world and what it needs.  It is important to feed and clothe those who are without, to shelter those who cannot provide for themselves.  But we should never lose sight of this mission to bring the "so much greater good" into the world.  It is inseparable from the love that teaches us who we are and calls us to who we can become.  This is the gift; let us not cheapen it under any circumstances.