“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”
- John 6:5-13
The Need for a Miracle
“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd..”
- John 6:5
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”
- Mark 6:34
The Preparation of the Miracle
“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”
- John 6:5-6
Jesus takes the loaves
“Then Jesus took the loaves…”
- John 6:11
“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!”
- Romans 5:17
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- Romans 5:8
Jesus performs the miracle while we sit
Jesus said “Have the people sit down”
- John 6:10
“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.”
- John 6:11
“Be still, and know that I am God…”
- Psalm 46:10
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…”
- Hebrews 12:2
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
- Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)