By James R. Strange, Ph.D.
Professor of Biblical and Religious studies, Samford University
THE SIGN OF HIS PROVISION
John 6:1–15
In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ fourth sign happens back in Galilee, a region that was once the northern part of ancient Israel but at the time of the event is controlled by Herod Antipas.
This sign is one of the few stories shared by all four Gospels. In John, all signs — works of divine power — point to Jesus’ identity and thus are critical for John’s message that Jesus is the Son sent by the Father to reveal the Father.
The correct response to the signs is to have faith in Jesus.
Jesus sees our needs. (1–5)
Rather than going to Jerusalem for this Passover, Jesus goes to a mountain in Galilee where crowds flock to Him. John is calling attention to a remarkable irony. Rather than feasting on Passover lamb, God’s Passover Lamb (1:29, 35; 19:14) is feeding the crowd. The event also partially fulfills Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman (4:21).
In the accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke, the disciples ask Jesus near the end of the day to send the crowd into villages so that they can eat. But in John, Jesus initiates the sign when He asks Philip where the disciples can purchase bread to feed the crowd. It is a test with repercussions that Jesus addresses the next day (vv. 25–40).
Jesus can work mightily with whatever we trust to His care. (6–11)
Philip thinks Jesus is inquiring about something that is impossible. He is right, for 200 denarii was around seven months’ wages for a typical laborer. Philip says that such a fortune would not be enough to provide everyone a full meal.
But of course, he’s also wrong. Andrew finds a boy who had the foresight to pack a lunch of barley loaves and dried fish, and this one meal turns out to be more than 200 denarii could provide. All get as much as they want
to eat.
Jesus provides what we need, not necessarily what we want. (12–15)
Jesus provides even more, however, for 12 baskets full of pieces of barley loaves remain.
The implication is that Philip has failed the test, for he was in Cana when Jesus provided far more than the guests at a village wedding celebration could consume. Moreover, the miraculous abundance in these events recalls miracles from Israel’s past — God’s gift of manna in the wilderness in Exodus 16:14–26, the multiplication of oil and flour in 1 Kings 17:7–16 and 2 Kings 4:1–7, and the celebration of God’s provision in Psalm 23:5.
The people understand something important, however, and want to make “the Prophet who is to come into the world” their king. This will happen in chapter 19, but it is premature now for the Son’s “hour” will not come for another year (13:1).
In verse 26, Jesus begins to give the key for understanding the sign of the loaves and fishes. Even better than the manna God provided in the wilderness, Jesus is the Bread that never perishes but “lasts for eternal life” (v. 27).
He is the Bread of Life (v. 35), the true Bread that came “down from heaven and gives life to the world” (v. 33; see 3:16).
Jesus Himself is God’s abundant, eternal provision for the world that He loves.
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