Bread Of Life

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.   (John 6:35 NIV)

When Jesus heard about the death of John the Baptist He and His disciples got into a boat hoping to find a solitary place away from the crowds who had been following them.  However, the large crowd followed them around the lake to the place where they were.  When Jesus looked up and saw the crowd coming towards them He felt compassion for the people as He knew they had travelled a long way and had not eaten for some time. 

The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  (Psalm 116:5 NIV)

Jesus asked one of His disciples where they might buy bread to feed everyone. The disciple replied that it would take about half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have even a bite.  Jesus already knew what He was going to do but it is possible He was seeking a hospitable response from this disciple because He was from this area.  The disciple, named Philip, appears not to have even considered being hospitable to the crowd.  Philip appears to have been more alarmed about the monetary cost to purchase bread to feed so many.

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!” (John 6:5-7 NIV)

Another of the disciples named Andrew advised that there was a boy in the crowd with five barley loaves and two small fish. Even though Andrew appears to have brought this small portion of food to Jesus, he thought it was pittance towards the need to feed so many.  Andrew’s concern was that there was not enough food to go around. 

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?”  (John 6:8 NIV)

It would appear that neither Philip nor Andrew recognized that they were in the presence of the very Bread of Life. Jesus told the people to sit down, took the loaves and then the fish and blessed them.  He gave the bread and fish to the disciples who gave the food to the people to eat.  They fed about five thousand men plus women and children with the provision they had.  After everyone had eaten their fill they filled twelve baskets with pieces of the five barley loaves.

For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.  (John 6:33 NIV)

Today, let’s not look for obstacles when Jesus invites us to do something for others.  Remember what He has already planned in advance for us to do, He will provide all that is needed.

©2015 Partners in Hope