City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

6 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. ² And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. ³ Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. ⁴ Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. ⁵ Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” ⁶ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. ⁷ Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” ⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ⁹ “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” ¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. ¹² And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” ¹³ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”¹⁵ Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

John 6:1-16 ESV

¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10 ESV

Reflection

There is a quote that some attribute to Alexander the Great (356-323 BC). 

“I am more afraid of one hundred sheep led by a lion than one hundred lions led by a sheep.” 

I think this is a good quote for this passage because, when it comes to leading men, Jesus is the perfect picture of a lion.  Jesus shows boldness in places that no one had ever conceived it.  He treats the feeding of the multitude as if it were as simple as walking down the street.  It is not the existence of the crowd that gives him boldness, as if he were an insecure alpha male.  He is a bold leader regardless of His following.

But what of the sheep that follow?  Why be afraid of them?  They do not shoot straight.  The are not wise.  And they wield no weapons of war.  The problem with such sheep is that have a model of who they could be, and one who is able to make them achieve it.  If bravery were left to me, I think that my cowardly nature would be exposed continually.  But, when I am reminded of my nature, of who God made me, I am convinced that I can achieve anything.  It is the restoration of that original image that God intended that encourages me to press on. And what of the miracle itself?  Well, as Kacee Pate said on Sunday, the purpose of it is to point to the greater work and the identity of who Jesus really is.  He is not just another guy doing magic.  He supersedes or overcomes natural law.  When there were only a few fish, He makes more.  So, not only are the rulers of His day confronted with His miracles, but His work is beyond even the most advanced scientist of our day.  Those who ate the bread and the fish that day hungered again and ate other things.  But the miracle itself stands as a marker that:

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

William Shakespeare
 HAMLET ACT 1, SCENE 5

Application

Alexander the Great?  The Law of conservation of Energy?  Shakespeare?  Why do these come together in a devotional about Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5000?  And what do they have to do with your daily life?

Well, on the one hand, you could look at this passage, thank God for being able to learn about another wonderful miracle of Jesus, and let it build your confidence that God is able to do miracles in your life.  If that is all you take from this devotional, I will be happy and thankful that my job is well done.

But there is also the point that when Jesus comes upon the scene, He splits history in half and from then on all things are changed.  No longer is religious life about looking at earthly things and imagining what heaven might be like.  Here, we see heaven breaking in and now can imagine what earth could be like.  What if God invades your life?  Are you willing to follow the lion where He might lead you, though you are a sheep?  Now that is a thought that shakes the Earth, builds boldness, and gives you a chance to proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom.

Prayer

Thank You, Lord, that You lead us with boldness and confidence.  I know that my strength is not sufficient to complete the things You have called me to do.  The task is above me and beyond me.  But I know that You are with me, You lead me, and You enable me to complete the course.  Lord, send Your Holy Spirit to encourage me always, and to lead be to the final goal.  In Jesus’ name, amen.