Meals are not only an essential part of life, but also an enjoyable one. I don't know about you, but a meal prepared by Jesus Christ Himself would have to rank as one of, if not the most, amazing dining experiences. Even if it took place in a field of grass and the only thing on the menu consisted of bread and fish. Here's a quick glance into Chef Jesus' miraculous meal-making.
Again, John writes:
1 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 6:1-15, ESV, emphasis mine)
I think it is easy to read through this text and write it off as one of those childhood stories you may have heard or one you may have thought about during a Bible study or a Sunday morning sermon. But pausing again to really take in the words, we see some important ingredients which make this meal mandatory for inclusion in God's holy Scriptures.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
John 6 - Part 3...The Details
It has been too long. So much has been going on, glorious things of the Lord, yet I am thankful to be able to be back to share the Word of the Lord again. I recommend scrolling down and reading some of the older blogs before continuing to read this one...at least the ones previously written on John 6.
John writes:
1 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 6:1-15, ESV, emphasis mine)
We start this selection of the text with a different disciple speaking up after Philip expressed his sentiments on the matter at hand. Lots of people = a large supply of food. LARGE. Philip simply mentioned what appeared to him to be fact, perhaps, in some form of sarcastic tone. Yet Andrew directs the attention to a boy who happened to be present carrying a SMALL selection of fish and bread.
Now before we continue, let us make mention of the fact that our God is a God who exists as sovereign over all things, including the intricate details of the situations we face on a daily basis...as in the case of these disciples and the large crowd of hungry people. We often get so caught up in the details that we forget He is a God of the details. The Scriptures indicate this often...as in the case of the building of Noah's Ark. Or how about the Tabernacle. Or perhaps the giving of all the specific laws. Maybe even in the details of David's life as he walked as a shepherd boy before becoming King. Or how about the details of all the specific prophecies mention in the Old Testament of the coming Messiah that were TOTALLY fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. He chose 12 disciples, not 11, not 13. 11 followers + 1 betrayer. And so on, and so forth.
Even here, we see how He works all things together in His intricately woven plan to accomplish His purposes and bring God the glory He is so worthy to receive.
So...back to the text. There is a boy with five loaves and two fish...again, Andrew adds like Philip, "What are they for so many?" Jesus' response? Let's see what it is NOT...
John writes:
1 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 6:1-15, ESV, emphasis mine)
We start this selection of the text with a different disciple speaking up after Philip expressed his sentiments on the matter at hand. Lots of people = a large supply of food. LARGE. Philip simply mentioned what appeared to him to be fact, perhaps, in some form of sarcastic tone. Yet Andrew directs the attention to a boy who happened to be present carrying a SMALL selection of fish and bread.
Now before we continue, let us make mention of the fact that our God is a God who exists as sovereign over all things, including the intricate details of the situations we face on a daily basis...as in the case of these disciples and the large crowd of hungry people. We often get so caught up in the details that we forget He is a God of the details. The Scriptures indicate this often...as in the case of the building of Noah's Ark. Or how about the Tabernacle. Or perhaps the giving of all the specific laws. Maybe even in the details of David's life as he walked as a shepherd boy before becoming King. Or how about the details of all the specific prophecies mention in the Old Testament of the coming Messiah that were TOTALLY fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. He chose 12 disciples, not 11, not 13. 11 followers + 1 betrayer. And so on, and so forth.
Even here, we see how He works all things together in His intricately woven plan to accomplish His purposes and bring God the glory He is so worthy to receive.
So...back to the text. There is a boy with five loaves and two fish...again, Andrew adds like Philip, "What are they for so many?" Jesus' response? Let's see what it is NOT...
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