The only miracle that can be found in all four of the Gospels is the feeding of the 5,000. It must have made a huge impact on the disciples and the church community. The five loaves of bread used were probably less like the loaves of bread we buy at the grocery store and more like a thick pita-type bread. It was less common for people to have an oven, and more common to have a large baking stone heated by fire, so by placing the dough on the large round stone they were able to get round loaves of bread.
The two fish were probably a pan fish like Sunfish or Blue Gills, which are the most common fish in the Sea of Galilee. On their own, two of those fish would not go far to satisfy 5 men - much less 5,000 men!
John's Gospel has an entire chapter devoted to this event, and it's quite a lengthy chapter. In the book of John, Jesus confronts the crowds, claiming that the only reason they are following him is because they had full bellies. Many wanted to make him king - what a powerful army someone would have if the leader would be able to feed thousands of soldiers so easily. Jesus then challenged them with some confusing words:
John 6:35
Then 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.
The people saw this as some type of metaphor, but Jesus later tells them that his flesh is real food and his blood is real drink (a foreshadow of the Lord's Supper that he would institute during passion week). Because of his hard words, many left and did not follow Jesus anymore. Jesus continues.
John 6:67-69
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69
The disciples were more faithful, willing to stay with Jesus because he was Jesus, not just because they liked the chef. Peter speaks the truth when he responds with the question, "Where else could we go?"
Our lives are also filled with confusing situations, and it is often hard to know how to follow Jesus. He wants us to be in the world, but not of the world. He wants us to stay away from the world's darkness, and also be a light to a darkened world. How are we best able to act boldly with faith and humbly with peace at the same time. These are no small challenges, and Jesus calls us to follow him through it all.
Where else could we go...
No comments:
Post a Comment