Sign#4: 5000 Fed
This is the second of three miracles of provision in John: Water into wine, the feeding of the 5000 and the big catch of fish in ch.21.
The miracle is the enacted parable of what Jesus would announce later in the chapter: Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:32-35)
Bread. Even today it is a significant staple foodstuff - but it was even more so in Palestine. It represented survival and people needed it day by day. When Jesus makes reference to Moses and bread from heaven He is referring to the manna that sustained the Israelites in the desert.
But Jesus extends the metaphor from provision to something even deeper. He is not only the bread in the sense of being the provider. He is the bread from heaven come down to earth who will be sacrificed for the sins of the people. In Leviticus bread is also featured in the sacrifices people made in the temple.
And then He takes the image one step further: We have to eat of this bread, we have to partake of Him, we have to participate.
Jesus is the Bread of Life:
- He is the provider and the sustenance of life
- He is the sacrifice that satisfies
- We need to participate in Him and connect to His amazing love. | Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. (John6:10-11) |
