John 6: 1-15
1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 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?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 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. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Monday 7th November
Sometime after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
It is festival time in Galilee. The people are anticipating the Passover which will take place very soon. They are probably in festive mood. They have been seeing the signs that Jesus has done and they are following him about. He is like a celebrity to them. Imagine you are in Jesus’ place. Would you want to be followed about or would you want to be left alone? It can be easy to think that fame is covetable, but as we read in the biographies of many a celebrity it can be a toxic and very harmful thing. Pray for anyone you know or know of who is in leadership or the public eye.
Festivals are important in our lives. We need the punctuation of celebration in humdrum lives. They also help us to remember what is important. The Passover is held annually in order that the Jewish people may remember what God did for his people in releasing them from slavery in Egypt. Families get together and celebrate. The Passover meal, with all its symbolism, is an important aspect of this. Which festivals in the Christian year are important to you? What do they mean to you? What do you want to give thanks for?
Tuesday 8th November
5 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?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
It may usually have been Jesus’ instinct to escape from the crowd, but on this occasion he made himself available. Not only that he was immediately concerned that their needs be met. He has a great deal to teach them but he is concerned about their physical needs first. These people need to eat. The conversation is interesting. Jesus’s question might seem odd – they are on the side of a mountain! Do you see Philip’s response as negative or realistic? What would you have said to Andrew? How does all this help you to think about the way we collaborate with one another to meet people’s needs?
At present, we are hearing about a cost of living crisis. Prices are going up and people are worried that they will not have enough money. It is striking in this story that Jesus is concerned for, and provides for the people’s physical needs. Take some time to talk to God about your anxieties and needs just now. But pray too about how you can help others in these difficult times. Besides having a responsibility to look after ourselves, Christians also have a calling provide for the needs of the poor. As winter approaches, prayer for our churches and parachurch organisations to be able to provide for the needs of those who struggle.
Wednesday 9th November
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 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.
Andrew’s suggestion might not be so daft after all. The boy didn’t have much but Jesus is able to feed the whole crowd with it. He thus teaches about the nature of the Kingdom of God through his actions. This reminds me of the parable of the mustard seed in Mark 4:30-32. The parable speaks about the nature of the Kingdom of God being like a mustard seed which grows into a huge tree. Jesus takes what is small and insignificant and make it into something great. Have you ever seen this? It can be discouraging when we think about our small contribution to the kingdom, and it can be tempting to want to make things happen ourselves. How does Jesus’ action help you to think about your own service? Think back over the times you have wanted to serve God but had doubts that you would have enough to do so. What happened?
Many commentators reflect that this story reminds us of the time when God took care of the needs of the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. In Moses’ time God provided what they needed and they began to grumble when they got bored with it! Here, the provision is fish and bread – hardly luxurious, but simple and nutritious. Think about how God provides for our needs. Are we always satisfied with what God gives or do we want something more? How do you react when God does not supply exactly what you want in the way that you want? What does this tell you about what our needs (as opposed to our wants) might be? Praise God that he knows what we need better than ourselves.
Thursday 10th November
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
The story as a whole calls to mind two images that might be helpful to us as we think about it. We know that Jesus describes himself as a shepherd and here the people are, sitting on grass – a pasture. He is making sure that they have exactly what they need. Jesus also calls himself the “bread of life”. He is the one who supplies all that we need and more. Which of these two images helps you to think about the story? How does it help?
After the people have been served (by Jesus himself!) there is a great deal left over, and the disciples are sent to gather it all in. There is enough to fill twelve small lunch baskets – enough for each of the disciples, who have not yet eaten! Put yourself in the disciples’ shoes. Would you view this negatively or positively? Would you be grateful for the food or annoyed because you were given the leftovers? Jesus is anxious that nothing be wasted. This is of course important in our day, when the world is so full of waste. Pray that we will be able to steward what God provides wisely and well.
Friday 11th November
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Of course the people begin to talk about what has happened. Imagine that you were there. How do you think you would react to what you have experienced? What would you be saying to the people around you? These people come to the conclusion that Jesus is “the Prophet who is to come into the world”. Which prophet are they thinking of? Most commentators think that the people are thinking about Moses. The event has reminded them of the fact that the people of Israel received manna in the wilderness, and they see Jesus as a second Moses. Look at their reaction: their instinct is to take matters into their own hands and try to make Jesus king. What do you think of this? What might have happened if they had been successful? Jesus himself does not think it is a good idea and goes off to be by himself. This raises an important point for the way we evangelise. We need to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” when it comes to being followers and Jesus and telling others about him. Can you think of any circumstances when it is wiser to be discreet in the way that we tell people about Him? Pray that God will help us to be wise as to when we should “shout from the roof tops” and when we should be discreet.
Saturday 12th November
Isaiah 25:6-9
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
7 On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
8 he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.
9 In that day they will say,
“Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
Sunday 13th November
Isaiah 40:10-11
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
