There is an event in the life of Jesus that I want to touch on this morning that I wasn’t going to speak on, but as I reflected on it through the week it impacted me more and more. Turn with me in your Bible first to Matthew 14:13-21.
This event happened maybe two years before the event of Palm Sunday. And it wasn’t until I read the parallel passage about the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6 that something clicked in my head. This is the wonder and majesty of God’ word coming to life, why he gave us 4 accounts of Jesus life and ministry and in particular 4 accounts of this miracle (only miracle recorded in all 4 gospels besides the resurrection) –each adding to the majestic picture of Jesus’ life. I read from Mathew because it is a shorter account of the event. But it is in the gospel of John, we read a much more detailed account of the event and teaching surrounding the feeding of the 5,000. What struck me was verse 4 –“The Jewish Passover was near.” I believe this event happened within a week of Passover. Jesus, probably was preparing to head to Jerusalem, as any good Jewish man would, to celebrate the Passover. We do not read that he went, in this account, but it is highly probable. In any event, the proximately to Passover must be noted –as John does here.
And there are several aspects of this miracle that may pass us by if we do not take note of the time in which it happens.
This miracle of the bread would bring so much to mind in the lives of the Jewish people that reflect back upon the Passover account in the OT. We know that Passover is a foretelling of Christ and the perfect sacrifice He would make. But for them it was yet to come.
The importance of bread in the Passover must not be short changed. Bread was and is considered the most basic and important form of food and often in literature, including the NT, is simply translated as “food.” It was simply made of flour and water, then baked. It was, usually what we would consider unleavened, and was a quick, easy subsistence food. The proximity of this miracle to the time of Passover should not be lost to us. The connection with what Jesus did and with the account of Moses, the exodus and the giving of bread was not lost on the people. In fact, in verses 30-31 they even refer to it.
Let us look back for a moment to Exodus 12, where Moses is given the instructions regarding the bread for Passover.
Highlight some verses here (I know there is much to read and teach and understand about Passover itself, but this morning just looking at the aspect of bread): verse 8, verse 11, verses 14-20.
Getting back now to the event in the NT. As Jesus is preparing and enacting this event there would be bells ringing in the minds of the people. They were deeply aware of the account of Passover through years of celebration and reading (This passage in Exodus would be read each year). As you can see, bread played a significant role in the celebration of Passover, the Feast of unleavened bread which happens the 7 days following Passover, and later the giving of Manna during the time of the Exodus.
Even in the modern observance of Passover, one of the questions asked is “Why on this night do we eat only unleavened bread?” Later the bread is taken and broken and passed out with the blessing “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who satisfies us with His commands and commanded us concerning the eating of unleavened bread.”
So we see the importance of bread for the Jewish people, particularly around this time of Passover. Another note about Passover is that as Passover approached, the Jewish people would slowly be getting rid of any bread and leavening so there would be little or no bread available. This adds to the drama and power of the miracle.
We see that the area is remote. Matthew records tat they were in a remote area. The villages within walking distance could not have supplied enough for that many people. Most villages around there would have from 50 -200 people. It would remind the people of their history and being in the desert and in need of food.
Another aspect of the Passover and the Exodus would be the provision of bread from heaven. This is brought up later in the chapter of John. This continued provision of what the people needed is a something that they called for as Jesus responded to in verses 26 and on.
Jesus, in the account of the feeding of the 5000, is acutely aware of the needs of the people. Their immediate need is bread. And Jesus meets that need –he takes 5 loaves and 2 fish and prays thanks to the Father and then distributes the bread and fish. Verse 12, “they all had enough.” And there was more than enough, because we read that there were still 12 full baskets left!
God provides for our needs –more than enough. He knows what we need for today –the strength, the provision, the care, the healing, the forgiveness, the love. As the prayer of the Passover Haggadah says, He satisfies us.
As the miracle occurs and everyone is satisfied, we should also note the disciples are commanded to gather up what is left. There was just enough for each of the disciples. Again, this would bring out the remembrance of Passover where they were commanded to not leave any of the meal till morning.
All of these and more, are woven into the drama of the account of the miracle, and it makes it so much more of a powerful event. Aware of these things, the people, we read in verse14, began to say he was “the” prophet. Not a prophet, but the prophet. Who is this prophet? Again we go back to the account of the Exodus and Moses saying, “The Lord, your God, will raise up a prophet like me from among your own brothers.” (Deut 18:15) The people equated this prophet as a leader or king who would come and free them from their bondage, just as Moses freed them from Egypt. Knowing this, that they intended to make him king, Jesus withdrew.
The people then went searching for Jesus and found him, probably in the town of Capernaum. There he gives some deeper teaching on the significance of the bread. Let me read some of the verses from later in John 10. 32-33, 35-40, skip down to 48, 51, then 53-55.
On the surface this may appear (and it has been accused of Christians in the early church) to be rather gruesome, even cannibalistic. But we need to step into the people and the culture of the time. This idea of eating and drinking as a metaphor is not new –it was used by the rabbi’s of that time and later as a symbolic description of following the Law, the Torah, and doing good works.
What Jesus is calling them to is and intimate and dynamic relationship with God through Himself, as God come in flesh. David Stern in the Jewish NT Commentary writes,
By referring to his flesh, Yeshua wants us to live feel, think and act like Him and the power of the [spirit of God] allows us to do so. Likewise, to drink his blood is to absorb his self-sacrificing, life-motivation and indeed his very life since “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” (Lev. 17:11)
Again, Jesus us calling us not to follow the law but to follow him. Not to eat and drink the law but to eat and drink himself, so that we can have an intimate and dynamic relationship with God, not based on works but grace through faith.
This last Friday I was at a conference in which the speaker challenged us with the statement, “Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus?” How do you know if you are a fan or a follower? Well, it is the difference between admiration and devotion, convenience or commitment, holding back or giving all. Wanting bread or wanting Jesus.
What he is establishing is a new covenant, a new relationship between God and man, a relationship based not on the law but on himself. And that was tough for many to handle and we read in verse 66 many turned away from Him. Jesus calls us not to be casual or convenient Christians, not cultural or Sunday only Christians, but 24/7 commitment to Him. Eat and drink “ME” He says –I am the living bread, and if anyone eats this bread, he has eternal life! (51) The fans left –the followers remained!
And then we move ahead to a time, in just a year or two, when Jesus sits with his followers, his disciples and clearly invites them into this dynamic relationship, this new covenant –this is my body, broken for you, this is my blood, a new covenant, given for you –take and eat it all!
At the feeding of the 5000, Jesus sets the stage for the coming Passover when he would offer himself as the perfect, sinless, sacrifice given for us. When he would offer his body to be broken, when he would shed his blood for us. His blood which would cover the sins of all as a lasting sacrifice and payment. And the words he offers to the crowds then are the same words he offers today:
I tell you the truth, he who believes in me will have everlasting life. I am the bread of life! (6:47-48)
And Jesus invites us to have an intimate and dynamic relationship with the eternal God by believing in him, the bread of life.
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