Experience Receiving The Bread Of Life

Why did the feeding of the five thousand happen? It happened for personal training in faith. Along with the purpose of a miracle. The purpose of a miracle is to bring thoughts to the human mind. Thoughts designed to grow your faith

This event during the ministry of Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus Christ) was recorded in all four gospel accounts. I believe this is historical event. And there is a special significance the Feeding of Five Thousand" men, plus women and children has for all humankind. For the Gospel accounts read in Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6.

Let's understand how the event began. Following the return of the disciples coupled with the news regarding the death of John the Baptist its time to get away from the religious leaders for awhile. Yeshua had suggested to his disciples that they go away from the community filled with the crowds traveling in for the Passover. Yeshua proposes they go to a desolate place for some rest and relaxation.

Understand about the crowds, Passover was close at hand. Observant Jews were coming in towards Jerusalem from the outlying communities and foreign nations. These travelers were hearing the reports about the young rabbi. Why did the feeding of the five thousand happen? There will be a miracle and thoughts to grow faith.

These travelers coming in for the Passover heard the reports. Blind people had received sight, crippled people restored, deaf could hear, lepers were cleansed, sickness was healed, and a dead little girl came back into knowing life. The expectation in the hearts of hard working Jewish people was that God would fulfill the promise of sending his Messiah. Could this young rabbi be the one the prophets had told us to expect?

The average hard working Jewish people held to the prophesy God had given the prophet Ezekiel to share about the promise of his anointed Hamashia. You can read that prophesy in Ezekiel 34. Here is my take away notes.

#1. The Hamashia will have a special relationship with Yahweh.

#2. The Hamashia will Feed his people

#3. The Hamashia will Gather his people together

#4. The Hamashia will give Peace

#5. The Hamashia will represent Justice and Compassion

#6. The Hamashia will judge his people.

#7. The Hamashia is the only only true shepherd.

#8. The Hamashia will mediate a covenant of peace

#1. His anointed would have a special relationship with Yahweh. Or any of the other names of honor and respect given to our One God. Maybe you know God to be your:

Adonai (Lord and Master)

El Elyon (The Most High God)

El Olam (The Everlasting God)

El Shaddai (Lord God Amighty),

Elohim (God)

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)

Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Host)

Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)

Yahweh (Lord Jehovah)

What name is missing? There is about 15 times in the Old Testament the image of God is described as Father. In the New Testament Father is used about 245 times.

Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus Christ) said as recorded in John 10:30 "I and the Father are one.”

The minister to the Gentiles reported:

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (CJB) For God is one; and there is but one Mediator between God and humanity, Yeshua the Messiah, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom on behalf of all, thus providing testimony to God’s purpose at just the right time.

Fourteen times in Ezekiel chapter 34 verses 11-16 God said "I will" take on the role of being a shepherd providing for my people. That means that in Yeshua is the presence of God. No other person could defy the laws of nature unless the presence of God was within them. Verses 23 and 24 identify one shepherd and our one servant of God.

Ezekiel 34:23-24 (CJB) “‘I will raise up one shepherd to be in charge of them, and he will let them feed — my servant David. He will pasture them and be their shepherd. I, Adonai, will be their God; and my servant David will be prince among them. I, Adonai, have spoken.

Everything about Yeshua shows that he is the one with a special relationship with God. In the Old Testament there is about thirty times when God is called or defined using a father name or image. But there is not a single hit when searching for the name "Abba". Abba as a name for God began with the ministry of Yeshua. In the New Testament God is called or referred to as Father over one hundred and sixty five times. Clearly Yeshua did more than just introduced us into a special relationship with God. He had and lived the experience of that relationship.

Ezekiel 34:13-14 I will bring them back from those peoples, gather them from those countries and return them to their own land. Then I will let them feed on the mountains of Isra’el, by the streams and in all the livable places of the land. I will have them feed in good pastures; their grazing ground will be on the high mountains of Isra’el. They will rest in good grazing grounds and feed in rich pastures on Isra’el’s mountains.