The Fragments Of Our Lives

Read one of the following Gospel Texts: Matthew 14:13-21 / Mark 6:30-44 / Luke 9:10-17 /John 6:1-14

We have a story before us ... in the Gospel text ...that has been told ... and retold.

An event from which ... numerous lessons ... have been drawn.

One of the blessings ... of having four Gospels ... is that many of the incidents in the life of Jesus ... appear in more than one.

And often the account in the other Gospel ... or Gospels ... will shed a different light on the event.

And in this particular case ... we are not disappointed.

In fact, ... the miracle ... of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded in each of the four Gospels.

(Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6).

A question that was part of my ordination examination.

And for those who are wondering ... yes, ... I knew the answer. (Pause)

Now ... Luke in his telling informs us that it was late in the afternoon. (Luke 9:12)

Both Matthew and Mark mention ... that it took place ... shortly after Herod ... had ordered that John the Baptist ... be put to death.

It was an event ... that was so powerful ... that all four of the Gospel writers ... felt the story needed to be heard.

The apostle John in his telling ...informs us ... that Jesus turned to Phillip ... and asked where they could purchase some bread for the crowd ...that was gathered.

Hear God's word: BIBLE "Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" END (John 6:5)

This is the only place ... in the record of Jesus' life on earth ... that He asked anyone ... for their advice.

Yet ... Phillip did not answer the question as to the "where." (Pause)

Phillip's answer ... was, in effect, ... "what is the use of talking about the where ... when we have no money ... to even buy that much bread. (John 6:7)

John inserts an amazing statement. BIBLE "Jesus asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do." END (John 6:6)

Phillip was so focused on the crowd ... that he seemed to forget ... who he was with.

But Andrew, ... who was standing nearby, ... picked up the conversation.

Andrew shared that there was a lad ... who had five small barley loaves and two small fish. (John 6:9)

Then he added, "But how far will they go among so many?" (John 6:9)

On the one hand, ... Andrew knowingly or unknowingly made a venture in faith, ... yet then, ... he seemed to find amusement ...in his own suggestion.

Andrew was probably trying to bring about a little laughter ... among the disciples ... "how far will they go among so many". (John 6:9)

Beloved ... Can you picture them ... there human just like you and me?

There was probably laughter ... in the moment.

Well, ... Jesus did not criticize either of the two disciples.

What He did say was "Have the people sit down." (John 6:10)

Mark in his account speaks of the people sitting down "upon the green grass" ... this is a vivid touch ...from an ... eyewitness. (Mark 6:39)

The men ... the 5,000 ... were distinguished ... from Quote ... the "women and children," ... who probably formed, ... according to Eastern custom, ... a company by themselves. (Matthew 14:21 & Mark 6:44)

Well, ... the men sat down.

Luke says they sat, "in groups of fifty. (Luke 9:14)

Then our Lord looked at the supply ... from which He would draw.

In John's telling ... we are made aware ... the supply came from a young boy ... with his little basket ... containing his lunch.

Here God's word: BIBLE "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish but what are these for so many people?" END (John 6:9)

Let us take a moment and think about that young boy.

Imagine ... what he must have thought ...when he realized ... that Jesus was asking for his small basket of food.

His lunch.

Five (5) small barley loaves ... and 2 fish.

Wheat ... not barley ... was the customary food ... of the masses; ... barley... was the food of animals.

Beloved ... barley loaves ... would have been the bread ... used by the poorest ... of all people.

Then there were the two-small fish.

The Greek word used for fish ... is slightly different ...in the Gospel ... of John.

John ... uses a word ... which is often translated "relish," ... a relish ... which is normally eaten ... with bread.