12 January 2020
Pr. Lo Yi Ping
Topic : The Miracle of Five Loaves and Two Fish
Text : Mark 6:32-44; John 6:1-13
Background
The miracle of “Five loaves and two fish” takes placed after the 12 disciples had completed
their missionary tour in Galilee, whereby it was also a faith lesson for them, taking nothing
on the journey but trusting and relying fully on God’s provision and power.
1. God will use what you have to perform wonders (Mark 6:38)
When Jesus saw the great crowd coming toward him, he had compassion on them like
sheep without shepherd. When the day gets dark, the disciples suggested to send them
away to get their own food, but Jesus asked Philip, where they can buy bread for these
people to eat? Jesus said this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was
going to do. (John 6:6) It may be a test of faith to see how much the disciples have grown
in their faith maturity and trust in Jesus’ ability to provide.
Despite negative voices, Jesus asked “How many loaves do you have?” “Go and See”
In life, we often see only the little that we have, sometimes we may not even realize what
we have, until we “go and see” for ourselves.
God will not ask you to give what you do not have, but to use the little that you have to
work wonders for His glory. Other bible references of such are
“What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. (Ex 4:1-3)
“Your servant has nothing there at all,…except a small jar of olive oil.” (2 Ki 4:1-7)
“I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug.”
(1 Ki 17:7-16)
Go and see and find out how many “loaves” you have!
2. Offer to Christ and experience His blessings
John 6:8-9 Andrew emphasizes both the “smallness” of the boy and the “smallness” of
the food he has. “a little boy”, “small barley loaves”, “small fish” and sarcastically he
asked “how far will they go among so many?”
Barley is cheaper than wheat, barley loaves and fish are the common diet for the poor
community, therefore, this boy is most likely from the lower social class. There is also a
saying that it is impossible for a small boy to eat five loaves and two fish, so likely he
brought extra bread and fish to sell, just in case someone need some food.
But with the little that he has, the little boy has generously offer all to Jesus. What the
boy gave turned out to be a blessings to the 5,000 men (not counting women and
children), all were blessed with food, ate and satisfied, because the little boy gave.
“However small or insignificant your resources/talents are, offer them to Jesus and He
will multiply them, and many will be blessed because you gave!
The Kyrugma House purchased years ago became a blessings to many, because
everyone brought in the little that they have to the Lord. Today, the church again
exercise faith in KRRP and saw how God multiplied and given us excess for the
renovation project. Because of brothers and sisters giving, KH will be a blessing to many
in days to come.
3. He is the living bread, go to Him and He will satisfy your soul
After Jesus received the five loaves and two fish, he directed the people to sit down in
groups on the green grass, in groups of hundreds and fifties. (Mark 6:39-40)
The green grass give us the picture of the green pasture, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall
not be in want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet
water…” God promised that when the true Shepherd come the desert would become rich
pasture where the sheep would be gathered and fed, and here the Messiah feasts with the
followers in the desert. In a way, it is a message to the 5,000 that Jesus is the Shepherd
who provides for all their needs so they will lack nothing.
In groups of hundreds and fifties, served also as a reminder to the Israelites whose
ancestors during their wilderness experience, Moses had them break into camp of 50s and
100s and they were fed with manna. The God who had provided for their ancestor, is the
same God who cares for them and will provide for them.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go
hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for
mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. (Psalm
107:8-9)
The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—may
your hearts live forever! (Psalm 22:26)
Indeed our God is a generous God, who always gives us more than what we need, not just
a bite, but ate and satisfied. God’s concern is not just to feed us with physical food, but to
satisfy our souls and give us eternal peace with God and with men. He is the good
Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. He is the living bread, go to Jesus and He
will satisfy our souls.
Questions for reflections:
1. Name some of the potentials or talents you did not realize you have but was pointed out
to you by others. Did you experience the multiplying of your talents after you put them
to use? Please share.
2. There are several accounts in the Bible about man making offerings/sacrifices to God
first then experience God’s blessings. Can you name some of them? What is your view
on “sacrifice” first before “blessings”? Is it a form of trading? If not, then what can we
understand from this?
3. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and
whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) Share how by trusting in Jesus,
you find satisfaction in your life?
