Feeling Hungry?

We're reaching some familiar territory in our gospel Bible studies now, with the feeding of the 5,000. So let's find some coffee and cookies and imagine the scene... Are you feeling hungry?


(41) Are you hungry?

John places the feeding of the 5,000 in Galilee after Jesus’ second period of teaching in Jerusalem. Matthew, Mark and Luke place it when Jesus retires to a quiet place after the return of the twelve from teaching two by two (and after the death of John the Baptist). John says the miracle took place just before a Passover, perhaps when lots of pilgrims were heading to Jerusalem. We’ll imagine it as after the 2nd Passover (after the healing at the pool)—maybe near the 3rd? As always, we don’t know for sure—we make our best guesses and follow the journey into Jesus’ final year of ministry.
Read John 6:1-4, Matthew 14:13-14, Mark 6:30-34, Luke 9:10-11. Where are they? (And why? – see last week’s study)
1.       How does Jesus react to the crowds? How would we react if we were trying to get away and we were followed?
2.       How do we react when God calls us to the inconvenient? And how would we know it’s God’s calling rather than Satan’s distraction?
Read John 6:5-6, Matthew 14:15, Mark 6:35-36, Luke 9:12 Who’s keeping track of the time?
1.       What do we know about Philip? Why might John’s account single him out (and how does John single Philip out elsewhere in the gospel? Read John 1:43-46, John 12:21, John 14:8-9)
2.       Is the disciples’ suggestion practical? Some readers suggest that the listeners were just as practical as the disciples; some people already had food, but no one wanted to be first to eat in case they had to share. How well does that fit with what we know of human nature?
Read John 6:7-9, Matthew 14:16-17, Mark 6:37-38, Luke 9:13 Who had the loaves and fishes?
1.       Did you remember Jesus asking the disciples how many loaves “they” had? Or that John is the only one who says the loaves and fishes came from a child?
2.       Does John’s account imply that nobody else had thought to bring food? That nobody else was willing to step forward? That nobody else was willing to share? How willing would we be to share if we thought we hadn’t got much?
3.       Read 1 Kings 17:13-15,2 Kings 4:3-7, 42-44 Herod (and perhaps others) are already wondering who Jesus is. What might they conclude from this miracle?
Read John 6:10-11, Matthew 14:18-19, Mark 6:39-42, Luke 9:14-16 Have you ever tried to imagine how that food was passed from hand to hand? (Sitting on grass probably means this takes place in spring – near a Passover)
1.       How is this different from magic?
2.       Some readers suggest the “miracle” was in people’s sharing rather than in the presence of food. Does this offend you?
3.       What’s the most important takeaway from this miracle:
a.       Jesus cares about our human needs?
b.      Jesus wants us to sit down (and share?) together?
c.       Jesus can make food out of almost thin air?
Now let’s read the Bible’s takeaway. Read John 6:12-14, Matthew 14:20-21, Mark 6:43-44. Luke 9:17 Where did the baskets come from?
1.       How many were fed? What about women and children? And do 5 and 1,000 have any symbolic significance?
2.       How much food was left over? Does 12 have any significance? And why should nothing be lost?
3.       Why does this prove Jesus is a prophet? (Read Exodus 16:1-4, and remember John the Baptist has just died.)
Finally, read John 6:15, Matthew 14:22, Mark 6:45 Luke 9:18. How did the crowds react, and how did Jesus react?

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