There's nothing better than having a room or auditorium filled to capacity when your teaching or preaching. The sight of so many sitting under the Word of God brings an almost overwhelming sense or joy. I feel humbled and nervous knowing I carry such a precious treasure in this jar (more like a barrel now a days :) of clay. But after reading today's passage, I don't know if I'll ever see a crowd the same. Let's read today's passage in thelifebook... Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand John 6 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw *the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. *Sounds much better than going to my boring church. - V 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?” He said this to *test him, for he himself knew what he would do. *Hate tests! V. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ”There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Big lunch for 1 boy. - D Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. Not sure I get how this happened. So, did the fish and bread just keep multiplying right in front of the people or what? Wonder what it looked like. - PB So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him *king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. *The Jewish people (God’s people) thought the Messiah was going to be their king here on earth. Kind of like if we saw someone doing amazing things we might want to make him our president. -Uncle G. John tells us why the people came to see and hear Jesus, "And a large crowd was following [Jesus], because they saw *the signs that he was doing on the sick." It could have been that they were curious and wanted to know more about Jesus or it could have just been a show. The crowd may have just built momentum while more and more followed the crowd, even Vanessa's comment hint's at that, "Sounds much better than going to my boring church." - V How many people fill our churches and even Bible study classes because they are there to be entertained or it's what we do on Sunday mornings. Sometimes we ourselves do not know why we do what we do. There are a few whose intentions are made clear, they'll ask questions that were sparked because they were listening and are curious to know more or maybe didn't understand something and how it fit into the bigger picture of what Jesus is doing in the world.
The crowds even wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him king. This just reminds me of when people say, they made Jesus king of there life. The truth is that we don't make Jesus anything, He simply is. Paul wrote that at the Name of Jesus EVERY knee will bow. You either bow now and recognize and receive Him for who He is or reject Him and bow to Him just before you are cast from His presence forever. Thank God for grace that draws us to the Son and humbly receives Him for who He is, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Have a great day Loved Ones and God bless you real good!
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