Feeding the 5000
- Ps Ben
- Sep 20
- 1 min read
In John chapter 6 we read how Jesus takes the pathetically insignificant offerings of a boy, five barley loaves and two fish, and then miraculously transforms them into an abundant feast for the hungry crowd.

John 6:1-15
Instead give everything that you have and everything that you are to Jesus, and you will feast on his abundant life forever.
In Sunday School we tell our students that this is a story about Jesus taking what little we have and turning it into something amazing for his kingdom. Which is true, but there is much more to the story than food.
This miracle recreates images from Israel’s past – Moses and the manna from heaven that fed the Israelites in the wilderness, and Elijah and the provision of endless flour and oil for the widow. All comes to fruition in Jesus. But the crowd misses the point.
They follow Jesus to the other side of the lake where Jesus then chastises them. They were simply interested in the miraculous bread, but had not believed in the one who had provided the bread, Jesus, the divine provider of life. Jesus boldly declares, “I AM the bread of life…whoever eats this bread will live forever”.
People give themselves in the pursuit of many things in life, such as fame, beauty, wealth, acceptance, pleasure. But none of those things truly satisfy. Instead give everything that you have and everything that you are to Jesus, and you will feast on his abundant life forever.
Pastor Ben