When Jesus heard [of John the Baptist beheading by Herod], He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. (Matthew 14:13) After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias [the new capital of Galilee and Peraea, on the east bank of the Jordan, by Herod the tetrarch] . (John 6:1) Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place [belonging to the city called Bethsaida*] and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. (Mark 6:30-32; Luke 9:10*)
In our previous study, we learned that Herod was a Roman ruler of a certain region of Isreal, around Galilee and Peraea. He had done some things that John the Baptist testified to him were against God, namely marrying his brother's ex-wife. Because of this, Herod's wife, Herodias desired and eventually was able to trick her husband into killing John, by beheading him. (see THE GOSPEL: Herod, Herodias & John) After hearing about Jesus and knowing he could not be John the Baptist, Herod desired to have a meeting with Him. (Luke 9:7-9) Well, Jesus has arrived in his territory, but the meeting does not take place, yet. We've also studied that Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs, throughout the cities and villages in the region, and empowered them to teach about the kingdom of heaven and do the same miracles He had done. (see THE GOSPEL: Price of Being a Follower of Christ) Now they have returned and are sharing everything that has happened, but there are so many people following Jesus and them, that they can't get any rest and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. (John 6:2-3) But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things [and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God*]. (Mark 6:33-34; Matthew 14:13; Luke 9:11*) And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14) Imagine how tired Jesus and the disciples must have been. We get tired from helping a few people every once-in-a-while. Jesus and the disciples are helping thousands of people everyday, and the crowd keeps growing and growing as the word spreads about the miracles being performed.
Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” (John 6:4-7) When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:15-16; Mark 6:35-37; Luke 9:12-13) All four Gospels record this miracle, but John adds Philip's comment that even if they had money to go buy food for the multitude of people, they wouldn't be able to buy enough bread.
Just how many people are there? One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand [besides women and children*]. (John 6:8-10; Matthew 14:17-19; Mark 6:38-40; Luke 913-15) 5,000 men, add women and children, and there could have realistically been nearly 10,000 people there! How is He going to feed that many people with only two fish and five loaves of bread??? We've studied so many different miracles that Jesus had performed. Most miraculous has to be raising people from the dead. (see THE GOSPEL: From Death to Life, Through Faith; THE GOSPEL: Life More Than Flesh) So why is it so hard to believe He could feed so many people with so little food?
And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” (John 6:11-14; Matthew 14:19-21; Mark 6:41-44; Luke 9:16-17) Note, before Jesus did anything with the food, He blessed it by giving thanks to God for it. Mark recorded it as He looked up to heaven, blessed. Whenever we are able to have food to eat, we should do the same, For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (I Timothy 4:4-5)
God had promised Jacob (aka Isreal) that of his twelve sons, through Judah's geneology, the Messiah would come, and The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh [the Messiah] come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10 KJV) Moses reiterated that to the people, when God spoke by him to the people, saying, And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deuteronomy 18:17-18 KJV) The children of Isreal had been in and out of captivity ever since being in Egypt. God had made great promises to them and their forefathers about a Messiah who would come and ...redeemed His people. (Luke 1:67-80) Now, they are under Roman captivity, so surely, they thought, Jesus is the One God had promised would come. Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:15)
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