Today’s passage: John 6:1-15
Helpful thoughts:
- Jesus feeding this multitude served to:
- Test the disciples.
- Display His power.
- Indicate His identity as the Messiah.
- Show the people’s hearts, which were much like the Israelites in Numbers 11.
- One denarius was the going rate for a day’s work. Philip thought it would take over seven months’ wages to feed such a crowd.
- There were 5,000 men present at this miracle. Matthew 14:21 indicates there were also women and children. Jesus may have miraculously fed 15,000 to 20,000 people on this occasion.
Questions to consider:
- If Jesus was testing Philip, what do you think Philip could have said to “pass” the test? What could we learn from this test?
- What did Jesus do when the crowd sought to take Him by force? If they were trying to take Him by force, what was it they wanted from Him? Was this worship? Who alone is sovereign? How does this impact our relationship with Him and our understanding of our purpose?
- Though the people’s actions were less than appropriate, their exclamation in verse 14 was correct! How did Jesus mirror the prophetic ministry of Moses in today’s passage? How is what Jesus did superior to what Moses could do?