John9 Ch.6 cont.

[HKHaugan]

6:1-4 The Feeding of the 5000

The fact of its appearance in all four Gospels should make us immediately aware that the Lord is doing something very special here. The miracle of this occasion is more than just the multiplication of the loaves and fish or even proof of His position to the Jewish mindset. It points to the spiritual source behind it that lifts up three significant points:
First, it fulfills prophecy as an historically significant reality.
Second, it prepares us to see the events of our lives and everything around us in a spiritual context. Third, we are able to catch a glimpse of the spiritual, relational and personal reality of God at any present moment faith is applied.

This event crosses every generation and makes Scriptural spiritual history foundational in seeing how God has prepared for His Son to enter the world and be recognized as such. There are three themes here, God's compassion, God's plan and God's presence.
First, this miracle shows God's nature of compassion for all people trapped in a wilderness where darkness is always approaching and where there is no sustenance for the mind, heart and spirit. Second, it shows God has a very detailed plan for the recovery and restoration of mankind.
Third, as God's Son the one man Jesus is the exact image of God fulfilling His plan.

Jesus stands above history in its past, present and future. Yet each person in history is known in His heart and each is given exactly what is necessary in the moment of their need. No one is ever without access to Him. For those who respond to His invitation to live in their hearts by faith in Him, His grace, love and truth are operative in them in this present world. Their eternity with Him begins at that moment of response.

vs.1-6 Here the stage is set. Jesus goes to the north shore of the Sea Galilee. The location speaks to Hebrew history and the Passover reference to the spiritual journey as its purpose. This is also where the Jordan River (Heb. Hay-jarden-flowing downward) enters the Sea of Galilee and flows through the Jordan Valley until it empties into the Dead Sea 80 miles to the south. Already we are looking at the symbol of life giving mountain springs from above, through a flourishing valley and then life ending in the Dead Sea. Here is where Joshua crossed into the Promised Land (Joshua 3-4, alsoYeshua is the Heb.name for Jesus).

The key here is vs.4, The Jewish Passover Feast was near. This is the context for the Feeding miracle. It is the Feast of remembrance in that it reminded the Jews of their deliverance from bondage in Egypt to go to the land of Promise. Also included is their 40 year wandering through the wilderness, their receiving the Law through Moses and then Joshua leading them into the Promised Land. This is all recorded in the first five books of the Bible (the Law) plus the entry into the Promised Land led by Joshua (same name as Yeshua, Jesus). This pattern, the rebirth of the Jewish people, their wilderness dependency and arrival in the new land, is repeated spiritually in the mission and ministry of Jesus. He is the prophet like Moses (Deut.18:15-19) who gives a new Law, Love one another as I have loved you (Jn.13:34). The new Promised Land is eternal life in the Kingdom of God (Jn.14:1-3). Remember this is the context for the spiritual reality. So the Passover Feast is celebrated by the sacrifice of a lamb whose blood is shed and the scapegoat which is driven into the wilderness to show the sins of the people are forgiven. It is a detailed supper with specific ingredients that remind the people of what it took to get to the new land.

The spiritual reality is that Jesus becomes the Passover sacrifice for all time and all people who through repentance and forgiveness are delivered from the wilderness of personal sin and brought into Christ to live forever with Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Lord's Supper replaces the old Passover Feast to become the new Passover Feast and the heart of worship, the bread signifying Jesus' broken body and the wine, His shed blood, both received beneath a Cross and an altar of sacrifice.

Something new however, takes place in this worship experience. It's in the words of Paul, the Lord took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to the disciples (1Cor.11:23-26). He did the same with the wine, poured it and gave it to His disciples. Take, thank, break and give; these set the pattern for our life's real work, mission and ministry. We take ourselves before the Lord, give thanks for our spiritual rebirth, then break (repent) away from our sin and give ourselves as Jesus' disciples in mission and ministry.