Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. John 6:11 (NIV)
Fish and Loaves – The Meal Series – Part 3
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7
Jesus was having this weird day: his disciples had returned from a mission of healing and teaching, he had found out that his friend and cousin John had been beheaded by Herod (which had all kinds of political, social and religious ramifications), Passover was fast approaching, and when he tried to get some “alone time,” the crowds followed him, wanting to know more, hear more and experience more. So he spent the day with the people, and as night drew near, they needed to figure out how they were going to feed everyone. A small boy had some fish and bread, and despite his own need, gifted them to Jesus and the Disciples to share.
The accounts that all the guys wrote – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – provide little to no detail about what happens next, so we MUST engage our imagination (it’s OK, you’re allowed to).
How did it happen? What would have it looked like when a couple a fish and some bread became enough to feed a crowd of five thousand plus? Can you picture it?
I saw John Mayer at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre a few years ago with about five thousand other people, and I can’t imagine what a crowd that big would do with a miracle like that.
All of the guys – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – say that after the boy gave his food and Jesus prayed, there was enough food to feed everyone.
And so, everyone ate.
Who was there? Who had followed Jesus that day? The crowd would have consisted of people from all cross sections of society: the sick, the well, the poor, the rich, the lonely, the surrounded, seekers and drifters, Rabbi’s and carpenters… they were all there. People who generally would not have sat down to eat together, who would not have permitted certain ones at their table, or included others at mealtime, were all sitting knee to knee eating food provided by a nondescript child and a subversive Rabbi, who apparently had the power to transform a few bread and fish into crazy amounts of bread and fish.
Now if that doesn’t trump those awkward family dinners with the weird uncles and mean grandparents and the fighting couples, I don’t know what does.
Understand how important this is. Society was so regulated, segregated, organised into class and kind, that to see people who were on the edge of sworn enemies eating together, was unheard of. Jesus was brilliant in creating this space for people to share a meal. It was a precursor to the Last Supper he would share with his disciples, and the Eucharist meal that would become a symbol of hope for all. (more on that at Easter). He was setting a precedent for acceptance and hunger. He is the one who feeds our existence with purpose and holiness and breath and life. He is the sustainer of spirit and wonder.
When explaining who he was, He said, “I am the bread of life.” John 6:35.
He could have said ANYTHING. But he called himself bread. Food.
And the only pre-requisite to sit at the table and eat is hunger.
On her blog last year, Rachel Held-Evans wrote,
“On a given Sunday I might spot six or seven people who have wronged or hurt me, people whose politics, theology, or personalities drive me crazy. The Church is positively crawling with people who don’t deserve to be here… beginning with me. But the Table can transform even our enemies into companions. The Table reminds us that, as brothers and sisters adopted into God’s family and invited to God’s banquet, we’re stuck with each other; we’re family. We might as well make peace. The Table teaches us that, ultimately, faith isn’t about being right or good or in agreement. Faith is about feeding and being fed.”
On that day, for everyone's hunger – all the different kinds – there was food to eat.
Food for everyone.
Your turn. Leave us your thoughts below.
Go to Part 4 – Hunger Games »
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