Moments to Ponder

Episode 126: Provision and Trust in Unexpected Places (John 6:1-20)

• Betsy Marvin • Season 15 • Episode 126

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What if the miracles of Jesus weren't just historical events, but live lessons in faith and trust that resonate with us today? Join me, Betsy Marvin, as we unlock the profound narratives of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and walking on water. Through a personal lens, I share my experiences visiting the very landscapes in Israel where these miracles unfolded, inviting you to imagine standing on that hill by the Sea of Galilee. Together, we'll uncover the rich symbolism of these events, particularly focusing on the reactions of Philip and Andrew and the deeper connections to Passover traditions and divine provision.

As we sail through the stormy waters of life's challenges, discover how Jesus's powerful declaration of "I Am" offers not just historical insight, but a metaphor for God's unwavering protection during our own turbulent times. We'll draw parallels between these miraculous rescues and the harrowing journeys of both the disciples and the ancient Israelites, reminding us of the peace and resolution that follows when we invite divine intervention into our struggles. Let these narratives be a source of comfort and inspiration, encouraging you to offer what little you have in faith, knowing it's enough for God to work wonders.

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Speaker 1:

Hi friends, welcome to Moments to Ponder. This is a podcast designed to help you spend a few moments in God's Word, gain fresh perspectives and find meaningful takeaways to ponder throughout your week. I'm Betsy Marvin and this is Episode 126. When I was 16, I was blessed with a trip to Israel. We spent a week traveling to different places Bethlehem, jericho, jerusalem and the Galilee area. It was a beautiful spring day when we walked up the hill where it's believed that Jesus fed the 5,000. The sun glistened off the Sea of Galilee, flowers were in bloom and we settled in to listen to the story read from the scripture by one of those in our tour group. As we listened, we imagined a hill full of people, children running around, and they're all looking to Jesus. I will never forget that day the breeze, the smells, the sunshine. No wonder Jesus enjoyed that area of the world.

Speaker 1:

The story in John 6 is one of the few accounts that is found in every gospel the feeding of the 5,000. Every writer focused on slightly different angles, yet John well, john is the only one that notes that it was the time of Passover. It's their second one together. It's spring in Galilee. It's been an entire year since the last Passover, when Jesus was in Jerusalem making his voice heard. I appreciate John's notes of Passover and feasts. It helps us understand how much time has passed. At the last Passover Jesus had his conversation with Nicodemus. Since then he has traveled to Samaria and met a woman at the well. He traveled through Cana and Capernaum. He returned to Jerusalem for a holy day feast and healed a paralyzed man. He gave the Jewish leaders there quite an earful. All that Jesus is doing well.

Speaker 1:

His teaching and miracles have gotten some attention. We know from the other accounts that Jesus and his disciples have headed out to find some peace and quiet. They had just heard of John the Baptist's death and they need some time. We begin with verse 1 of John 6. After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him.

Speaker 1:

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration. Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked when can we buy bread to feed all these people. He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied even if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them. Philip, the practical numbers guy, he responds as many of us might Um, how in the world can we feed them all? We don't have that kind of money. How in the world can we feed them all? We don't have that kind of money.

Speaker 1:

After all that has happened was Jesus testing to see if Philip would look to him to provide. If so, philip failed that test. I wonder if Philip had given it some time and some thought, if he would have said something more like this Jesus, I don't know where the food will come from, but you are greater than Moses, who God used to feed multitudes every day in the wilderness, and you're greater than Elisha, who God used to feed many sons through very little food. And, what's more, scripture says that man shall not live by bread alone. You are great enough to feed this multitude with just a word Tell us what to do. But Philip didn't say that. And honestly, how often do we respond like Philip? We quickly limit God and we look for how God's work can get done through our own supplies and strengths versus looking to him, which is what Jesus was seeking in Philip and what he looks for in us. Let's continue in verse 8.

Speaker 1:

Then Andrew, simon Peter's brother, spoke up. There's a young boy here with five barley. Tell everyone to sit down, jesus said so. They all sat down on the grassy slopes. The men alone numbered about 5,000. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish, and they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, jesus told his disciples Now gather the leftovers so that nothing is wasted. So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed surely he is the prophet we've been expecting. When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

Speaker 1:

Andrew approached the situation differently than Philip. He brought forward what they had. Philip didn't know what to do and all he saw was impossibility. Andrew didn't know what to do either, but he brought forward the boy with his lunch. This is a great reminder for us. When we're faced with a situation where we don't know what to do, the starting point is always bring what we do have to Jesus. You never know what he'll do with it, but you know he will do something.

Speaker 1:

As I mentioned earlier, john has drawn our attention to the fact that it's Passover and a large part of Passover is bread. As the Passover meal is shared, the story of the Israelites leaving slavery in Egypt and all of their time in the wilderness is remembered. So many of the elements of the remembering involve bread. I wonder if John's trying to help us see the connection here, a connection to that first Passover when the Israelites were freed from slavery and during their time in the wilderness, when God fed them with bread from heaven called manna. Just as God miraculously provided for them, jesus provided in this moment for this large crowd One small lunch fed thousands of people and there were leftovers. It's no wonder that people wanted to make him king, but Jesus slips away by himself. Matthew and Mark share that.

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Jesus told his disciples to get into a boat and head back across the Sea of Galilee, saying that he would send all the people home. But John records it this way, starting in verse 16. That evening Jesus' disciples went down to the shore to wait for him, but as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn't come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them don't be afraid, I am here. Then they were eager to let him in the boat and immediately they arrived at their destination. From Matthew and Mark we learn that it was about three in the morning and Jesus sees them struggling on the sea. They're only halfway across. After all that time Jesus walks out to them and they're terrified. They think it's a ghost, but Jesus calms them. We even learn from Matthew that Peter walks out on the water.

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The words of Jesus here. When he says I am here, or in Matthew it's I, they're actually the words I am the name of God from Exodus. When Moses says, who shall I say, is sending me, and God tells him tell them, I am is sending you. God tells him tell them, I am ascending you. These are the words Jesus is using here. He's telling them don't be afraid, I am. He's telling them, I am God. In that moment he's saying I created this place, I created the water, I created you, don't be afraid, I'm here and I'm with you. Such powerful words. With this, john says they were eager to let him in the boat. As Jesus enters the boat, the storm ceases and amazingly, they are immediately at the shore. I love the word immediately here. It's always fascinated me. Not only did Jesus feed thousands, walk on water and calm a storm, he now brings his men safely to their destination Immediately. John has continued his nod toward Exodus. The Israelites are rescued from the Egyptians by passing through the sea, and now the disciples are rescued as Jesus walks on the sea. The I Am and the I Am Earlier.

Speaker 1:

We looked at Philip and Andrew and their different responses to Jesus as one way to learn from the story of feeding of the 5,000. We could ponder how God provides. Just as he fed thousands. He sees our needs and provides in ways we don't usually see coming and, like Andrew, we need to offer what we do have and let God do the rest. And maybe that's the word you needed today, or maybe the word for you isn't the second story. Maybe you're in a storm. The heavy winds of change or crisis have stirred up and your boat is caught in the rough sea that life can be. You're struggling to make your way through and you wonder what will you do. But if you listen, you can hear him, the voice that calms the storm and provides for thousands. That voice is saying to you don't be afraid, I am. And if you're ready, you can invite him into your boat and you might just find yourself at your destination, your safe harbor, much sooner than you expected. Dear one, as we close today, I want to leave you with a few verses from Psalm 107 to ponder.

Speaker 1:

Moses wrote these impressive works on the deepest seas. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths. The sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits' end. Lord help. They cried in their trouble and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness, as he brought them safely into harbor. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Dear one, may you see the wonderful things that he has done for you as well, and if you need to cry out and you will hear, don't be afraid it's me, I'm here. You are loved, amen.