January 6 / Chapter 6

Stop the presses! At the height of his popularity, Jesus performs a most astounding miracle. On a warm hillside near Bethsaida, nearly 20,000 people are fed from five barley loaves and two fish. The news spreads like wildfire. But, it was all about the 12, and never the crowd. 

A bit of context: The feeding of the 5000 men occurred a year before His arrest, trials and execution. The establishment has begun to challenge Him resulting in a  thumbs down' verdict. His miracles powers are attributed to Satan (Mt.12:24). Jesus begins to turn from the crowds to prepare His disciples for carrying on His ministry. Rejected a second time in His hometown of Nazareth, He hears that His cousin, John, had been beheaded by the besotted lecher, Herod. The shadowy road to the cross is taking shape.

John 6 occurs during a year of intense training of the 12. Looking at the words of Jesus, we see a disciple-maker's perspective. Note the progression of events:

     1.  Jesus surfaces a huge ministry need by asking a question to test them:
          "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?" They are
          overwhelmed but Andrew surfaces a boy who's willing to share what he
          has.

     2.  Jesus invites them step out in faith: "Have the people sit down." What an
          audacious step.  He has invited an overflow crowd to lunch and there is
          little in the cupboard.

     3.  Jesus does the impossible through them and nearly 20,000 picnickers are
          filled.
        - How long do you think it took the 12 to distribute maybe 100,000 small loves
          to such a crowd? Hey, wouldn't everyone need at least as much lunch as
          the little boy?
        - What were they learning each and every time they came back to Him to
           refill their baskets?

     4.  Jesus provides for their needs too: "Gather up the leftover fragments so
          that nothing will be lost." It is not by accident that there are 12 baskets
          of leftovers. They too needed His miracle.

     5. Jesus reinforces His sufficiency in the face of their fears: Drop-dead tired
         after the events of the day; they must row for miles through a storm.
         Seeing Jesus walking on water, they are terrified. He comforts them by
         pointing to Himself, "It is I; do not be afraid."

     6.  Jesus always keeps the back door open. After rebuking the fickle crowd for
          their self-centered motivations; and throwing a  cannibalistic sounding'
          stumbling block in the way of the Jewish establishment, many of His
          disciples stop following Him. Turning to the 12, He asks, "You do
          not want to go away also, do you?" To this powerful question, Peter
          responds, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life."

At least 11 of the 12 were beginning to get it!

Myles