selected gospel sections - broadway church of christ...groups upon the green grass. 40 and they sat...

“SelectedGospelSections”SpringSeries1Lesson7

“FiveThousandareFed”Matthew14:3-21;Mark6:32-44;Luke9:10b-17;John6:1-15.

Objective:TounderstandthemessageoftheGospelaccountsintheircontextwithineachworkindependentlyandthentocomparetheaccountstoeachothertoseekunderstandingofemphasisandfocus.Thegoalisthentoapplythismessagetoourtimeandcontextinordertounderstandthemessage’scallonourlives.Materials:TousetheGreek,Syriac,andotherancienttranslationsinordertohelpusunderstandthemessageoftheseGospels.Wewillalsoexaminethewritingsaboutthesepassagesinjournalarticles,commentariesandothersources.Procedures1. ToEirsttranslateeachtextfromGreekandthencompareittootherancienttranslations.2. Toidentifyissuesofimportancewithinthetextsandtoexplorepossiblemeaningsastheyappliedtothe

originalaudience.3. TotakethemeaningfortheoriginalaudienceoftheGospelsandtounderstandithowappliestoour

moderncontextandculturalsituation.4. ToexplorewaysthatthesetextcallthedisciplesofJesustolivetheirlivesasfaithfulfollowers.

SpringSeries1-Page of1 23


Matthew14:3-213ForHerodseizedJohn,bound[him]andputhiminprisonbecauseofHerodias,thewifeofhisbrotherPhilip.4ForJohnwassayingtohim,“Itisnotrightforyoutohaveher.”5Andwhilewishingtoputhimtodeath,hewasafraidofthecrowd,becausetheyregardedhimasaprophet.6ButafterHerod’sbirthdaycamethedaughterofHerodiasdancedinthemidstofthemandshepleasedHerod.7Therefore,onoathhepromisedtogiveherwhatevershemightask.8Andshe,persuadedbyhermother,said,“Givetome,here,uponaplattertheheadofJohntheImmerser.”9Andthekingwasgrievedbecauseoftheoathsandtheoneseatingwithhim,hecommandedittobe

Mark6:32-4432Andtheydepartedintheboatintothewildernessplacebythemselves.33Andmanysawthemgoingawayandrecognizedthem;andonfoot,fromallthetowns,theyhurriedtogetherthereandarrivedbeforethem.34AndafterarrivingHesawagreatcrowdandHehadcompassionuponthembecausetheywereassheepwithoutashepherd,andHebegantoteachthemmanythings.35Andthehourhadalreadybecomelate,HisdisciplescametoHimsayingthat,“thisisawildernessplaceandalreadythehourislate.36Releasethem,inordertogointothesurroundingcountryandvillagesandbuythemselvessomethingtoeat.”37ButHeansweredandsaidtothem,“Yougivethemsomethingtoeat.”

Luke9:10b-1710bAndHetookthemandHewithdrewprivatelytoatownbeingcalledBethsaida.11AndafterthecrowdscametoknowtheyfollowedHimandwelcomingthemHespoketothemconcerningthekingdomofGod,andHegavetreatmenttothosewhoneededtobehealed.12AndwhenthedaywasalmostoverthetwelvecametoHimandsaid,“Releasethecrowd,inorderthatthymaygointothesurroundingvillagesandcountryside,tolodge,andto]indfood,becauseweareinawildernessplace.13ButHesaidtothem,“Yougivethemsomethingtoeat.”Buttheysaid,“Wehavenomorethan]iveloavesandtwo]ish,unlessgoing,webuyfoodforallthesepeople.”14Fortherewere

John6:1-151Afterthesethings,JesuswenttotheothersideoftheSeaofGalilee,orofTiberius.2ButagreatcrowdwasfollowingHim,becausetheywereobservingthesignswhichHewasdoingupontheweak.3AndJesuswentupthemountainandsattherewithHisdisciples.4AndthePassoverwasnear,thefeastoftheJews.5ThenJesusraisingupHiseyesandseeingthegreatcrowdcomingtoHimsaidtoPhilip,“WhereMightwebuybreadinorderthatthesepeoplemighteat?”6HewassayingthistestinghimforHealreadyknewwhatHewasgoingtodo.7PhilipansweredHim,“Twohundreddenariiwouldnotbuyenoughbreadforeachtoreceivealittle.”8Oneof


AndtheysaidtoHim,“Arewetogoandbuytwo-hundreddenariiofbreadandgiveittothemtoeat?”38AndHesaidtothem,“Howmanyloavesdoyouhave?Goawayandsee.”Andafter]indingouttheysaid,“Five,andtwo]ish.”39AndHeorderedthemalltositdowningroups,ofgroupsuponthegreengrass.40Andtheysatdowningroupsofgroupsofhundredsandof]ifties.41Andtakingthe]iveloavesandthetwo]ish,afterlookingupintotheheaven,Heblessedandbrokethebreadandgaveitto[His]disciplestosetitbeforethem,andthetwo]ishHedividedamongthemall.42Andallateandwere]illed,43andtheytookuptwelvebasketsfullofbrokenpiecesandofthe]ish.44Andthoseeatingthe

given.10AndhesentandhadJohnbeheadedintheprison.11Andhishead,uponaplatter,wasbroughtandgiventothegirl,andshebroughtittohermother.12AndHisdisciplescame,tookupthebody,andburieditandwentandtoldJesus.13NowafterJesusheard(this)HedepartedfromthereinaboatintoawildernessplaceonHisown;andthecrowdsafterhearing[this],followedHimonfootfromthetowns.14AndaftergoingashoreHesawagreatcrowdandHehadcompassionuponthemandHehealedtheirsick.15ButaftereveningcamethedisciplescametoHimsaying,“Thisisanisolatedplaceandthehourisalreadypassed,releasethecrowds,inorderthattheymaydepartintothevillagesandbuyfoodfor

about]ivethousandmen.AndHesaidtoHisdisciples,“Getthemtositdowningroupsofabout]iftyeach.”15Andtheydidsoandtheyallwereseated.16Andtakingthe]iveloavesofbreadandthetwo]ish,Helookedupintheheavenandblessedthemandbrokethemandgavethemtothedisciplestosetbeforethecrowd.17Andtheyateandwereall]illed,andtheleftoverpiecesweregathered,twelvebasketsofbrokenpieces.

HisdisciplessaidtoHim,AndrewthebrotherofSimonPeter.9“Thereisaboyherewhohas]ivebarleyloavesandtwo]ish;butwhataretheseamongsomany?”10Jesussaid,“Makethemensitdown.”Nowtherewasmuchgrassintheplace;thereforethemensat,thenumberwas]ivethousand.11ThenJesustooktheloavesandaftergivingthanksdividedthemtothosewhowereseatedsoalsothe]ish,asmuchastheywanted.12Andwhentheyweresatis]ied,HesaidtoHisdisciples,“Gathertheremainingfragments,inorderthatnothingislost.”13Therefore,theygatheredand]illedtwelvebasketsoffragmentsfromthe]iveloavesofbarleywhichremainedfromthosewhohadeaten.14Whenthemensawthesignthatwasdonetheyweresayingthat


themselves.”16But[Jesus]saidtothem,“Theydonothaveaneedtodepart,yougivethemsomethingtoeat.”17AndtheyweresayingtoHim,“Weonlyhavehere]iveloavesandtwo]ish.”18AndHesaid,“Bringthemheretome.”19Andaftercommandingthecrowdstositdownuponthegrass,takingthe]iveloavesandthetwo]ish,Helookedintotheheaven,Heblessedthemandafterbreakingthem,Hegavetheloavestothedisciplesandthedisciplesgavethemtothecrowds.20Andeveryoneateandtheywere]illed,andtheytookupwhatwasleftoverofthebrokenpieces,twelvebasketsfull.21Andthoseeating

breadwere]ivethousandmen.

thisonetrulyistheprophet,theonecomingintotheworld.15ThereforeJesusrecognizedthattheywereabouttocomeandtakeHimbyforceandmakeHimKing,Hewithdrewagainintothemountainalone.


wereabout]ive-thousandmen,besideswomenandchildren.

TheaccountofthefeedingoftheEivethousandmenbyJesusisastorythatisknownbymostandyet

perhapstrulynotfullyunderstoodbymany.ItisastorythatisfoundinallfourGospelaccounts.Some

wouldseethemiracleasoneofmultiplyingmiraculouslyEiveloavesandtwoEishinordertofeedavast

multitude.OthershaveseenthemiracleofJesusassomehowhavingpersuadedthisvastcrowdtoshare

foodthattheyhadcarriedwiththemontheirjourneytohearJesusspeak.Certainlythiswouldbeagreat

miracle,andinhissermonofOctober2007SamuelKobia(theEirstAfricantobeelectedGeneralSecretary-

2004-2009-oftheWorldCouncilofChurches )advocatesthissharingandselElessnessasamiraclethatthe1

churchiscalledupontoreplicateasthedisciplesofJesus. Certainlythiswouldbeinalignmentwithwhat2

weEindaftertheDayofPentecostwhentheearlybelievers“…unitedandsharedeverything.” Though,as3

youmightexpect,noteveryoneagreeswiththisinterpretationofthe“sign”ofJesusasrecordedinthe

Thisisagroupthatisaworldwidefellowshipof340global,regionalandlocalchurchesrepresentingaChristianpopulationofover590millionpeople.1

In2010Dr.SamuelKobiawasappointedEcumenicalSpecialEnvoytoSudanbytheAllAfricaConferenceofChurches.HeisKenyan,bornin1947,andservesasaministerintheMethodistchurch.

SamuelKobia,“What’sinamiracle?FeedingtheFiveThousand,”TheEcumenicalReview,59:4(2007),PP.533-536.2

Acts2:43-47-43Asenseofawecameovereveryone.Godperformedmanywondersandsignsthroughtheapostles.44Allthebelieverswere3

unitedandsharedeverything.45Theywouldsellpiecesofpropertyandpossessionsanddistributetheproceedstoeveryonewhoneededthem.46Everyday,theymettogetherinthetempleandateintheirhomes.Theysharedfoodwithgladnessandsimplicity.47TheypraisedGodanddemonstratedGod’sgoodnesstoeveryone.TheLordaddeddailytothecommunitythosewhowerebeingsaved.CEB.


Gospels.OnethatdoesnotagreeistheApostleJohnwhoclearlysaysthatthetwelvebasketswereEilled

withfragmentsoftheEiveloaves. MarkalsoindicatesthatthebasketswereEilledwithbrokenpiecesofthe4

loavesandtwoEishthatJesushadbroken. 5

ThisisinfacttheonlymiracleoftheministryofJesusthatactuallyisrecordedinallfourGospels.This

perhapsshouldnotbeseenassurprisingasthisistheonlychapterinJohn’sGospelthatdealswiththe

GalileanphaseofJesus’ministry,whiletheGalileanministryofJesusisagreatconcernfortheSynoptists. 6

InthissectionofJohn,therearetwosignsrecorded,theFeedingoftheFiveThousand(6:1-15),andthe

WalkingontheWater(6:16-21). Oneofthequestionstoaskregardingthisstoryiswhyisit,ofallthe7

miraclesofJesus,theonethatisrecordedinallfourGospels?Whatissoimportantaboutthisstorythatit

shouldbeincludedsowidely?Apartoftheanswermaybefoundinthefactthatthispassagehasstrong

eschatologicalimplications.JustasitwasthecasethatGodhadfedIsraelinthewilderness,soJesusnowfed

John6:13Therefore,theygatheredand]illedtwelvebasketsoffragmentsfromthe]iveloavesofbarleywhichremainedfromthosewhohad4

eaten.

Mark6:42-43Andallateandwere]illed,43andtheytookuptwelvebasketsfullofbrokenpiecesandofthe]ish.5

D.A.Carson,TheGospelAccordingtoJohn(GrandRapidsMI:WilliamB.EerdmansPublishingCompany,1991),p.267.6

GeorgeR.Beasley-Murray,John,WordBiblicalCommentaryseries,Vol.36(WacoTX:WordBooks,Publisher,1987),p.85.7


themultitudeinthewilderness. GodhadfedIsraelinthewildernesswithmanna,throughMoses,sonow8

Jesusfeedsthepeopleina“wilderness”(ἐρῆμος-eremos-desolate,lonely,solitary)place. 9

Thismiracle,andIthinkthemiracleismorethangettingthepeopletosharetheirfood,wasthe

multiplyingofasmallamountoffoodtofeedvastnumbers.Itseemshighlyimprobablethatpeopleliving

duringthistimewouldhavebeencarryingthevastamountsofbreadandEishthatwouldhavebeen

necessarytofeedsoabundantlysuchalargecrowdbysharingwhattheywerecarryingwiththem.Sharing

offoodalsodoesnotexplainthepickingupofthetwelvebasketfulsaftereveryonehadeatentheirEill.Ifthe

foodbelongedtothepeoplesurelyJesuswouldnothavecollecteditinthebaskets.Thepeopleofthistime

andregionlargelylivedonasubsistencelevel.Theywerenotmiddleclass,asthemiddleclassduringthis

erawasalmostnon-existent,itwasverysmall,andbyandlarge,themajorproportionofthepeoplewere

livedatasubsistencelevelandwouldnothavehadtheresourcestocarryaroundwiththemtheprovisions

forafeastthatwouldhaveallowedsolargeagrouptobeEilled. ApartofthereasonthatallfourGospels10

Exodus16:4-ThentheLORDsaidtoMoses,“I’mgoingtomakebreadraindownfromtheskyforyou.Thepeoplewillgoouteachdayand8

gatherjustenoughforthatday.Inthisway,I’lltestthemtoseewhetherornottheyfollowmyInstruction.CEB.

MarkL.Strauss,Mark,intheZondervanExegeticalCommentaryontheNewTestament(GrandRapidsMI:Zondervan,2014),p.279.9

BruceW.Longenecker,RememberthePoor:Paul,Poverty,andtheGreco-RomanWorld(GrandRapidsMI:WilliamB.EerdmansPublishingCompany,10

2010).


recordthisaccountisthattheyunderstoodthesigniEicanceofthiseventinindicatingnotonlytheidentity,

butalsothepowerofJesus.ThismiraclepointsforwardtoGod’sfutureeschatologicalbanquetandactsasa

previewthatisreenactedeachtimetheLord’sSupperiscelebrated.Forpeoplelivingatthissubsistence

leveltheanticipationofsuchagreatfeastwasapowerfulsymbolofhope.Themetaphorofthisbanquetalso

pointsforwardtotherestorationofallcreationandto“eternalfellowship”withtheCreatorGod. 11

InthewordsoftheprophetIsaiahweEindthesewords:7Hewillswallowuponthismountainthe

veilthatisveilingallpeoples,theshroudenshroudingallnations.8Hewillswallowupdeathforever.

TheLORDGodwillwipetearsfromeveryface;hewillremovehispeople’sdisgracefromoffthe

wholeearth,fortheLORDhasspoken. ThissamethemeisfoundinJohn6:51inthediscoursefollowing12

themiracleofthe“FeedingoftheFiveThousand:” whenJesusindicatesthattheoneeatingthebread13

comingdownfromheavenwillliveforeverHelinksthemiracleofthefeedingoftheEivethousandwiththe

MarkL.Strauss,Mark,p.279.11

Isaiah25:7-8-CEB.12



eschatologicalhopethatistocome. Therearepowerfulimagescontainedinthismiraclethatwillhave14

calledthepeopletounderstandthecomingofJesusatatotallynewlevel.Heseekstoripawaytheirveilof

misunderstandingandtoopentheirmindsandheartstonewvistasofunderstanding.Oftenitisthecase

thatgettingsomeonetochangetheirpreconceivednotionsisanextremelydifEicultproposition.Usingthis

powerfulimageryfromthetimeofMoseswouldhaveimmediatelybroughtthestoryofMosesinthe

wildernesstothemindsofthepeople.Mosespromisedthatonedayaprophetlikehimwouldberaisedup

inthemidstoftheircommunity. Thefeedingofsuchalargenumberofpeopleinthewildernesswillhave15

surelybroughtquestionstotheirmindsastowhetherJesuswasindeedtheonewhowasprophesiedby

Moses.ThiswillhavebeenwhytheysoughttomakeHimking(cf.John6:15).Theyunderstoodthatthesign

thatHehadjustperformedwasanindicationthatHewasindeedthatprophet.Forthosewhowerevery

attentive,orperhapsaftertheresurrectionthiswouldbeasignofJesusastheSonofGodandtheinitiatorof

therestorationoftheNewHeavensandtheNewEarth.

Iamthelivingbreadthatcamedownfromheaven.Whoevereatsthisbreadwillliveforever,andthebreadthatIwillgiveforthelifeofthe14

worldismy]lesh.”CEB.

Deuteronomy18:15-16TheLORDyourGodwillraiseupaprophetlikemefromyourcommunity,fromyourfellowIsraelites.He’stheoneyou15

mustlistento.16That’sexactlywhatyourequestedfromtheLORDyourGodatHoreb,onthedayoftheassembly,whenyousaid,“Ican’tlistentotheLORDmyGod’svoiceanymoreorlookatthisgreat]ireanylonger.Idon’twanttodie!”CEB.


InthethreeSynopticGospelsthereisalsoamoreforebodingsidetothisnarrative.Inthe“Feedingof

theFiveThousand”miraclethefailureofthedisciplesappearssomewhatmutedwhentheyseemtofailto

understandthepowerofJesus.Thisfailureisseeninthefactthat,atEirst,thedisciplesencourageJesusto

sendthecrowdawaytoEindfood(Matthew14:15;Mark6:35;andLuke9:12),whatappearstobeavery

legitimate,reasonableandcompassionaterequest—andthentheyexpressdismayatJesus’suggestionthat

theyfeedthepeople(Matthew14:16;Mark6:37;andLuke9:13).“Forthosewitheyesoffaith,theseare

failures,butanypragmatistwouldforgivethedisciplesforfailingtoanticipatesuchamiracle.” Itmakes16

mewonderhowmanythingswefailtounderstandaspossibilitiesforGodtodogreatthingsinthemidstof

ourownlives.Itisofteneasyforustoseethefailuresinotherswithoutrealizingthatthetestsoffaiththat

theyfacealsocometous.InthosemomentsthereareuniqueopportunitiesforthepowerofGodtobe

displayedandforourtrusttobedemonstrated.Itisinthemomentswhenuncertaintyandpragmatism

seemtheorderofthedaythatfaithandimaginationarecalledforallthemore.

Itisperhapsinsuchmomentswhenwedonotevenrealizethatourfaithisbeingtestedthatitismost

importanttoactinfaith.Inthosemoments,toseeandtotrustthehandofGodismostcrucial.Thesearethe



momentsthattheancientheroesofthefaithwerecommendedforbyGod. SooftenasIhavesatin17

meetingswithbrothersandsistersinChristwhendiscussionsaretakingplaceaboutdoingsomethingthat

theyfeelGodiscallingthemtodo,therewillbemoreofafocusonwhatispracticalandpossible,takinginto

considerationourownstrengthandourownresourcesthanfocusonthecallingofGodtodothistask.

SeldomdoIseeittobethecasethatthereisthechallengeissuedtostepoutinfaith.Attimes,Ihaveheard

peoplesayweshouldputoffmakingadecisioninordertopraymore.Thiscanbeagreatthingtodo,butI

havefoundthatitoftenbecomesanexcusefornotsteppingoutinfaithandpostponingorevenvetoingthe

decisionpolitely.Weseemsoafraidtostepoutintodanger,dangeroffailing,dangerofGodnotshowingup

todisplayHispowerthatwecanoftenfailtoact.Itisimportanttoknowthatthedirectionthatweare

headedisthedirectionthatGodiscallingustogo.Prayerandlisteningareacriticalpartofascertainingthat

thisisthecase.WeneedtobeapeopleofprayerandpeoplethatlistentothevoiceofGod,butwemust

neverletprayerbecomeanexcuseoracrutchthatpreventsusfromactinginfaith.

OncewehearthecallingofGodclearly,itistimeforaction,nothesitancy,notforthecountingof

resourcestoseeifwewilldothisornot,thoughperhapstounderstandthattheonlywaythatthiswillwork

Hebrew11:1-40.17


isifGodshowsupwecountourresources.Itisperhapsinthemidstofcomprehendingourowninadequacy

andshortcomingsthatwecantrulycometounderstandtheworkingofGodinourlivesandinourworld.

Surelythechurchshouldbeaplacewheresuchthinking,suchdaring,suchfaith,arethenormratherthan

theexception.Theworldinwhichweliveisindeedfragmentedandfractured;soseverelyandsocompletely

thatthereisabsolutelynowaythatweashumanbeingscanhopetoputitbacktogetheragain.“Notallthe

kingshorsesnorallthekingsmencanputHumptyDumptybacktogetheragain.”Indeedweshouldexpect

this.TheaccountoftheTowerofBabel isanindicationthatsooftenitisthecasethatweashumanbeings18

seemtobeabletouniteforthingsthatarenotgoodandarenotwhatGodwouldhaveustodo.Hebroke

humanunityatthatpointbyconfusingtheirlanguage.Unityishard,formanyreasons,butitisalsoahope

andaprayerofJesus, aswellasacallingtounitywithGod.19

ThissetofpassagesfromtheGospelsrecountingthefeedingoftheEivethousandcallsustorecognize

thatthingsthatweseeasimpossibleareindeedpossiblewithGod.Sooftenweknowthatthisistheright

answertothequestionthatweface,butwefailtomakeitarealityinthewaythatwelive.Thecomingof

Genesis11:5-9.18

John17:21Ipraytheywillbeone,Father,justasyouareinmeandIaminyou.Ipraythattheyalsowillbeinus,sothattheworldwillbelieve19

thatyousentme.CEB.


Jesustothisearthissomethingthatismeanttoinspireustobemorethanthesumofourparts,morethan

justonemoregenerationofhumanbeingslivingonaspinningmasshurlingthroughspace.Wearemore

thanjustaninfestationoflifeformslivingoutalimitedexistenceinthevastnessofspaceallaloneexceptfor

thosethathappentobeoccupyingspacenearusforaseason.Ifthatisallwearethenwearetrulypitiful

andlifeislargelypointless,butthereissomuchmore.Irecentlyreadabookthatbasicallytrashedthe

literalbeliefinthestoryofthecreationofmankindbyGod,thestoryofAdamandEve.Istruggledwith

manythingsinthisbookthatwasinfactincrediblywellresearchedandwrittenbyagiftedwriter.Finallyat

theconclusionofthebookhespeaksaboutthesenseoflossandeven“nausea”thatwasexperiencedby

DarwinashecametoabeliefthatledhimtorejectthecreationaccountasliteralinGenesis.Thosethings

thathadsoshapedhisvividimagination,ParadiseLostbyJohnMiltonandHenryIVbyWilliamShakespeare

lostallappealforhimalongwithhisappreciationofpaintingsandmusicthathehadoncelovednowcaused

himtobenauseas.‘Darwinwasnotproudofthisnauseaanddidnotcommendittohischildren.“Theloss

ofthesetastes,”hetoldthem,“isalossofhappiness,andmaypossiblybeinjurioustotheintellect,andmore

probablytothemoralcharacter.”’ ThoughIdisagreewithmostoftheconclusionsofDarwin,Icanagree20

StephenGreenblatt,TheRiseandFallofAdamandEve(London:TheBodleyHead,2017),p.283.20


withatleastthisstatement.ThoughIthinkthereisfarmorethanthistobegainedfrombeliefinnotonly

thesethingsbutalsointheGodwhocreatedallthings.

StephenGreenblatt,whowrotethisbook,isaprofessorofhumanitiesatHarvardUniversity,aPulitzer

Prizewinningauthor,ofAshkenaziJewishdescent,andheindicatesthathehasnosolutiontowhatbafEled

Darwinhimself,butheindicatesthatthestoryofAdamandEveisimportant,eventhoughhedoesnot

believeitisliteral.Hesays,“Theyareunforgettableembodimentsatonceofhumanresponsibilityandof

humanvulnerability.Theyconveywithexceptionalvividnessthepossibilityofdeliberatelychoosinginthe

pursuitofknowledgetodisobeythehighestauthorityor,alternatively,thepossibilityofbeingseducedinto

makingafoolishchoicewhosecatastrophicconsequenceswillbefeltforalltime.” IbelievethattheGospel21

writerswillhaveunderstoodthatthe“FeedingoftheFiveThousand”eventwasawatershedmomentinthe

disciplingoftheTwelveApostles,challengingthemtoseetheworldthroughneweyes,througheyesoffaith

andtrustinaGodthatarenotboundbyourlimitations;Godislimitless.Ibelievethatapartofthe

implicationofhumansbeingmadeintheimageofGodisthatwecanimaginefarbeyondthecapabilitiesof

StephenGreenblatt,TheRiseandFallofAdamandEve,p.284.21


ourownresources,wecanimaginethingsthataregreater,morebeautiful,moremajestic,moremoral,more

loving,andmoreselElessthanwhatwehaveexperienced,exactlybecausewearemadeinGod’simage.

Itisperhapsinthisaspect,ourimagination,thatwehavethegreatestaccesstoGodinourworld.God

touchesourimaginationswiththestoriesthatwecanreadofHisinteractionswithotherswhowerepeople

ofgreatimagination,peoplesuchasAbrahamwhoimaginedbeingthefatherofagreatmultitudeofpeople

inalandfarfromthefamiliarityofhisfather’shouse:Moseswhocouldimagineleadingapeoplefrom

slaveryintofreedomandalandthathadbeenpromisedtohisforefatherAbraham:Toprophetsthathoped

andimaginedthatanationdestitute,anddestroyedcouldberestoredandcouldprosperoncemore.To

kingssuchasHezekiahthatwhenconfrontedwithoverwhelmingforces,thatsoughttodestroyhisnation

andhispeopleimaginedthattheremightstillbehopeandthattheremightstillbesomethingbettertocome.

WiththecomingofJesusourimaginationsandsourheartsshouldbefueledwithanevengreater

expectationthatshouldfuelustogreatthings.

WhentheangelcametoMaryandtoldherthatshewouldbearasonthatwouldbecalled“God’sSon,”

sheaskedhowthiswouldbepossiblesinceshehadnothadsexualrelationswithaman?Theangel


indicatedthatGodisgreaterthanwecanevenimaginestatingthat,“NothingwillbeimpossiblewithGod.” 22

Thereisasmallwordinthissentencethatissometimestranslatedinotherways,butisliterally

“with”(παρὰ),inthiscontext.ThiswordmeansthatthegreatimaginationthatHehasgiventoHisimage-

bearerscannow“with”Godhaveunlimitedpotential.InthetrainingofHisdisciplesJesussoughttoinstill

thisunderstandinginthem.Today,HestillseekstoinstillitinHisdisciples.Wearenotboundbythe

universeoflimitedresources,wehaveaGodoflimitlesspotentialthatis“with”us.Thisisthepromiseof

“Godwithus”(Emmanuel).Forthosethatwalk“with”Godnothingisimpossible.Evenmorethanwe

imagineispossible.NotoneeverimaginedthatGodcould,orwould,cometoearthinhumanform,live,die,

andriseagain.Godseekstoexpandourvision,ourimaginations,sothatwecanfulEillourdestinyasimage-

bearerstothewholeuniverse.Ourimaginationscanbegreattoolstoproclaimtotheworldthepower,the

beauty,andthemajestyofourgreatGod.

Whenyoufacetheimpossibleitisperhapsbesttoaskareyou“with”God?Ifyouare,thisisan

opportunityforGodtodemonstrateHispowerandpresence.Whetheritischurchbudgetmeeting,a

missionsmeeting,achildren’seducationmeeting,abenevolencemeeting,aPTAmeetingatyourlocalschool,

Luke1:37.22


orachoiceaboutyourownpersonalcareerorEinancesIpraythatyouandIwillnotforgetthat“with”God

nothingisimpossible.WecanevenfeedEivethousandpeoplewithEiveloavesandtwoEishes“with”God.To

befairthisrelianceuponGodisnottobeusedasanexcuseforpoorplanningandpreparation,but

sometimesevenwiththebestplanningandpreparation,whenweknowthatthisiswhatGodwantsustodo

weshouldnotshrinkback,butstepoutinfaith.andmoveforward,imaginingwhatGodcando.


Synopsis TheaccountofthefeedingoftheEivethousandistheonlymiraclestoryofJesusthatisfoundinallfour

Gospels.DespiteitbeingfoundsowidelyintheGospelsthereisstillsomedebateastoexactlywhatthe

natureofthemiracleactuallyis.Someseeitasunitingthepeopletosharetheirprovisionswithoneanother

sothateveryoneeatstheirEill.Trulyunitingpeopleisinfactagreatmiracle,butthisisnotthemiraclethat

isrecountedbytheGospelwriters.MarkandJohnbothindicatequiteclearlythatthemiracleisindeedthe

multiplicationoftheEiveloavesandthetwoEishthatarethengatheredintotwelvebasketsbythedisciples.

Thereasonthismiracleisfoundinallfourgospelsislikelybecauseitdeliversamessageof

eschatologicalhopetothepeoplethatJesusistheprophetpromisedbyMoses.Therewasalsohope

prophesiedintheProphets,suchasIsaiah,regardingtherestorationofcreationandtheabolitionofdeath.

Thisisperhapsonlyhintedathere,butcertainlythiswouldhavebeenapparenttothosewhobelievedin

Jesusaftertheresurrection.EvenasthisaccountinitiallyunfoldeditissurelythecasethatJesussoughtto

generateunderstandingandtostripawaytheveilofmisunderstandingthatwasstillheavilyuponHis


disciples.Jesusseekstochallengethemtohavefaith,totrustinHim.Thoughthereisnotagreatdealof

criticismfortheirlackoffaithinthisaccountthereissome;andthiscriticismwillgrowovertimeasJesus

continuestochallengethemtohavefaith.Heseekstoteachthemtorelyonmorethanthelimitedresources

availabletothem.Hechallengesthemtoimaginesomethinggreater,somethingthatonlyGodcando.

ThisstorychallengesustotrustGodandtohopeandimaginewhatGodcanaccomplish:thechallenge

isthesameasfacedbytheancientheroesoffaithwhometthechallengetotrustinGod;peoplelike

Abraham,MosesandHezekiah.WearechallengedtodaytobelieveinalimitlessGodwhoseeksfellowship

withHisimage-bearersandseekstodwellintheirpresenceastheirGod.Inourliveswefacechallenges

eachdaythatcalluponustofollowGodandtotrustHimtosupplywhatisneededtoanswerHiscallingand

tofulEillHiswill.


Questions1. DoyouthinkthatGodwantsustouseourimaginationsinserviceofHimandHiskingdom?Why,orwhynot?

2. Whenyouareconfrontedwithsomethingunexpectedwhatisyourdefaultmethodofcoping?

3. IfyouhadbeenwithJesuswhenHewasteachingthepeoplewouldyouhaveacteddifferentlythantheydid?Why,orwhynot?

4. WhydoyouthinkthisstoryissoimportantsothatitistheonlymiracleofJesusincludedbyallfourGospelwriters?

5. Howdoyouthinkthisstoryhasapplicationsforhowyouliveyourlifeeachday?

6. WhataresomewaysthatyoucanEindyourselffailingtorecognizethatGodispresentwhenyoumakeimportantdecisionsinyourdailylife?

7. WhataresomewaysthatyoucanseektobeapersonofGodlyimaginationmorefullyasyouliveyourlife?

8. WhataresomewaysthatyoubelievethepeopleofGodarecalledtobepeopleofimaginationandfaithinourworldtoday?

9. WhydoyouthinkitisthetendencyofpeopletotryandtobepracticalandtocountthecostwhentheyaredoingsomethingthatGodhascalledthemtodo?


10.WhataresomewaysthatyouhaveseenGodcallingyoutotrustHimasyouliveoutyourlifeasadiscipleofJesusChrist?

11.Whataresomewaysthatwecanencourageoneanothertolivemorefullyaspeopleofgreatfaithtoday?

12.AsMatthewgivesHisaccountofthefeedingoftheEivethousanditcomesrightafterhewritesaboutthebeheadingofJohntheImmerser.WhatimpactdoyouthinkremindingpeopleofthefeedingoftheEivethousandwasmeanttohaveonpeoplewhohadheardofJohn’sbeheading?

13.WhataresomewaysthatyoupersonallystepoutinfaithasyoufollowGod?

14.Howimportantdoyouthinkcommunityisinbuilding,andinsustaining,yourfaithinGod?

15.Inwhatwaysare“faith”and“imagination”different;andinwhatwaysaretheyrelatedtooneanother?


ToTakeHomeWhatisImportanttoknow? Itisimportanttoknowthatwhenweare“with”Godnothingisimpossible.IntheaccountoftheFeedingoftheFiveThousand,JesuschallengesHisdisciplestohavefaithandtobelieve.Often,whenwearechallengedtofollowGodintotheunknown,orintouncertaintywecanbeafraidoffailure.Itisintimeslikethisthatwemustimaginemorethanispossiblewithourownresourcesandperhapsevenwhatseemsrationalfromaworldlyperspective.Whataresomethings,orcircumstancesthatyouEindparticularlychallengingtoyourfaith?WhereisGodinthesewords? Godisinthesewordscallingthedisciplesintodeeperfaithandunderstanding.EachdayweareconfrontedwiththingsthatchallengeourfaithjustastheEirstdisciplesofJesuswerechallenged.Thesearemomentsoftestingandgrowth.ThefeedingofmassivenumbersofpeoplewithlimitedresourcesisonlyonemanifestationofwhatsuchtestslookedlikefortheEirstdisciples.Today,wearedisciplesofJesusandjustasthereweretestsfortheEirstdisciplestherearealsotestsforus.WhataresomewaysthatyouseektorisetothechallengesofyourtestsoffaithinJesus?WhatdoesanyofthismeanforhowIlivemylife? RecognizingthatlifeisEilledwiththingsthatchallengeourfaithinJesusisimportantforourgrowth.Wewillallfacechallenges,andtests;thisiscertain,howwerespondisofcriticalimportance.LearningtofollowJesusstandsatthecoreofwhatitmeanstobeaChristian,adisciple.Wearecalledtobelearnersallthedaysofyourlives,tobedisciples.Wearenotcalledtodothisalone,butincommunitywithGod,andwithotherdisciples.WhataresomewaysthatyouseektobeincommunitywithGodandHispeople?WhatisthewordofGodcallingustodo? ThewordofGodiscallingustobepeopleoffaith,thattrustinHimtoguideourpathandtogiveusstrengthbeyondtheresourcesthatwecanperceivewithoursenses.FaithcallsforustoimaginepossibilitiesthataregreaterthantheworldseesaspossibleandtotrustGodinthemidstofallthechallengeswefaceaswewalkwithHim.WhatprovidesyouwiththestrengththatyouneedtoovercomeyourstrugglesasafaithfuldiscipleofJesusChrist?


selected gospel sections - broadway church of christ...groups upon the green grass. 40 and they sat...

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