Why did Jesus feed the 5,000?
It’s a story we find in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-15.
Was he a big fan of picnics?
Did he like gauzy photo ops with sheep?
The more I meditate on this passage, I see a challenging implication:
Jesus was rebuking the political and religious elite.
His actions conveyed a destabilizing message:
"You steal from the poor to indulge yourself and leave them hungry…
“But I will give of myself so they might have as much as they want.”
How do I come to this conclusion?
Because Jesus said the people were sheep without a shepherd (a ruler) (Mark 6:34).
Because the people themselves wanted to make Jesus their King (see John 6:14-15).
As we read the Gospels, we are invited to imagine a world where the disciples of Jesus imitate their Savior, and love the poor with such generosity that all their needs are met…
Some discussion questions…
As you read through these four accounts, what do you notice (compare and contrast)
Why do you think Jesus invited the disciples to distribute the food to the people?
How does this story help you trust God to meet your needs - even as you meet the needs of others?