GOSPEL MEDITATION

The Gospel of John–John 6:1–21

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand &Jesus Walks on Water

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture. Reread them. From memory, determine the central points.

1. Two “signs” now, both of which defy the laws of nature; multiplication of matter and suspension of the law of gravity.
2. The attempt of Jesus to retreat with His disciples is thwarted by thousands of people descending upon Him. The popular personage, John the Baptist, is dead and now people are looking to Jesus, the one John pointed to as the “Lamb of God.”
3. 5000 men eat of the barley loaves and fish, (plus women and children, Matthew states in 14:21), and all are satisfied. Afterward Jesus is careful to collect all food that was left over, 12 baskets full. (Would these baskets of food be given to families?)
4. When the people recognize the great miracle done before them, they attempt to seize Jesus and make him a king. Anyone now except a hated Roman and especially since John the Baptist is gone. But Jesus withdraws further up into the mountains.
5. The disciples come back down to the Sea of Tiberius, but Jesus does not come with them. The disciples start off in a fishing boat toward Capernaum about 5 miles away. Darkness is closing in on them.
6. That sea, becomes unruly and wild, which is well known then and now. Likely they are drawing near to their destination, maybe a bit more than half way there, when they spy Jesus walking toward them, on the water. The startled disciples bring Jesus on board.
7. Matthew’s Gospel, 14:22-33, tells us that Peter jumps into the sea and makes his way toward Jesus, but falters due to fear and begins to sink. Jesus “reached out his hand” and the two got into the boat. Jesus says to Peter, “O you of little faith.”