16. John 6:1-21 Jesus, the Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15)

March 17th, 2025
by Randy Eliason

1. SCRIPTURE

SCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHTS:
Vs 8-10
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.

Vs 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

2. OBSERVATIONS :

The difference between Andrew’s response and Jesus’ response to the five loaves and two fish on hand is striking. Andrew treated the food with contempt when he said, “What is this?” This was certainly a rhetorical question, employed to make the point that such a little amount of food was worthless to them considering their great need. On the other hand, Jesus gave thanks!

This amazing miracle prompted the people to declare that Jesus was the Prophet who the Lord promised Moses he would send.
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— ... And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” Deuteronomy 18:15; 17-18

Some Jewish leaders interpreted this promise as a reference to the coming Messiah. The writings of a third century AD rabbi indicate that there was a belief on the part of some Jews that when the messiah came, he would duplicate the “manna miracle” performed through Moses.

3. APPLICATION:

What does this passage tell me about God?

God’s concern about our needs is clearly communicated by Jesus' actions. John tells us that the crowd followed Jesus because he was healing those who were sick. In Matthew’s account of the same event, he wrote that when Jesus saw the crowd, “he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” On another occasion when Jesus performed a miracle by which four thousand were fed, he said “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.” (Mark 8) God cares about all my needs, my spiritual needs as well as my physical needs. Knowing this reminds me that I can trust him to provide.

What does this passage tell me about me?

I am reminded that I need to respond to “the little” God puts into my hands like Jesus did, not like Andrew did. Instead of complaining and grumbling about my limited resources, I will give thanks for them and surrender them to the “hands” of Jesus who is able to do something great with them. Grumbling and complaining never invites God’s blessing, but thanksgiving will!!

4. PRAYER:

Dear Jesus, thank you for showing me the importance of being thankful for what I do have while trusting you to provide for what I still need. Fill me with your compassion for the needs of people around me. Help me to trust you and obey when you ask me to do something to meet the needs of others, especially when I don’ think I have the resources to meet those needs.

In Your name, Amen.

Posted in The Gospel of John