Lectionary for 5/21/08

Today's readings are Song of Solomon 5.2-6.3 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Song+5.2-6.3 ) and John 6.1-21 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+6.1-21 ).

 

In John 6 Jesus fees a huge crowd with one person's lunch, coming up with leftovers sufficient to feed several people for several days.  Look at the situation with me a little more closely.

 

Jesus has welcomed these people who the Scripture says were with him because of the signs he had been performing on sick people.  It is unclear whether the people were truly dedicated to Jesus, whether they were curious about what he was doing, or whether they themselves wished to be healed and thus receive from Christ.  We aren't told, so we won't speculate.

 

Jesus is quite aware of the needs of humans.  He knows hunger and thirst in his humanity.  He has been around humans for years.  He respects the needs of the physical body.  And Jesus cares enough for the people to plan provision for them.

 

Jesus' request to the Philip about food for the crowd could well have stricken Philip with amazement and despair.  I don't live in a very large city, nor in a really small town.  But I know if I decided that we would have a church dinner for 5000 plus people we would not be able to get enough bread for sandwiches for all those people at one store without advance notice.  In fact, we would probably not be able to accomplish the task even by going to several stores.  This is a significant number of people and they are deviating from their normal patterns sufficiently that it could be very difficult to come up with supplies for them.  Peter, in what we later see is typical fashion, manages to come up with some food because someone has something to eat.  But it isn't enough for everyone, not by any stretch of the imagination.

 

See now Jesus' abundance.  From small supply he creates much.  He makes sure all the people who are with him have what they need.  In fact, they have more than they need.  The language used is that of a full meal in which people would have all they wanted.  Their hunger was satisfied.  This was no little snack to tide them over until they could manage to get an actual meal.

 

See Jesus' care for people and lack of wastefulness.  He has the remains gathered up.  This doesn't become a feast for birds and dogs but is packed neatly into baskets.  Maybe there were some poor people who needed food in their homes.  We don't know what happened to the baskets.  But Jesus takes care that his miraculous provision will not end in a couple of hours when people become hungry again.

 

See how people believe in Jesus, the giver of the feast.  We can have every confidence that Jesus, the giver of the feast, is preparing for us all we need in this life and in the world to come.  Look to Jesus, the true supply of all we need.