Page 56 - Gospel of John_teachers lesson_cp 1-10_Neat

celebrated by the Messiah since the wine miracle in Cana, marking His second year in public
ministry. (John 2:11-13)
(John 6:5-6) – The Messiah reviews the large audience that followed Him to the “desert place”
where He had hoped to find a time of rest and solitude. The landing place for finding solitude
became remote place for ministry. (Luke 9:10-11)
Phillip is asked “from whence shall we buy bread…”? The Messiah knew already the measures
He would take to feed the hungry people. The question was a proof-test to determine if Philip
or any of the disciples understood the identity or authority the Rabbi possessed as the Son of
God.

John 6: 7- Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not
sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
John 6: 8- One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto
him,
John 6: 9- There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small
fishes: but what are they among so many?

Lesson Notes:

(John 6:7) – In character with the nature of the disciples in that day and presently, Philp
defaults to a human examination of their provisions. He presumes what can be accomplished
with human hands but makes no forecast about God’s hand influencing the outcome. His
analysis includes limits upon what human hands would accomplish if more resources were
present, postulating that if they had two-hundred penny worth, an amount equal to half-year’s
income, it would be insufficient to feed the people enough to be content. When God is
excluded from the resolution equation sufficiency will always appear to be impossible.

(John 6:8-9) – Another disciple– Andrew, offers an alternative viewpoint reliant upon human
hands, noted with limitations. He found a lad with five loaves of bread and two fish, but like
Phillip, his solution is diluted by the limits of human hands.
The value of the lunch would be listed in the poverty column, it was meager, having little to no
monetary worth. In that day, barley was the least expensive grain in agriculture. It was
commonly used as animal feed. The lad carrying the lunch was likely from a home with little
resources.
The volume of the lad’s lunch is compared to the massive number of appetites waiting to be
fed. Five loaves compared to five thousand men represented one loaf per 1000 men. The fish
were described as small in direct contrast to the more than large multitude expecting to be
filled.

55