Page 58 - Gospel of John_teachers lesson_cp 1-10_Neat

(John 6:11) – The Messiah takes the bread and gives thanks (eucharisteo-eucharist). In Jewish
culture giving thanks or blessing the bread covers everything to be consumed in a meal which
would include the fish. Bread is the symbol of life nourishment, embracing everything needed
to physically sustain man every day. (i.e. Matthew 6:11 “give us this day our daily bread) The
Jewish blessing for bread is centered on recognizing that bread comes from the earth. Man
sows the seeds but must trust and God for the harvest. The wheat harvest is a sign of God’s
favor upon the sower and blessing upon the earth. The Jewish blessing recites: “Blessed are
you L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth”, affirmed by
scriptures illustrating the same: Job 28:5, Isaiah 30:23, 55:10.

The bread and fish were given first to the disciples making them the point of distribution to
each family group. Everyone that was seated in a family unit received an appropriate ration.
There are times when God’s blessing or provision is distributed by or through the hand of
others. The favor nor flavor of provision is diminished because it passes first through someone
else.
The hands that first touch the bread and fish are trusted to deliver to each family exactly what
is needed without prejudice.

The model of proportional distribution is a precursor to the method used later by the Apostles
when they received offerings from possessions sold by members of the early Church and then
re-distributed the resources to every man according to their need. (Acts 2:45)

(John 6:12) – The disciples were given a new set of instructions by the Teacher after every
household was served and filled (satisfied). They are told to gather fragments [klasma “klas-
mah”: pieces from broken bread] the pieces and remains from broken bread and fish.
Certainly, there were no expectations among the disciples of finding leftovers among the
multitude considering the original concern for having sufficient resources to feed them.

The primary miracle of feeding the five thousand households produces a secondary miracle:
“usable, leftover, fragments”. The fragments were plentiful because of the number of times
the bread was broken among the large multitude.

The initial conversation that began with doubting the possibility of finding enough resources for
so many people is turned toward gathering leftover resources after the people are fed and
filled. The second miracle demonstrates God’s awareness of human needs that extends far
beyond the present moment. The miracle that resulted from the primary miracle afforded
provisions for the return journey to their homes.

(John 6:13) – When the order is established waste is eliminated. Everything available was used
to satisfy the needs of every household and nothing was lost or wasted. The twelve baskets of
leftovers became a testimony to the great multitude, reminding them of the feeding miracle,
and giving them assurance that God would sustain them until they returned home.

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