March 31, 2025
Feeding 5,000 - Part 1
John 6:1-4
03/31/2025
1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of
the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
2 And a large crowd was following him, because they
saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.
3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat
down with his disciples.
4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at
hand. (ESV)
Aside from Jesus' resurrection, the only miracle recorded in
all four Gospels is the Feeding of the 5,000. Although Saint
John's Gospel does not mention this miracle taking place after
John the Baptizer was executed, the other three accounts speak of
Jesus hearing this news and desiring to retreat to a quiet place.
This was not to be.
After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea
of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large
crowd was following him, because they saw the signs
that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the
mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.
Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
The crowds followed. Some wanted to hear Jesus and His
teaching about the Kingdom of God. They desired to learn more of
God's rich grace and mercy as revealed by His Son. Many others
simply were looking for entertainment, watching Jesus perform
healing miracles.
For a few moments, Jesus and His disciples sat on the
mountainside. Maybe they were silent, thinking of John's death,
maybe they talked of the events happening around Jerusalem and
Judea. Possibly their conversation was about the Passover, the
feast which commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and the display of
God's power as He kept the children of Israel safe in the
wilderness.
This week we will seek guidance from this miracle to
strengthen our faith and to prepare us for the coming
commemoration of Jesus' death and resurrection.
May our Lord open our hearts and minds to learn more of His
grace and mercy. Amen.
____________________
1. Matthew 6:33
2. What a Friend we have in Jesus, verse 1