Feeding of the 5000 John 6:1-21

John 6:1-21 Gospel Reading for Sunday 29th July 2012

Sometimes I just don't get lectionary design ... but I promise not to go on about why we skipped around the Feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on water in Mark's Gospel last week, only to jump back into John this week to pick up those stories!

It has been interesting to read a variety of commentaries and consider the often poles-apart perspectives on these two incidents. Why do we pick up both of these stories in the reading for this week? Are they linked? Is there some significance in the fact that Jesus feeding the five thousand is the only miracle account (aside from The resurrection) that occurs in all four Gospels? What do we make of a significant difference in detail in the circumstances leading up to the thought of feeding the crowd? In this JOHN reading, JESUS initiates the idea with a strange question: "Where will we get enough food to feed all these people?" In the synoptic versions, (Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9) the DISCIPLES initially raise the issue of food for the people, but Jesus replies ..."YOU give them something to eat."

While it appears that the Feeding of the 5000 and The walking on water both come at a time when the people are looking for signs (proof) of who Jesus is, John leaves us in no doubt that there is a far greater symbolism intended. (For the sake of keeping this reflection relatively brief, I'll skip right over the whole walking on water incident.)

So let's jump straight to some possible extrapolations for us today as key people involved with Lutheran Schools.

I want to focus on just one word already intentionally highlighted in uppercase above ... the word YOU.

Jesus puts the task of "feeding" the people intentionally right in OUR court. It is a resounding commissioning of all of us to do the job of getting the message through to the people ... so we don't leave it to the pastors, principals, christian studies teachers, ministry workers ... we are ALL called to the task of "feeding" the people around us ... and the amazing thing is, a very basic and seemingly inadequate 'food' supply is enough to get underway. It would appear that very little 'soul food' goes a long way ... and incredibly there is still a lot left over. A recurrence of the "from little things BIG things grow" thread of The parable of the mustard seed?

May we be inspired by the Spirit and given the confidence and courage to take what we have ... our humble home-packed 'lunch' ... and share it with those around us!

Nev