Power of Jesus – 4

Power of Jesus – 4

John 6:9 “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”

John 6:11 “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”

            In the above passage we read about the most familiar miracle of Jesus which is well known to everyone. We see Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fishes and served it to the whole crowd until they were satisfied fully. This is the fourth sign in the gospel of John that proves Jesus is the Lord. First miracle is at Cana, Second the miracle to the nobleman’s son and third is the miracle at Bethesda. The fourth miracle of five loaves and two fishes is the only miracle that is mentioned in all the four gospels in the Bible and regarded as an important miracle of Jesus. As a part of today’s meditation, let us meditate on how the power of Jesus was manifested before this miracle took place.

Needs

John 6:5 “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

            Here we see Jesus lifted up his eyes and saw a great multitude of people. When Jesus saw a great company of people, one thing came to his mind. The moment he saw them, he understands that they were not eaten. Like a mother, he knew the needs of his children. He knew their needs before they told them. The Lord immediately prepared to reveal his power until they have had enough to eat. In John 6:1 ‘After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.’ As we read in this verse, bible scholars believe that there was a gap of six months ‘after these things’. Jesus works out his fourth miracle after six months and went to a place called Tiberias which is a part of the sea of Galilee. Even in our lives, we might be expecting the power of Jesus for a very long time and that might upset us. But the delay is not the denial. We the children of God must never lose our hopes during the times of our needs. Only in the times of urgent needs, the power of the Lord will be revealed.

            We read in Matthew 14:13 ‘When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.’ As this place was a deserted place far away from any town, the people were unable to fulfill their own needs. We see the people were not able to do what they want. This is when the Lord Jesus revealed his power which met their needs.

            In 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.’ Here Philip, the disciple of God exclaims that they only have two denarii which is not enough to buy for the whole crowd. He explains that they are in short of money to supply their needs. In that crisis situation which was contradictory, the power of Jesus was reveled and brought a new miracle. Even in our lives, the Lord knows our needs which is unsaid. The Lord will supply all our needs when we believe in the matchless power of Jesus.

Words

John 6:6-7 “And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.”

            As recorded in the verse, Jesus knew that what he is going to do but still tests his disciples by asking this questions. It is very clear that miracle will surely take place but we who go through such situations are expected to utter words of faith.

            In Mark 6:1,3 ‘And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.’ Here Jesus was so excited to come to his own country where he grew up. In the third verse, when people saw Jesus they recognized him but they were offended at him. They underestimated Jesus and were filled with unbelief. We see their unbelief stopped the power of Jesus to be revealed.  Even in our lives, we have unbelief towards our job, on our family and children. Today, we must reform and start believing in them. We need to believe that God has predestined our current job and he will lead us. Our Lord has predestined our family and children. We must never be unsatisfied on all of them. We need to put our trusts on Jehovah Jireh who will supply all our needs. Let us be very cautious on our choice our words and confessions. Our words should be with faith and that should invite the Lord to bless us at the right time.

Vision

John 6:10 “And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.”

            Here we see Jesus asks his disciples to make the people to sit down. His disciples knew the shortage but believed in the words of Jesus with a divine vision. They took the risk of making the whole crowd sit down to eat with a vision. When we say vision, it means to see things that are about to happen through our eyes of faith. Carrying a vision is important to receive any miracle. The power of the Lord will be made manifest only through a vision. Even in our lives, we have to visualize that our financial needs are met through the eyes of faith. Let us start seeing things with the eyes of vision and faith. The power of God is going to restore all what we have lost in our journey.

            In John 6:8-9 ‘One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?’ We see three people were involved in this miracle who are Philip, Andrew and a lad who carried five loaves and two fishes. If we say five thousand men which is approximately twenty thousand people to be supplied with the food. Andrew did not despise the little amount of food he had found and brought it to the attention of Jesus. The little what the lad had, supplied the needs of thousands through the power of Jesus. Even in our lives, the Lord can supply our needs with the little things we have in our hands. We need to believe that the Lord is able to work out a miracle for us. Andrew’s visionary sight was one of the reason which invited the power of God. It did not just change the temporary situation but brought an abundant blessing.  In John 6:14 ‘Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.’ The people witnessed the miraculous act and believed that he is the true prophet. Therefore, let us believe in the power of Jesus and let us have an eye of faith and vision. Amen.