Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” vs4-5

First, the Lord Jesus has compassion on the multitude. He owes no man bread, and He owes us no salvation, but He gives the Bread of life to all who ask Him. This is the true bread that came from heaven, and His miracles demonstrate His saving power.

Unfortunately, the masses still want money and miracles, but He’s teaching us about His generosity… not to alleviate world poverty or to bless the faithful with miracle money…but to satisfy our souls with the unsearchable riches of Christ. He says, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world [vs51].”

Let us seek THIS BREAD, for He will surely give it and satisfy us with abundance. Let us look with a spiritual eye to the teaching of Scripture.

Secondly, we see our unbelief. vs6-7

He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”

Look how dimly we see the Son of God and how little we trust Him, because we look at OUR RESOURCES, instead of His! We look at our ability, rather than the Son, and this must be stopped.

Let us analyze righteousness, not by our performances but His, and let us stand perfectly accepted with boldness. Eph 3:12, “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through the faith of Him [the gospel].” Let us understand strength, not by what we can do, but by what He’s promised to do in us, even making us holy in word and deed [Heb 11:11]. Let us love the Son of God and enrich our own lives, as we find a harvest in loving Him that fulfills, elevates, and liberates us! Indeed, loving Him is not idolatry, but it sets the soul upright, making us our most dignified selves [Luke 13:13]. All of these things that we have in Christ are ours: Let us take them fully, and honor Him in obedience.

Thirdly, we must make the people sit down. vs8-10

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.”

They have to hear the gospel. They have to stop and be still. They must receive the truth, because He gives faith by hearing [Rom 10:17]. He sat with the disciples to teach and commune with them, and all must come to Christ the same way, as little children, learning at His feet [Matt 18:1-3]. He feeds the soul by submission to His word. He gives understanding.

Christ does not bypass the brain to give us the gospel! We may not be able to explain many scriptures, but we believe the essentials, which they constantly teach. We believe His death and resurrection, knowing that He put away our dreadful sins, and He gives us power to walk in newness. We’ve tasted of the heavenly kingdom, because He revealed Himself to us [Heb 6:4-5]. Salvation is not a leap in the dark; it is walking in the light, and the darkness is now past [1 John 2:8].

Receive this command to learn the gospel, and be taught patiently, according to scriptural truth, rather than human reasoning.

Fourthly, here is a wonderful thing: Jesus gives as much as we need! vs10-11

“Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.”

Ah, we do not have a puny gospel that doesn’t satisfy! We are not pretending to be happy, but He gives us soul cleansing and soul pleasing power. We taste of the heavenly kingdom and enjoy the powers that are to come! We have God in our soul thrilling us with the truth of the gospel IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. Rom 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” We have the satisfaction that every man craves, and we’ve found Satan to be a deceiver! The good God is gracious and kind. The heavenly Father is wonderful!

Oh, let this delight your soul, and don’t be ashamed to declare to the world that you are satisfied within, satiated with fatness, and enjoying the best life possible by walking with God and keeping His commandments. His promises are true. He is not just talking, but He is fulfilling joy and peace!

Finally, Jesus will not be king on our terms. vs15

“Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”

He has ANOTHER KINGDOM that’s not of this world. He knew they saw the miracle, but they didn’t understand the meaning, so He refused their false worship, which was nothing but the seeking of the world - the love of the world, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life [1 John 2:15-16]. They had not the love of God, because they had no conviction nor relief of their sins! They hadn’t received power to trust Him, as evidenced by them walking away later [vs66].