1 "AFTER these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed Him, because they beheld the signs which He did on them that were sick. And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto Him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, 6 that these may eat? 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, 8 that every one may take a little. One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto Him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two fishes; but what are these among so many? Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as 12 they would. And when they were filled, He saith unto His disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, 13 that nothing be lost. So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, 14 which remained over unto them that had eaten. When therefore the people saw the sign which He did, they said, This is of a truth the Prophet that cometh into the world."
(1) "After these things" where did Jesus go? V. 1. (2) After what things? Note 1. (3) Who followed Him? Why? V. 2. Note 2. (4) After crossing the sea, where did Jesus go? What did He do there? V. 3. (5) What feast was near at hand? V. 4. (6) Whom did Jesus see coming toward Him? What then did He say to Philip? V. 5. Note 3. (7) Why did He say this to Philip? What did He Himself know? V. 6. Note 4. (8) What was Philip's answer? V. 7. (9) What did one of the disciples say to Jesus? Vs. 8, 9. (10) What then did Jesus say? How many men were there? V. 10. Note 5. (11) When all were seated, what did Jesus do? V. 11. Note 6. (12) When the people had eaten, what did Jesus say to His disciples? V. 12. (13) How much remained of the food? V. 13. (14) Then what did the people say of Jesus? V. 14.
NOTES.
1. "After these things."—Besides the arraignment of Christ on a charge of Sabbath-breaking, and His complete refutation of the charge, as recorded in chapter 5, there are two other incidents connected with the "these things." Matthew tells that when Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, "He departed thence by ship into a desert place apart." Matt. 14:13. Mark says, in addition to the incident related by Matthew, that the apostles, having returned from a special tour of labor, "gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile; for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." Mark 6:30, 31.
2. "Great multitudes followed Him."—He did not get an opportunity to rest. He could not hide from the people, because of His compassion for them in their great need. See Matt. 14:13, 14.
3. The day's work.—From Mark we learn that Jesus taught the people a part of the time (chap. 6:34), and from Matthew that "He healed their diseases" (chap. 14:14) before feeding them. It was a very hard day's work, and still He did not rest, altho that was the purpose of the journey. He spent part of the night in prayer, and then walked half way across the sea to relieve the distress of His disciples, who had started across in a boat. See Matt. 14:22-33.
4. "To prove him."—Every disciple of Christ has to be proved on the point of faith. It is through faith in His name that we must be saved. See Acts 4:10-12. "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God." James 2:23. The disciples never learned the lesson until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Hence the importance of receiving the Spirit, which God is so anxious to give. See Luke 11:13.
5. "Much grass."—That "there was much grass in the place," shows that it was not "desert" in the sense of being barren, but rather as being uninhabited, a country place. "The men sat down."—Mark says that "they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and fifties." This was for convenience of service, and to prevent disorder, that all might be served. The Lord's work is always characterized by order, and therefore is always thorough.
6. "Having given thanks."—Giving thanks over so small a quantity of food in the presence of so great a company was a marked proof of the faith of Jesus, and that "He Himself knew what He would do."
