Feeding the Five Thousand
John 6:1-14 (NRSVUE)
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 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 among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place, so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus 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. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
So, my friends, the day has come! It’s Superbowl Sunday! And in just a few hours we’ll be gathering with our family and friends, eating buffalo wings, and chips and dip, and watching the big game! Now it has become a tradition here in Oldtown on Super Bowl Sunday, whether our beloved Patriots are playing or not, to celebrate Soup-er Bowl Sunday. That’s “soup,” with an S-O-U-P.
Now in years past, as we waited for the Patriots to take the Superbowl field, the children of our church would have headed down to the kitchen to make soup, and then during coffee hour, they would share that soup with the church while also collecting financial donations in big soup pots for our local Food and Friends Kitchens. But this year, because we are not sure whether the Eagles or the Chiefs will win, we decided to collect soup cans for our local food pantries as we show our support for each team. Now though each can of soup represents an important vote for each team, it, more importantly, represents a caring and sharing heart. Because each one of these cans of soup, whether it sits on the Chiefs’ side or the Eagles’ side, will be going to feed a family. And because of your generosity, we will be feeding lots and lots of families this week!
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” And over and over again in scripture, we hear the importance of sharing what we have with others.
When my kids were young (I know that I am dating myself, and my kids, for that matter), we had a cassette tape that we would listen to over and over in the car. The artist’s name was Raffi, and he sang fun and simple songs for children. But there was one song on that cassette tape that I haven’t been able to get out of my head over the past few days. Now it has nothing to do with football. It doesn’t mention Eagles or Chiefs, and it doesn’t mention bread or fish or soup, let alone Jesus. But what the song does talk about is the importance of sharing.
Well, since it’s been stuck in my head, I figured that I would share the experience with you and get it stuck in your heads as well. So what I am going to do is sing one line and ask you to sing it back, then we’ll do the same thing until we get through the song. Don’t worry there are only four lines, so it shouldn’t take too long. Then we’ll try it all together. Are you ready?
It’s mine, but you can have some.
With you, I’d like to share it.
Cause if I share it with you,
You’ll have some too!
Well, for me, Superbowl Sunday is all about sharing. Here at church, it’s about sharing cans of soup. And people around the United States, and even the world, share in the excitement of the big football game, attending gatherings and tailgate parties to celebrate. Now if you have never tailgated before a football game, it’s kind of like a potluck supper here at the church. Everyone brings something to share. So, whether someone brings chicken wings or chips or jambalaya or chili, our song still fits:
It’s mine, but you can have some.
With you, I’d like to share it.
Cause if I share it with you,
You’ll have some too!
Well, as exciting as football is, let’s put it aside for a minute and take a look at today’s scripture reading. Because today, we find Jesus in the midst of five thousand people. Sounds kind of like the parking lot at the stadium on a game day, doesn’t it? You see, the people followed Jesus because they wanted to learn more about him. As scripture tells us, “When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’” Well, Philip, being as concerned as he was, answered Jesus, saying, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” But then Andrew, another one of Jesus’ disciples, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.” Five barley loaves and two fish? Are you serious? What were they thinking? They had five thousand mouths to feed!
Now, I know that getting ready for a super bowl party takes planning. Even though people bring things to share, you still have to figure out how many people are coming and if you have to have plates, and cups, and napkins. And yet, in our scripture reading, Jesus and his disciples are out in the middle of nowhere! As the story goes, Jesus takes the five loaves and the two fish that a young boy has shared with him, and he feeds all five thousand people with twelve baskets left over! Can you imagine?
The part that I always find interesting here is that Jesus didn’t even know who these people were. They were strangers, but that didn’t matter. Jesus saw hungry people, and he fed them. Now the question is always asked, “How did Jesus do it? Was it a miracle?”
Friends, earlier, we talked about how at a tailgate party, we get energized and excited about the game of football, and we share what we have, right? Some people bring buffalo wings, cheese and crackers, or carrot sticks, and some people come empty-handed, and that is okay! Because just like here in Oldtown, all are welcome!
You see, at a tailgating party, there is always a sense of joy, hospitality, and excitement, and no matter who brought what, there is always a sense of abundance. Well, I imagine the same was true at that gathering of the five thousand. The people were excited about Jesus, and they were energized by his teaching. The crowd didn’t worry about what they had or even about being empty-handed. They didn’t worry about what they were going to eat because they had come to see Jesus. Jesus was what they desired. He was the focus of their attention.
Then in looking to feed the crowd, Jesus asked the disciples what food they had. He told them to go and see, and when they returned, they had five barley loaves and two fish. Now, this is the part that I love the most because Jesus took the loaves and the fish. He raised his hands, and he blessed them. And in blessing them, he asked God to step in and help bring energy and grace, and, most importantly, abundance. I also imagine that Jesus may have told the crowds that this young boy had offered his bread and his fish to share. And he may have even started to sing
It’s mine, but you can have some.
With you, I’d like to share it.
Cause if I share it with you,
You’ll have some too!
And when the bread was blessed and broken, and the fish was shared, an amazing thing happened because all were fed!
Friends, I believe that what happened that day truly was a miracle. Because what happened that day was just like what happens at a tailgating party. There was a joy, a hospitality, an excitement, and a sense of abundance that led everyone to share what they had, and when that happens, there is always enough for everyone!
So, brothers and sisters in Christ, as you go out into this Superbowl Sunday, enjoy the game and remember to share what you have with others. But instead of imagining Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes or Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throwing for the winning touchdown, let’s imagine the kingdom of heaven here on earth when we are all on one team, when no one is hungry or homeless, and when there is no more pain and no more tears, no more sickness, and no more violence, when we all care about God creation and love our neighbors, and when every person on this earth is INSPIRED to make a difference and to share what they have. Because then there will always be enough! So friends, let us not forget,
It’s mine, but you can have some.
With you, I’d like to share it.
Cause if I share it with you,
You’ll have some too!
My friends, may it be so. Thanks be to God, Amen!
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