What was Jesus motivation in feeding this multitude that followed him into the country? What did the multitude want from Jesus?
That’s easy. Isn’t it? Jesus performed this miracle, and all miracles, so the multitudes would believe and their souls would be saved, right? I wonder. Let’s set pat answer aside and look at Jesus’ audience. Many of these Jews had likely come from Jerusalem where Jesus had just told them they were incapable of believing because they sought approval from one another. He even told these sons of Abraham they didn’t really believe Moses and that they weren’t going believe in him either. Their motive for following Jesus was clearly not because they believed in him as God’s son. Even after the 5 loaves-2 fish miracle, their wildest projection was that Jesus might be Elijah. No, this crowd had gathered to see the show. They came “because they were seeing the signs he was performing on those who were sick.”
Jesus was also a part of their national agenda. The idea circulating among them was to “take him by force, to make him king.” Also, let’s not overlook their appetites. This crowd liked eating for free, preferably, forevermore. Jesus knew their hearts. He knew this extraordinary miracle was not going to convert them. What was Jesus hoping to achieve? We find our answer in realizing Jesus’ primary audience was a smaller group of people—His disciples.
Jesus was testing them. He asked them what their ideas were. This is disciple making at its best. After listening, He instructs them to have the crowd sit down. He then takes a meal for 5 and serves 5,000, with an abundance of food leftover. He then instructs his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost.”
A rigid gospel soul might accuse Jesus of caring more about saving food than people: “Why didn’t you leverage your miracle and save this multitude?” That is the point isn’t it? Jesus seems indifferent to the flames licking at the feet of these lost souls. Apparently unshaken by this notion, Jesus says:
All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and the one who comes to me I will surely not cast out… No one comes to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day“. (from John 6:37-40)
God had come to earth to reestablish communion with his people and sadly, in this sacred moment, all they wanted was a new leader and a free lunch. They didn’t believe in him as God’s Son. Scripture tells us, not even all the disciples truly believed in him: “But there are some of you who do not believe.” Still, Jesus remains unshaken even by unbelief in His inner circle. He explains his peace: “No one can come to Me, unless it has been granted Him by the Father.” Are we looking at election here—the doctrine that says God saves and damns whom He pleases?
Here, we find ourselves deep in the middle of a mystery because Peter tells us that God is “not wishing any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
As scripture poses this apparent contradiction, I try to not sidestep it by choosing an Armenian or a Calvinist position. I simply call it a mystery—something that makes sense in heaven but not on earth. As high as heaven is above the earth and God’s ways are above mine, it seems reasonable to conclude: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” (Psalm 139:6)
There is room for mystery in our beliefs. Being uncertain does not sentence us to spiritual poverty; rather it can position us for abundance. My conclusion, in the middle of mystery, is that God has proclaimed great news! He has given us His life in Christ and invited all men to partake. Those who do, have Jesus’ pledge that He will gather us. And in regard to us, we hear him say, “and nothing will be lost.”
At this meal, which natural law tells us should not have been, the miracle includes a surprise—an abundance of leftovers. Jesus is showing us God’s ways, which eclipse our understanding. I predict there will be a surprise on that Last Day as well, when we see what Jesus has gathered up. I believe we will see a surprising abundance of souls he has drawn to himself in his great patience and mercy.
The questions Jesus asks us are the same ones he asked his original disciples. “What do you want?” “Why are you following Me?” How do you answer these questions?
Father, thank you that you are always inviting people to yourself. Thank you for being the Bread of Heaven who has become our very life. Help us to grasp what it means to have your life in us. Show us how to love those you are drawing to yourself as they cross our paths. To your glory Father—that nothing may be lost. Amen.