Poverty and Excess

Consider harvest season. Some years, an overabundance of produce grows and is more than the farmer and his workers need. They spent days, maybe weeks, picking and still the vines, stalks, and plants need more harvesting. What happens with that excess food? Does it stay on the main plant then spoil? What does the story of Jesus feed the 5000+ people teach us for this scenario?

Today, as I read John 6:1-12 of Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5000 men plus women and children, verse twelve struck me. I never fully noticed it until today. Here is what it says.

“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’" [NIV]

Many people had followed Jesus around the Sea of Galilee. Other people heard about Jesus from the people who followed Him around the sea also followed. These people had seen or heard of the miracles Jesus had done. They wanted to know about this man who does miracles and see what He would do next.

Jesus recognized these people had been with Him all day and had probably not eaten. He cared enough for them to make sure they ate. Jesus asked Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this to test Philip because He knew what He would do. Philip figured they could not buy enough to feed all these people. It would cost more money than they could earn in eight months. Philip used human reasoning and did not think outside his understanding. Why did Jesus ask this question of Philip?

Andrew brought a boy to Jesus who had five loaves of bread and two fish. He must have gone among the people asking if anyone had food. This young boy readily offered what he had. Andrew took the boy to Jesus and offered all he had found, basically asking Jesus, “Is this enough?”

Jesus did three things. He asked the people to sit. He prayed over the five loaves of bread. Next, He prayed over the two fish. Jesus gave thanks to God for supplying food. He also must have prayed thanking the Father for giving Him another teaching moment to the people. Jesus would show the people God’s care for them. He would show them another miracle. Finally, Jesus would command His disciples to gather the leftovers. Why was food left over after over 5000 people ate five loaves and two fish? Why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? What did He expect the disciples to do with them?

Four questions arose in this passage in John 6:1-12. Why did Jesus ask Philip where they could buy enough bread to feed these 5000+ people? Possibly, He asked him to test his faith and grow him. Possibly, Jesus wanted Philip to remember the miracles He had done before and conclude Jesus is the Messiah and can do anything. We realize Jesus wanted Philip to grow beyond his understanding and reasoning. He wanted him to think outside his own box. Jesus wanted Philip to apply what he had seen and learned from and about Him to everyday moments. How often do we encounter a problem and our first thought is, “I cannot figure out how to take care of this?” We need to grow like Jesus was leading Philip to grow. Instead of looking at what we know and what we can do, we need to recognize who Jesus is and what He can do. Instead of looking to our own resources and the problem, we need to look at the Savior, the solution, and the giver of grace.

The next three questions that arose in this story comes from verse twelve. Let me remind you of them. Why was food left over after over 5000 people ate five loaves and two fish? Why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? What did He expect the disciples to do with them?

Why was food left? The simple answer is because God supplies overabundantly more than we can ever think or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) This excess food made it possible for every person there to have their hunger satisfied. These people did not take a nibble so each person could be sure to have some. They each took enough and had no hunger left. One other thing comes from this, too. Later in John 6, Jesus told people He is the bread of life. The bread Jesus thanked God for in verse eleven was real, but it also foretold of Jesus being the Bread of Life. (v 35) Jesus is the Bread of Life that is superabundant and sufficient to save every person that seeks Him, confesses Him as the Son of God, and confesses his/her sins. To answer the question, bread was leftover because God superabundantly supplied enough for each person have satisfaction in their mortal bodies and for eternity if they would accept it.

The next question is why would Jesus ask His disciples to pick up the leftovers? If every person no longer had hunger, why carry food that would spoil within a day? We must consider again what Jesus had been doing. He had shown His power by doing miracles. People swarmed to see the man who did miracles and to see if He would do more. Jesus used these miracles to glorify God by telling them who He is and why He came to earth. He came so all people can receive forgiveness of their sins and He can make them righteous. Jesus came to redeem people from sin and death so they could be God’s child and live in His kingdom forever. Back to the original question. Jesus asked His disciples to pick up the leftovers because God always supplies superabundantly. He uses everything He supplies to bring Him glory so more people receive salvation. What did this mean for the 12 disciples? I think Jesus realized these disciples would meet more people who were physically hungry. When they told these people where the food came from, some would trust in Jesus as the Son of God and receive salvation. Just as Jesus used miracles to give God glory and tell people the Gospel, He expected His disciples to do the same. He provided God-given food, fish and bread, and He told them why He came to earth. So, I think Jesus gave them the twelve baskets of food to begin to teach them how to be fishers of men. This answers the question of what Jesus expected the disciples to do with the leftover food.

Now how does this passage apply to us today 2000 years later? We each live in a world where problems occur. Most of us will try to solve those problems within the scope of how we understand them and of our ability and reasoning. I suggest we do as Jesus tried to teach Philip; first take the problem to God. Let Him tell you how He wants the solution to occur. God may want you to let Him solve it in amazing ways that people will recognize they could not do so no doubt arises about from whom the solution came. He may also use any of us to solve a problem with His knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. God will tell us exactly what to do. How do we know what to do when we encounter a problem? Pray to God and keep praying until either He solves it, or He tells you what to do. Sometimes He will tell you to do something at that moment, to wait, or not to do anything. Other times, God may seem not to hear you and you wonder if He even cares. Those are the times to make sure you stay closely connected with God in prayer. Do not give up. God said He would never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5)

We can apply this passage to our lives in another way. If you are a Christian, you are a disciple of Jesus. The lessons He taught the disciples who walked with Him on earth were not just for them. They are for all His followers over the millennia. God gives superabundantly. He gives what each person needs to help us tell people about Him. God gives us what we need to minister to people physically and emotionally, too. Those twelve baskets of leftover food the disciples picked up are still available for us to help people and tell them about God. God’s grace is superabundant. He will supply all their needs and the needs of His disciples. He did this with the broken body of Jesus, the bread broken for us and the blood shed for us to receive forgiveness of sins, redemption from slavery to sin and death, and eternal life. What superabundance has God given you and told you to go out and tell others about Him? Have you kept it for yourself in case you have an emergency or are you using it to bring God glory and lead people to know Jesus as their Savior?

Jesus’ disciples carried twelve baskets of leftover food that day, and, I think, metaphorically for all the days of the rest of their lives. Literally, they carried baskets of leftover food superabundantly given by God when Jesus prayed over it. I think they carried it until they completely gave it all. The disciples probably used the food to tell people about Jesus. When the literal twelve baskets of food became empty, I believe the disciples naturally told people about Jesus because it had become a habit. It once was a practiced discipline but became a habit they did without always knowing. At first, they may have questioned Jesus about picking up the twelve baskets of leftover food. The farmer and his workers with the superabundance of food in the fields represents the disciples. They had more food than they knew how to use. They prayed and God told them He had a reason for this overabundant harvest. People in their part of the nation went to bed hungry every night. The farmer and his workers may not have been able to fathom that since they had so much. Upon seeking God and understanding His purposes, the farmer and workers began putting the excess food into baskets to take to hungry people. As they gave each basket of food to a person or family, they took the time to tell them from where the food came, told them God cares for them, and told them of Jesus’ love for them so much He died to save them from their sins and death. This farmer and his workers received a superabundance because God knew people were hungry for physical and spiritual food. They prayed and thanked God asking what He wanted them to do with the excess of God’s grace. God gives superabundantly to each person at some time because of His grace. We should seek Him and His will. Thank Him for the excess He gave. Then, we should ask God how He wants to use our excess to tell other people about Him.

Bring God glory as you bear the weight of His superabundant excess of grace and provisions.

Lord, You are generous with us and sometimes we do not see it. We are not grateful for everything You have given us. Help us see everything we have as a gift from You. Help us be thankful. Lord, teach us how you want this abundance to be used. Help us see we cannot just assume we should keep everything You give us. Lord, teach us You are giving us tools to help meet physical needs while telling them of You, who will meet their spiritual needs. Help us be unselfish and to be bold in telling Your Gospel to people. Make us more like You for Your service and glory. Amen.