Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

In this section of his discourse John presents a scene that is alluded to in the other gospels. Jesus had just crossed the Sea of Galilee where he is followed by a large crowd. Obviously there are no shops on the mountainside, but Jesus is reportedly asking Philip where to go to buy bread. John tells us that Jesus was setting him up as he (Jesus) knew what he was going to do next. It could be that Jesus was fulfilling the promise made by Moses to his ancestors when he said “may the Lord of your ancestors bless you and increase you a thousand-fold as He promised”(Deut. 1:11). Now if Jesus was there at the beginning as John suggested at the beginning of his writings, ch.1:1, then obviously he would know about this promise.  So the story continues. Philip gives a logical answer and calculates that not even six months wages, that is, 180 days worth of money or 180denarius could feed this crowd.  Up popped Andrew and presents a boy with five loaves (small bread rolls for his sandwich) and two fishes and qualifies this by reportedly saying; we have a little but there is about 5000 people here!

Once the people were in and orderly manner, Jesus then provided enough fish and bread to feed them with left-over. This is the God that john is presenting to us this Christmas. A God who takes the little you have and multiply it a thousand times. So if you have a lot or a little this Christmas, give it to Jesus and stand back in amazement and watch it multiply over a thousand-fold.

Jesus is lord over all our circumstances, so give him everything you’ve got and watch him transform it and you. Have a read of John 6:1-15.