This sermon was delivered July 31, 2021 at New Covenant Community in Normal, IL.
This week we are diving into the story of the Feeding of the 5,000. There are 10 stories that appear in all 4 gospels, and this is one of them. While today’s reading is from John, we can glean meaning from the other gospel versions of this event as well. But let's begin with what all of these accounts have in common,
A huge crowd had gathered to see Jesus.
The disciples wanted to send them away because it was time to eat.
Everyone was fed.
There were leftovers.
Now the other details between the gospels differ in some small ways, but the major points of the story are all the same—big group of people, dinner time, huge meal, and leftovers. As you likely know, the Gospel writers all tell stories in different ways and for different reasons, but if something appears in all 4 gospels, it is very important. So let’s look at this story a little deeper.
Let’s start with the crowd. Jesus was growing in popularity at this time. This is likely because, as we’ve discussed, the people’s lack of a true leader. They were being ruled by Rome and Herod Antipas, and also by the spiritual elite. Jesus being a more down-to-earth person of the people would have been a very different experience. But beyond that, Jesus was actively advocating for the people- questioning the power of Rome, breaking the rules enforced by the spiritual leaders, healing on the sabbath, and dining with tax collectors and fishermen.
Accounts of the actual number of people present vary from gospel to gospel, Mark says 5000 men besides women and children, the others say just 5000 men, but it's entirely possible that since men were who was “counted” when it came to the census or other record-keeping, that no one considered counting how many women and children were present. So, based on this we can assume that there were at least 5000 people present, but likely about twice that if we count everyone.
That is a LOT of people. Now it’s not a stadium full of people- At&T Stadium (the home of the Dallas Cowboys) seats about 80,000 people. But the city of Monmouth has about 8700 people, so that might be a good measure. It would be like the entire city of Monmouth showing up to hear someone speak and then wondering how dinner was going to happen.
And because it was dinner time, the disciples were like, “Hey Jesus this large crowd of people is hungry. We should just send them away.” This is one of those “Really, disciples?” moments- because on what planet would that be a good idea? Sure let’s get a crowd all psyched up and then send them away hungry back to the towns where the Romans treat them horribly, that can’t go wrong.
But Jesus was smarter than that, and he understood that the people needed care and that sending them back to their towns without feeding them would not be a good idea. So he told the disciples to have everyone sit down. Except there wasn’t really enough food for that many people- thus the miracle.
There were two fish and five loaves of barley. In John’s version of the story, they were shared by a child, but in all of the other versions, two fish and five loaves were all they could find. But where the fish and the bread come from isn’t what matters- it’s that somehow there was enough food to feed everyone. And it wasn’t just a tiny crumb of bread- people ate and they were filled.
Now there has been debate over time as to how this miracle could have happened or a guess that once one person came forward with food, others did too. But again, I’d argue that the details of HOW the food happened aren’t what’s important- it’s that the people ate and they were filled. No one was left hungry.
In fact, there were leftovers.
Here’s the thing, when people give from the fullness of their hearts, there is always enough. God’s love is not Pie- there is not a finite amount. If someone else gets some of God’s love and acceptance, that doesn’t mean less for you.
God’s love is more like PI- the number- irrational and infinite. It goes on and on and on without any sort of logical sense or pattern, and it NEVER ends. And that’s exactly what happened with this miracle of the loaves and fishes- the food went on and on in a way that made no logical sense and it had no ending- just fullness and leftovers. And leftovers are the key.
Thanksgiving in my family is a huge deal. There are usually about 30 people at dinner, at least two turkeys, a ham, 2-3 different kinds of stuffing, casseroles, vegetables, salads, desserts...it is a huge feast hosted by my Mother. My cousin Michele and her husband Dan coordinate all of the cooking, and everybody brings something to share. (I of course bring my famous from-scratch sugar cookies with royal icing usually in the shape of turkeys). Not only is there more than enough food for everyone who shows up- family, friends, firefighters and EMT’s who are on duty, neighbors, and strays of all kinds- there are ALWAYS leftovers.
At the end of the feast, out come the Ziploc bags and the plastic containers, and all of that food gets divided and shared. Plates are made for those who couldn’t make it, the cookies all disappear, and everyone leaves with full bellies and a bag of leftovers. Everyone. My mother doesn’t turn anyone away. If you show up, you eat.
Who would Jesus feed? Anyone who showed up. And he did. He didn’t ask to see their political affiliation, he didn’t ask about their sexuality, he didn’t ask if they believed in God or if they believed in Jesus, he didn’t ask if they were married or divorced, he didn’t ask if they were pro-choice, he didn’t ask.
Jesus just loved them and fed them and sent them home with leftovers. I don’t know how to make it any clearer than that. Jesus DID NOT CARE WHO GOT TO EAT. Jesus just loved them and fed them and sent them home with leftovers. Jesus did not serve them PIE. He served them PI- irrational and never-ending love.
Jesus tells us and shows us again and again that his ministry is about love and acceptance. And when asked about laws and rules, Jesus says what?
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22: 37-40
Jesus intentionally dines with tax collectors. His birth was announced to lowly shepherds. He called fishermen and women and children. And he reminded us that whenever we do for the “least of these”- the poor, the imprisoned, the hungry, the hurting we are serving Jesus and serving God.
He healed on the sabbath because he loved. He broke the rules because he loved. He angered the authorities because he LOVED. He fed the 5000 because he loved. Love made a miracle, and love made leftovers.
I don’t know how to make it any clearer that the only thing we are called to do is to love God and love each other. We are not called to decide who is worthy of love. We don’t get to decide who God loves. We do not get to decide that God’s love is pie and only certain people are allowed a slice. God’s love is bigger than that. Jesus’ love is bigger than that. And it’s ok if that doesn’t make sense- it’s not our job to make sense of it.
So, who would Jesus feed? Jesus would feed everyone and send them home with leftovers.
Who would Jesus love? Jesus would love everyone and send them home with leftover love to share with others.
We should strive to do the same.
Amen.