March 11: Fish, Bread, Refuge

by Abby Mohaupt

 

John 6:1-15

After this Jesus went across the Galilee Sea (that is, the Tiberius Sea). ² A large crowd followed him, because they had seen the miraculous signs he had done among the sick. ³ Jesus went up a mountain and sat there with his disciples. ⁴ It was nearly time for Passover, the Jewish festival.

⁵ Jesus looked up and saw the large crowd coming toward him. He asked Philip, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?” ⁶ Jesus said this to test him, for he already knew what he was going to do.
⁷ Philip replied, “More than a half year’s salary worth of food wouldn’t be enough for each person to have even a little bit.”
⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ⁹ “A youth here has five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that for a crowd like this?”
¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass there. They sat down, about five thousand of them. ¹¹ Then Jesus took the bread. When he had given thanks, he distributed it to those who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, each getting as much as they wanted. ¹² When they had plenty to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces, so that nothing will be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves that had been left over by those who had eaten.
¹⁴ When the people saw that he had done a miraculous sign, they said, “This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world.” ¹⁵ Jesus understood that they were about to come and force him to be their king, so he took refuge again, alone on a mountain.

I sort of remember learning about this story in Sunday School as a three year old. I think we played with toy fish and bread. We probably colored pictures of the crowd and the food while we talked about how Jesus made a miracle by caring for so many people with so few resources.

Later, when I worked at a summer camp, we used this text to talk with the campers about the gifts of children (because it’s a child who has the fish and loaves in the first place). Here is this group of adults who have been leading this crowd, but they can’t remember to bring food even for themselves. A child is the one who has brought along an afternoon snack!

I still read this story and hear the lesson of God using a little for great good, and I still get the message the children and youth have resources that others do not… but reading this passage from John this morning, I’m struck by verse 15. 

Jesus understood that they were about to come and force him to be their king, so he took refuge again, alone on a mountain.

The people are desperate for a leader who will care for them in a way they understand. Jesus is clear that it’s not his task to be that kind of leader. He must get away. 

He must find refuge. 

Jesus seeks solitude from the crowd after performing an incredible miracle of care and hospitality. He provides for the crowd’s needs and then refusing to give in to their wants. 

How would it feel to be Jesus? All this adrenaline from feeding thousands of people and the people are excited—and Jesus walks away from it.

I’m thinking about the times when I’ve been swept up by the feeling and movement of a crowd and I wonder if I could have refused to be pulled along, especially if I had caused the excitement. I wonder if I could have stepped aside for discernment and calm—as Jesus does. 

Here, Jesus is a model of knowing one’s own role, the tasks associated with it, and when to walk away to find solitude.

How do you know your role in the world? Where do you go for refuge?

Dear God, help us know what our role is, and help us seek refuge from the crowds that try to sway us. Remind us that we can do so much with so little and that all have gifts to offer the world. Amen.