The Crowds, Chaos, and the Calm: When It’s Scarce and Scary (John 6:1-21)

Two Miracles Today

Our passage recounts two significant miracles: the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus’ walking on water. Both events serve to deepen the disciples’ (and our) understanding of Jesus’ identity and our willingness to place our trust in him when our resources our scarce and times are scary.

The Feeding of the 5,000

The narrative begins with Jesus feeding a large crowd of over 5,000 people with just five barley loaves and two fish. Faced with an overwhelming need and inadequate resources, the disciples are initially uncertain about how to address the situation. Their practical concerns are met with Jesus' audacious command to have the people sit down.

The people are following Jesus because they need to receive something from him. The disciples are fine to let the onus of the work fall to Jesus. They are not stressed because in every other situation, it’s been up to Jesus. But now!? He is asking them to step forward and risk their reputation. What if they disappoint or fall short? What if there aren’t enough resources? What if the fundraising doesn’t meet our goal?

How many times have we wondered like Andrew as we look at our apparent insufficiencies, “How is what I have going to make a dent in the need that I’m facing?” Five loaves and two fish, for over 5,000 people who have walked all day? What are they among so many who have needs?

Imagine the disorder and confusion of 5,000. There’s a reason most classrooms in elementary are capped at less than 30 kids! Have you tried to get attention in a large crowd, but uncle Jim is over there leaning over into his friend’s ear telling a story and laughing?

Out of this chaos, Jesus brings order. He has them sit down in groups of twelve so each disciple can serve each group. Each disciple served at least 416 people! Yet they ate and when they wanted more, they got more. It was a veritable feast, a movable feast, for wherever Jesus was there was enough.

Likely, to their utter astonishment, the disciples hear Jesus say, “It looks like they may be satisfied. Go gather the crumbs and bits of bread they didn’t eat, so nothing may be lost.” Y’all, this was 5 loaves of bread! I’ve seen some long baguettes, but nothing that would do this. This was a miracle and each disciple went to their 416 people and each person saw other people put in uneaten bits of bread. The people saw with their own eyes that their once grumpy family member was no longer hangry, but was full, satisfied, and had eaten more than enough and returned the fragments to the miracle maker. No wonder they responded, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!”

Jesus Walks on Water

The second part of the passage takes place later that evening.

Jesus withdraws from the crowd because they want to make him a king. The disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee in a boat, but a strong wind and rough waters soon make their journey difficult.

The Sea of Galilee is about 8-10 miles across. They are 3-4 miles across as taunting winds and rough waters soon make their journey difficult. They are in the middle of it. It is dark and it is scary. Will Jesus save others but not them? Will they reach their destination safety? Can they survive the storm and safely arrive to the other side which they cannot see?

Storms will always gather, but God is mightier.

Job 9:8: "God . . . who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea . . .”

As they struggle, they see Jesus approaching, walking on the water. Terrified, they initially fail to recognize him. They must think it’s a ghost! However, Jesus speaks to them, saying, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

Once they understand his true identity, the text says, “Then they wanted to take him into the boat.” His words and presence bring immediate reassurance and desire for closeness. They understood that Christ is not just a spirit but a real personal presence. That makes all the difference, so the disciples welcome him into the boat, after which they safely arrive at the other shore.

Living Our Faith

This passage gives us so much to think about. Let’s focus on the following four.

Step Forward in Faith

The crowd has needs, undoubtedly. They need to be served. They need to be fed both Jesus’ teaching and literal food. The disciples are leaders and they need to serve and the food that is going to help them grow is trust within uncertainty.

Just as the disciples had to step forward and serve the crowd, we are called to act in faith, even when the outcome is uncertain. Sometimes our reputation may be at risk. We can serve and act rationally and rightly and plan accordingly (Jesus organized people and brought order out of the chaos first), but ultimately all of our actions and their results are in the Lord’s hands. If it is certain, we don’t have to trust. If we don’t trust, we don’t grow.

Trust in God’s Provision

Andrew nailed our internal dialogue perfectly, “What are these (5 loaves, 2 fish) among so many?” It’s not. That’s the point. The point is not our sharing, or our gathering or pooling our resources. The point is that all of our resources are inadequate and need the blessing of a bountiful God. At times, truly our resources are limited and seem inadequate, but cannot God provide even today?

Jesus’ Presence in the Storm

Earlier in the day, the disciples were part of a life-changing miracle and now they were fighting for their lives in the middle of the Sea. Life is like that; it can turn on a dime. It feels unfair as we are buffeted by our sufferings and feel alone, afraid, and confused.

It behooves us to remember that Christ is with us, even when we don’t initially recognize him. Remember that? The disciples first though Jesus was a ghost. Then they heard his familiar voice and it resonated deeply within them and “then they wanted to take him into the boat.” This, to me, reminds me to pray regularly, center myself in my meditation, and to read the Scripture so I may hear the familiar voice.

 I’ve heard this so often from friends and congregants and I’ve experienced it myself: “It was the toughest period of my life, but there was also a calm I couldn’t explain.” I love that the passage has the disciples recognizing Jesus’ voice and the one who was there and who is writing the story revealing his emotions: I wanted Jesus with me because life is scary and he is good.