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Jesus said, \u201cHave the people sit down.\u201d There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.\xa0 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, \u201cGather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.\u201d So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:10-13)

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Yesterday we heard from Pastor Michael that Jesus likes asking questions.\xa0 We also heard that Jesus brings his mercy with him wherever he goes.\xa0 In today\u2019s text, Jesus is doing both\u2014asking questions and bringing mercy.

In the lead up to these verses, Jesus sees crowds coming and asks Philip where they should get bread to feed them all.\xa0 \u201cIt would take more than half a year\u2019s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!\u201d Philip replies.\xa0 Peter points out the five small loaves and two small fish of boy, then asks \u201cbut how far will they go among so many?\u201d \xa0

The disciples may have had some money, and a boy had some food, but faced with such massive need, all they seemed to possess was scarcity.

That\u2019s not how Jesus saw it though.\xa0 When the camera shifts to Jesus, all of a sudden the language shifts from the \u201csmall\u201d of the disciples to the \u201cplenty,\u201d \u201cas much as they wanted,\u201d and \u201cenough\u201d of Jesus.\xa0 It\u2019s a shift as stark as Kansas\u2019 black and white giving way to the colour of the merry ol\u2019 land of Oz.\xa0 A desert of dusty tumbleweed scarcity is transformed to a lush, warm world of colourful possibility.\xa0

There was plenty of grass for the people to sit on.\xa0 There was thanks to be given to God for his abundant provision.\xa0 There was all you can eat bread and just as much fish.\xa0 Not only was there enough to satisfy the hunger of all, but there were twelve full baskets leftover.\xa0 In the hands of Jesus, there was a colourful world of plenty.

Surely this was the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth that had stepped into their midst. \xa0The very same God who produced manna in the desert\u2014the what-is-it kind of provision that transforms a wasteland into a buffet table though you know not how.\xa0

And indeed, that\u2019s just the sort of image John is aiming for.\xa0 At the top of the chapter he lets us know that \u201cthe Jewish Passover Festival was near.\u201d\xa0 The meal of provision, of salvation, of anticipation of the heavenly wedding feast of the Messiah where there would be plenty enough for all.\xa0 \xa0

It\u2019s not long after this that Jesus declares that he himself is the bread of life.\xa0 Hearing that, we often think of Jesus\u2019 spiritual benefits to us.\xa0 And that is a very right thing to think.\xa0 But don\u2019t lose sight of the fact that the chapter begins here at the feeding of the 5,000 with Jesus\u2019 materially abundant care for the crowds.\xa0 His mercy is not only spiritual, Jesus is also the God who is with us in our physical world and needs.\xa0 After all, he created all this physical stuff.\xa0 His mercy is as tangible as tonight\u2019s supper.\xa0 \xa0

That also means that wherever there is hunger in our world\u2014that\u2019s very much something Jesus cares for and invites his church to care for too.\xa0 Because the world Jesus created and invites us to thankfully steward is a colourful world of abundance, not a tumbleweed desert of scarcity.\xa0

On my ornament for today, I tried to draw a colourful basket of bread and people on a hillside.\xa0 Whatever God\u2019s colourful world of abundance might look like to you: draw it!

For a tangible activity today, make a donation large or small out of what God has given you in cash or non-perishable food items to a food bank like the one right next to our church, Neighbour 2 Neighbour!\xa0 The link to their site is here in the notes! \xa0

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