MARIA BLESILA DE LARA Rev.Dr.

Ruth Panganiban- Billena

Report in Christian Education Philippine Christian University

JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND

JOHN 6:1-14

Three questions come to mind as we ponder what this passage could mean for us in the

area of Christian Education. What did Jesus Christ want to to teach? Who did he teach it to, and

how did he teach it? After Jesus asked his disciples where could they find food to feed the people

before them, his disciple Philip answered him. However, it is notable that Philip seemingly

brushed aside the question of geography posed by Jesus, into what was to him a more pressing or

bigger “problem” that needs to be answered. The question of Jesus was a question of location or

geography, but Philip answered with arithmetic.

Where would they find the money to buy food to feed the multitudes? It was estimated

that if you count the women and the children, there were really around fifteen thousand people

present, aside from the five thousand men.

Philip counted the cost. Why? He expected that it is up to him and the other disciples’

ability to overcome this challenge that they are facing. He has yet to learn that it is God who will

work through his people as they believe in HIS ability.

Another disciple dared to give an answer to Jesus’ question. Andrew brought before Jesus

what was there but he was skeptic because he knew it was not enough. The other disiples were

either far awayto hear the question of Jesus, or they have remained silent because they do not

know what to say or they do not know what to do. Without them knowing or realizing it, their

reactions to Jesus revealed their level of faith and knowledge of God.

So what lessons can we learn from this instance in the life of Jesus and his disciples

before the multitudes? First, Jesus wanted to teach his disciples and to the people to have faith in
Him, that he is who he says he is – he is God. He would proceed to do this by letting them all

have an actual or personal experience of his power. Even today, God reaches and teaches people

about who he is by revealing himself to them in a personal way. That day, Jesus wanted to teach

them that God is more than what we can imagine or expect. More than that, he wanted to teach

his disciples that God can use whatever you have, whatever ability or resources you have –

whether you think it is just enough or barely enough, if you entrust it to God, if you allow God to

use them, God is able to make something great out of it, or God is able to produce great results.

Also, Jesus is teaching everyone there that God is able to provide what they need, and to give

them more than what they needed in fact.

Being a master teacher or a model teacher, what can we learn from Jesus? Jesus always

seizes teachable moments. He does not allow these moments to just be wasted. If an opportunity

to teach presents itself, you can be sure that Jesus will see to it that he would teach. Second,

Jesus varied his methods according to the situation and the environment. He makes sure that his

teaching method complerments the situation and the place. Third, Jesus makes use of questions.

Through questioning people, Jesus enabled them to be aware of their thoughts, doubts, fears, and

beliefs so that there is no room for pretensions and masks. Jesus also made use of questioning to

begin conversations, to encourage people to reflect, to motivate people to listen to teaching and

instruction, to arouse their interest, to make them aware of their motives, and to allow to admit

what they really think, believe or feel. Questioning is an important tool to Jesus as he instructed.

Jesus also made use of visual methods like demonstration or modeling. He also used

verbal methods like making requests and giving commands. Jesus also made use of application

activities because it is through these activities that people exhibits what they have learned or

what they understood. Just like in this passage, Jesus has done some miracles before that were
witnessed by his disciples. However, in this situation, we can see that they still have not

understood what Jesus can do. We can see that they do not understand who Jesus is.

When Jesus fed the five thousand by multiplying the fishes and the bread brought to him,

Jesus made use of object lesson and demonstration. Object lesson is a practical example of a

principle or abstract idea. A demonstration is a display of knowledge, ability or skill.

We can also learn a few things from how Jesus interacted with other people. Jesus

welcomes their questions. He allowed them to give him various answers but he also corrects

them. Jesus encouraged them to think by giving them practical tests, and most of all, he made

them act. To Jesus, students should not only listen, they are to think about and interact with what

they have heard or seen. Learners are not to just do nothing, they have to participate. Through

Jesus, we learn that what is most important in teaching is for students to learn – to apply what

they have learned and to be changed or transformed because of what they have learned.

References:

https://www.kidmintools.com/2014/12/15/the-teaching-methods-of-jesus/

https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/jesus-feeds-the-5000-5-miraculous-truths-
for-today.html