Author Archives: Covenant Presbyterian

Scripture: John 6:15 (ESV) – “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” After the miraculous feeding, the crowd’s excitement boils over—they’re ready to crown Jesus by force. But their vision of kingship is political and immediate. TheyContinue reading “Withdrawing from Misguided Crowds”

Scripture: John 6:14 (ESV) – “When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, ‘This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!’” The crowd responds to the miracle of the loaves with a declaration drawn from Deuteronomy 18:15, where Moses foretold a coming prophet like himself. Seeing theContinue reading “This Is Indeed the Prophet”

Scripture: John 6:13 (ESV) – “So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.” The miracle is complete—and now its echoes remain. Not only were the people fed, but twelve baskets were filled with the leftover fragments. The number is significant: oneContinue reading “Twelve Baskets Full”

Scripture: John 6:12 (ESV) – “And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.’” After the crowd had eaten their fill, Jesus did something unexpected: He commanded the disciples to gather what remained. In a moment of miraculous abundance, where all were satisfied,Continue reading “Gather Up the Leftovers”

Scripture: John 6:11 (ESV) – “Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.” This verse recounts the miracle itself—not just the abundance, but the manner of it. Jesus takes the loaves, gives thanks, and distributesContinue reading “He Gave to Those Who Were Seated”

Scripture: John 6:10 (ESV) – “Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.” This is the moment just before the miracle, but already Christ is demonstrating quiet authority and intentional care. He commands the disciples to have theContinue reading “Have the People Sit Down”

Scripture: John 6:8–9 (ESV) – “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?’” Andrew speaks up, not with a solution, but with a small offering. He mentions a boy’s lunch—five barley loavesContinue reading “There Is a Boy Here”

Scripture: John 6:7 (ESV) – “Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.’” Philip responds to Jesus’ test with a realistic calculation, not with faith. His answer is honest and practical—he tallies the cost and concludes the situation is hopeless. Even withContinue reading “Two Hundred Denarii Are Not Enough”

Scripture: John 6:6 (ESV) – “He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.” Jesus’ question to Philip wasn’t born of uncertainty. As John makes clear, Jesus already knew exactly what He was going to do. The question was a test—not to expose Philip’s ignorance, but to reveal his faithContinue reading “He Said This to Test Him”

Scripture: John 6:5 (ESV) – “Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?’” Jesus lifts His eyes and sees the multitude approaching. He is not caught off guard. He knew they wereContinue reading “He Lifted Up His Eyes”