An overlooked phrase, and the results of obedience

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4The Jewish Passover Feast was near.

5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

10Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Jesus 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.

12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

John 6:1-15

This is one of the most commonly cited miracles of our Lord Jesus. I myself have heard it many of times, countless probably is the right word to use, but the fact is not till I memorized this text did i find something different, a phrase that seems to be overlooked in the shadow of this miracle. In verse 10 Jesus commands the people to sit down, then it reads that 11Jesus 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. Only those who were seated ate, only they received the food, those who obeyed the Lord's commands. Now I wonder if there were people who were following Jesus just to see some great miracle, and who didn't sit down but stood on the sidelines and waited for what Jesus would do, yes they had a better view of the miracle, but they went away hungry. But those who followed the Lord's command were fed with as much food as they wanted. For it is obedience that satisfies. The obedient heart is fed constantly with spiritual food, while the disobedient must fend for itself on the garbage that remains.

I myself have experienced this miracle that takes place when obedience happens. In December I was faced with the choice of going to Kenya on a mission trip, or having a chance to win Bible Bowl nationals. God wanted me in Kenya, I wanted both, but i know it could not happen. Finally I gave into the will of God and went to Kenya. While I was in Kenya my team won Bible Bowl nationals, which i gave up so i could go to Kenya. But my disobedience was not in vain. I was blessed with the trip of a lifetime, a new perspective on life, and a deepened relationship with God, something a simple championship could not give me.

But obedience is not easy, for not one person has every not struggled with it. Jesus Christ himself struggled to be obedient to his father when he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane before his death. But his obedience led to our eternal life. How much more could your obedience in turn bring others to this eternal life?