DAILY TEXT, Friday, January 9, 2026. Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? (John 6:5).

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Friday, January 9, 2026

Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? (John 6:5)

Bread was a staple food in Bible times (Gen. 14:18; Luke 4:4). It was so important that the Bible sometimes uses it to refer to food in general (Matt. 6:11; Acts 20:7, study footnote). Bread was also central to two well-known miracles of Jesus (Matt. 16:9, 10). One of these accounts is found in John chapter 6. The apostles had just finished a preaching tour. Jesus crossed the Sea of ​​Galilee with them in a boat and took them to a secluded spot near the city of Bethsaida so they could rest (Mark 6:7, 30-32; Luke 9:10). But they were soon surrounded by thousands of people who came to see Jesus. And he did not ignore them. He kindly took the time to speak to them about the Kingdom and to heal the sick. As it was getting late, the disciples wondered how all those people would get something to eat. Some might have had a few provisions with them, but most would have to go to the villages and buy food (Matt. 14:15). w24.12 2 pars. 1, 2

How did Jesus react when he saw the people's needs?

Jesus told his apostles: “You do not need to go away. You give them something to eat” (Matt. 14:16). This was a big problem because there were about 5,000 men, and if you include the women and children, there may have been about 15,000 people (Matt. 14:21). Andrew said: “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are they among so many?” (John 6:9). Barley bread was common and inexpensive, and the small fish were probably dried and salted. In any case, that amount would not be enough to feed so many people.

What lessons do we learn from John 6:11-13?

Because Jesus wanted to be hospitable, he asked the people to sit down in groups on the grass (Mark 6:39, 40; read John 6:11-13). The Bible says that Jesus thanked his Father for the loaves and the small fish. This was very appropriate, because it was actually God who provided the food. This reminds us that we should follow Jesus’ example and pray before eating, whether we are alone or with others. Afterward, Jesus had the food distributed, and the crowd ate until they were satisfied. Even so, there was food left over, and Jesus did not want it to go to waste. So he told them to gather it up, possibly for later use. In this way, Jesus taught us to make good use of our resources. Parents can review this account with their children to teach them about prayer and about being hospitable and generous.

How did people react to the miracles they saw that day, but what did Jesus do?

The people were impressed by Jesus’ teaching and miracles. They knew that Moses had promised that God would appoint a special prophet, so they may have wondered if it would be Jesus (Deut. 18:15-18). If so, they may have believed that Jesus would be a magnificent ruler, capable of feeding the entire nation. That explains why they were about to “seize him by force and make him king” (John 6:14, 15). Had Jesus allowed it, he would have been involved in the political affairs of the Jews, who were under Roman rule. But he did not. The account says that Jesus, without hesitation, “withdrew to the mountain.” Even though they pressured him, he did not get involved in politics. What a great lesson for us!

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