Leon Morris: Say Grace

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When 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?” He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what H?e was going to do. Philip answered Him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” 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.

When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:5-13

“Jesus sees a large number of people coming toward Him. Philip was the natural person to ask where food might be found to feed them all, for he was a native of nearby Bethsaida (John 1:44). John makes it clear that the question was a test for Philip. Perhaps a test of his faith; did he believe that Jesus would provide? It was not because Jesus did not know.

Philip’s reply stresses the hopelessness of the situation judged from the meager resources of the little band… Philip does not point to a solution, but to an impossibility… It is possible that [Philip’s] knowledge of the lad came as a result of a reconnaissance with a view to finding out what food resources could be mustered, for he definitely relates the boy’s supply to the needs of the multitudes. Or the boy may have offered his food to Jesus…

Jesus now takes charge. He instructs the disciples to get the people seated… Then he says Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks (“said grace”; John uses the verb eucharistew [from whence we get the term, eucharist, which is associated with the Lord’s Supper] whereas the Synoptists [Matthew, Mark, and Luke] employ eulogew [which means “to praise or bless”] in the parallels).

After this He distributed the food to the people. John lets us understand that the disciples were the medium of the distribution and…indicates that this was a satisfying repast, not a token meal. The thought of plentiful supply is continued in the reference to their having “had enough to eat” (Mark 6:42). But though there was abundance there was no waste, for Jesus commanded that they gather up all the pieces left over. Twelve baskets were filled in this way…”

Leon Morris in The Gospel According to John (NICNT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995) 303-306.

A close look at the Greek behind the account of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand reveals the source of the widely-known pattern of “saying grace” before a meal.

Today’s Scripture sets the scene. Jesus tests Philip with the question of where the supply of food will come from to feed the multitudes. With my accounting background I would have done what Philip likely did. I would have assessed the situation, focused on what we needed (a half-year’s wages), and minimized the value of the five loaves and two fish.

Only in keen observation do we discern the way of Jesus. He focused on what God had supplied, gave thanks (or literally proclaimed grace), and put the provision to work. That’s what Jesus does. Rather than cry aloud for what we think we need, which is our human tendency (and my proclivity), Jesus shows a different way, a higher course.

Do you feel like you have needs today? I know I do as I launch Global Trust Partners (GTP), the international accountability entity birthed by ECFA in recent days. Serving as president feels a bit overwhelming at the moment. Today, however, the Lord has given me a sweet reminder, as GTP only has resources for a half of a year to get going.

It is a test. I must without hesitation, “say grace” for what God has supplied and put it to work, every bit of it, and trust Him to continue to supply. I may also tap others which may test them and help their faith grow in the process. His grace has brought each of us to where we find ourselves, and saying grace proclaims our trust in God from here!

Why say grace whenever you are in need? It changes everything. Rather than sit in fear, worrying about what you don’t have, your faith is strengthened when you realize what God has supplied. Our part is to be faithful with whatever we have. We must put it to work with gratitude to God. When we do, we see miracles happen afresh today.