Servant Leadership

The news of John’s death—and the way in which he died—stung like a sharp knife, piercing Jesus’ soul. Grieving, Jesus retreats to the comfort of the Father and the silence of the Sea of Galilee. He tells his disciples to come with him, and they escape to a secluded place. People were coming from everywhere after hearing the news about John’s death (Mark 6:31). Some believed this crowd was angry and ready for a revolution and a new king (John 6:15). What would happen next?

Questions from your reading

• Why were the crowds following Jesus?
• What did the twelve want to do with these crowds?
• What lessons do you think God the Father wanted the disciples to learn during this experience?
• What or who made this miracle possible?
• What other questions do you still have?

Reflecting on your reading

It’s abundantly clear that Jesus intended to cross the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida and retreat with his disciples to a quiet place to grieve (Luke 9:10). But the Father had a different plan—a lesson in leadership through personal loss and deep pain. From the boat, Jesus sees the crowd already beginning to gather and decides to dock nearby.

The crowd is forming for various reasons. Some want to avenge John’s death and make Jesus king (John 6:15). Others are drawn by the many miracles Jesus and his disciples were performing (John 6:2). As the crowd assembles, Jesus takes his disciples up a mountain ledge overlooking Bethsaida and the Sea of Galilee. Picture Jesus—angry, grieving, and overwhelmed by the death of his close friend—prostrate on the ground, pouring out his heart to the Father. And it’s here that the Father may well have said, “Son, lift up your eyes.”

John 6:5 says Jesus looked up and saw the multitude approaching. Mark 6:34 tells us he was moved with compassion for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.

As Jesus and his disciples come down the mountain, he turns to Philip and asks, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Surely, Philip would respond in faith—after all, they’d just returned from mission trips where they’d seen God provide. But Andrew does some quick calculations, checks with Judas about their funds, and concludes it would cost far too much to feed this crowd.

As the day unfolds, Jesus continues teaching and ministering to the massive gathering—5,000 men, plus women and children. Some estimate the crowd to be around 20,000. By evening, the people are hungry, and the disciples suggest sending them away. Jesus, however, tells them to feed the crowd themselves. When they balk at the cost, Jesus says, “Go, collect what you can from the people and bring it here.”

Only one person is mentioned as having something to offer—a young man found by Andrew. He willingly offers everything he has: five barley biscuits and two small, sardine-sized fish. With this meager offering, Jesus hosts what may have been his largest outreach event—and possibly his greatest miracle—feeding the vast crowd and leaving twelve baskets of leftovers.

Here are some key lessons in multiplication that Jesus appears to teach his leaders:

1. Lift up your eyes and see the need — multiplication begins when you take your eyes off yourself and see the needs of others.
2. Let your heart be moved with compassion — don’t just see the need; feel it.
3. Gather what you have — it may seem like little, but God can work with it. Was that boy really the only one with food? Likely not. Others were simply unwilling to share.
4. Get organised and make room for the miraculous — Jesus had them sit in groups of 50 or 100. This practical step made the miracle more manageable and measurable (Matt. 14:21).
5. Offer everything you have to God, with faith and thanksgiving — Jesus looked up and thanked the Father before the multiplication began (John 6:11).
6. Take a step of obedience and trust God to act — the miracle started as they obeyed.

Applying what you’ve read

Jesus divided the five biscuits and two fish among the twelve. Picture the bewildered expressions on their faces as he instructs them to feed the massive crowd. And note—multiplication didn’t begin until they obeyed. As they distributed the food, believing God, the miracle unfolded.

Multiplication in your life works the same way. Lift your eyes, see the need, feel compassion, gather the resources, get organised, offer what you have in faith—and then take the step of obedience.

Spend time today discussing these principles of multiplication with those you’re investing in.