John 6:12-15 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
‘Nothing be lost’ It is always a divine principle to use everything possible and waste nothing. God has always followed the principle of creating everything for a purpose and of using everything according to the created purpose. They filled twelve baskets which was twice as much leftover as when they started and yet 5,000 men were filled and fully satisfied. The twelve baskets refer one for each of the apostles.
‘That prophet’ the one spoken of in the law and prophets, refers to the Messiah (John 1:21, 45).
‘Therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king’ – this notable miracle was sufficient to cause an immediate political rally to make Christ king of the Jews. A man that could do this could defeat the Romans and the whole world, so they tried to take Him by force and make Him a king. Jesus did what every man must learn to do in times of popularity and temptation to be exalted over success – He slipped away from the crowd into some secret place to pray. What a lesson to learn! Would to God many men today who are constantly seeking to exalt themselves as God’s man of the hour would stumble on to this example and have grace to follow it. It is repulsive, to say the least, to hear and see the self-exaltation of such men. Proverbs 16:18 will be fulfilled many times in these days of pride and boastfulness over gifts and abilities, which, if really received, should make men humble and dependent upon God and as nothing before men.
Living the Word 