Is the Feeding of the 5,000 Really About the Boy? (John 6:1-15) | Daily Devotional & Bible Study

Today the color method begins with one question: who is this passage about? We mark every name, title, and pronoun in John 6:1-15 in green, and the picture is clear. The boy with the loaves and fish gets one mark, while Jesus is in nearly every verse, and that shows us who the story is really about.

"There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?" (John 6:9)

Questions this episode answers

Is the story of the five loaves and two fish about the boy?

The boy matters, but he appears only once, has no name, and never speaks. Jesus is in almost every verse and is the one acting. The story is about Jesus, not about the boy's generosity.

Why should I pay attention to pronouns in the Bible?

Pronouns can point to different people in the same sentence. In Paul's letters one paragraph can refer to God, Jesus, Paul, and the church. Tracing each pronoun back to its person keeps you from guessing.

Should I read my study Bible notes before I study a passage?

Study the text yourself first, then read the notes. Commentary is helpful, but reading it first can close you off to what the Holy Spirit wants to show you. Use the notes afterward to check your work.

Timestamps

01:28 Why we always start with the who

02:19 What gets marked in green

04:34 Why pronouns carry more than you think

07:20 Reading John 6:1-15

10:46 Before you read your study Bible notes

13:35 Marking the passage verse by verse

21:45 The boy in verse 9

23:49 The title in verse 14

Links

If you want to read the Gospels with fresh eyes alongside other women, our Bible Study Live trip to Rome brings Scripture to life at places like the catacombs and the Appian Way.

Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org

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