John 6:1-21 - John Piper The Feeding of the 5000

John 6:1-21 

John Piper: The Feeding of the 5000

This is one of the eight windows designed by John Piper in 1959 for Eton Chapel, the chapel of Eton College, one of England’s pre-eminent schools. In this window he pictures the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes.

The sides of the window are kept dark so that the bright middle section with the white loaves and silvery fishes stand out all the more. On the edge we see grasping and receiving hands in all colours of the rainbow.

The middle section is framed by a mandorla, an almon-shaped form that originates when you slide two circles partly over each other. For that reason, they represent two worlds.  Heaven and earth slide into each other in this miracle in a vision of an abundant meal in the future where there is sufficient food for everybody.

There are even twelve baskets left over, enough for the twelve tribes of Israel, enough for the twelve apostles to share, enough for the whole world. 

Marleen Hengelaar-Rookmaaker

**

“When he gives his flesh on the cross, he becomes bread—all-nourishing, all-satisfying bread—for sinners who believe.” John Piper

**

John Piper: The Feeding of the 5000, 1959, window, Eton Chapel, England.