You Feed Them!
Feeding 5000+, ‘You feed them’
This familiar miracle is the only one recorded in all four gospels which suggests something foundational about its teaching. This was a time when Jesus was popular, drawing crowds and coming to the attention of Herod and the authorities. Not wanting this attention from Herod but still wishing to welcome people, Jesus and the disciples find themselves in a ‘desolate’ place late in the day together with a crowd. Understandably, the disciples raise the sensible suggestion of sending the people away to find an evening meal. This situation presented a teaching opportunity where Jesus communicates that he is the food that gives life, in a way that more than satisfies, in abundance. He expresses this in a way that communicates care and compassion.
The miracle echoes an Old Testament theme. When man went away from hearing God, hunger became a problem, the ground requiring toil to produce food. God wanted Israel to trust him for the provision of their food leading them to a land where this was in abundance. Eating a Passover meal resulted in redemption and freedom. As they travelled through the wilderness to this land they were able to rely on manna. Elijah and Elisha are further examples foreshadowing Jesus and the miraculous provision of food to sustain life.
God not only more than satisfies our physical hunger but also our spiritual hunger. One of the characteristics of the Messiah was to feed the people, providing basic needs as illustrated previously through supplying manna to Israel, see ‘Sustenance’. Jesus is the Messiah and expands the significance of this theme. He is the bread of life.
The theme is one that continues throughout the bible, a fulfilling life is expressed as sharing a feast, a Passover meal becoming the precursor to a wedding banquet.
Jesus is generous. He keeps breaking and giving until everyone is full and there is more left over. There is always abundance when God gets involved.
The challenge to the disciples was, and still is, ‘You feed them’! They had seen Jesus carry out a miracle producing an abundance of fish, and had just reported back on the healings they had carried out in Jesus’ name.
A foundational role of Jesus becomes the role of the church, to feed people, to provide for and demonstrate physical, mental and spiritual fulfilment in life and thus usher in a marriage feast.
Background
Luke chapter 9 verses 10 to 17 - When the apostles returned, they gave an account to him of all that they had done. Taking them with him, he withdrew by himself to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds were aware of this and followed him; and welcoming them, he began speaking to them about the Kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.
Five Thousand Fed
Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place." But he said to them, "You give them something to eat!" And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people." (For there were about five thousand men.) And he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down to eat in groups of about fifty each." They did so, and had them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.
The miracle echoes an Old Testament theme. When man went away from hearing God, hunger became a problem, the ground requiring toil to produce food (Genesis chapter 3 verse 18). God wanted Israel to trust him for the provision of their food leading them to a land where this was in abundance. Eating a Passover meal (Exodus chapter 12) resulted in redemption and freedom. As they travelled through the wilderness to this land they were able to rely on manna (Exodus chapter 16). Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings chapter 17; 2 Kings chapter 4) are further examples foreshadowing Jesus and the miraculous provision of food to sustain life.
God not only more than satisfies our physical hunger but also our spiritual hunger (Psalm 23 verse 5, Isaiah chapter 25 verse 6). One of the characteristics of the Messiah was to feed the people, providing basic needs as illustrated previously through supplying manna to Israel (Luke chapter 4 verse 3), see ‘Sustenance’. Jesus is the Messiah and expands the significance of this theme. He is the bread of life (John chapter 6 verses 35 to 58).
The theme is one that continues throughout the bible, a fulfilling life is expressed as sharing a feast, a Passover meal becoming the precursor to a wedding banquet (Luke chapter14 verses 7 to 24; 22 verses 14 to 23; Revelation chapter 19 verse 9).
The challenge to the disciples was, and still is, ‘You feed them’ (Luke chapter 9 verse 13)! They had seen Jesus carry out a miracle producing an abundance of fish (Luke chapter 5 verses 1 to 11), and had just reported back on the healings they had carried out in Jesus name (Luke chapter 9 verses 6,10).
A foundational role of Jesus becomes the role of the church, to feed people, to provide for and demonstrate physical, mental and spiritual fulfilment in life and thus usher in a marriage feast (Revelation chapter 21).