Smoodock's Blog

We are studying the event of Jesus feeding five thousand men, which could have been double that and more, if women and children were included in the count (cp. Matthew 14:21). By comparing all four narratives, we’ve found that the event occurred just prior to the Passover (John 6:4), and immediately following the death of John the Baptizer. We also found that there may have been some political implications surrounding the event, because Herod had just slain John, and was wary of the people who saw John as a prophet (Matthew 14:5). Therefore, when he heard of the stir caused by Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 14:1-2), he wanted to see Jesus (Luke 9:9).

Taken together, these events caused Jesus to decide to take his disciples away to a deserted place. They needed rest from their recent labors, while the multitude made many demands on their time (Mark 6:30-31). Moreover, Herod’s curiosity was stirred (Matthew 14:1-2; Luke 9:9), so Jesus wanted to avoid the multitudes, especially at this time, because many expected him to do something about John’s death (Matthew 14:12). He was, after all, the Messiah to whom John pointed (cp. John 3:27-30).

Therefore, “When Jesus heard…” vis-à-vis when he heard of John’s death, and that Herod wanted to take him, he took his disciples into a boat, and they sailed to a deserted place, just off the Sea of Galilee, which was out of the reach of Herod Antipas, because Bethsaida (Mark 6:45; Luke 9:10), to which Jesus had gone, was in the territory ruled by Herod Philip, Antipas’ brother. Nevertheless, when the people observed Jesus’ direction, they followed him on foot (Matthew 14:13). So, when he arrived at Bethsaida, and saw the multitude waiting for him, he was moved with compassion (Matthew 14:14), saying they were like sheep having no shepherd, because John was dead (Mark 6:30), so Jesus began to teach them many things. When evening had come, the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away so they could get food in the markets of the city of Bethsaida, (Matthew 14:15).

Nevertheless, Jesus told his disciples that the people needn’t leave, because they could feed them, but the disciples were astonished, saying they had only five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:16-17), and what was this among so many (John 6:8-9)? What I think we often miss at this point is that providing for the needs of all the people is one of the signs of being the Messiah. In fact, this was one of Jesus temptations, to provide for the physical needs of his people upon demand (cp. Matthew 4:3). Such things as this were demanded by the Jewish authorities to prove Jesus was who he claimed to be (cp. Matthew 12:38). The difference between the Jewish authorities demands in Matthew 12 and what Jesus did in Matthew 14 is faith and freedom. There is no faith in a demand. Jesus did many miracles, but the authorities demanded to see a specific miracle, because it was the “sign” of the Messiah (Matthew 4:3).

Nevertheless, just as God has granted man freedom to obey or rebel, men need to allow God the “freedom” to do as he pleases, concerning “signs” about who he is. The trust that he will do so in accordance with his will, is our expression of faith. There is no faith in demanding a sign.

Therefore, Jesus commanded his disciples to bring the fish and the loaves to him (Matthew 14:18). Then, he commanded the multitude to sit on the grass, while he blessed the food, broke it into pieces and gave it to his disciples to distribute among the multitude (Matthew 14:18-19). Afterward, he sent out his disciples to collect the fragments leftover, and they filled 12 baskets with the remains, and those who had eaten to the full were about 5000 men, not including women and children (Matthew 14:20-21; cp. Mark 6:39-40). Keep in mind that this miracle is a “sign” proving Jesus is the Messiah (Matthew 4:3). Yet, although “signs” are demanded by folks who don’t believe (Matthew 12:38), when it is finally given, instead of believing, the folks abandoned Jesus and walked with him no more (John 6:66), thus proving Jesus’ words: “an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign…” (Matthew 12:39), because, when signs are given (Matthew 12:39-40), they still don’t believe (Matthew 28:11-13; cp. John 6:66).