The Feeding Of The Five Thousand
THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND
MARK 6:30-44
What can we bring to Jesus Christ today?
The Bible leaves us in no doubt that God created the good things of this world for the enjoyment of men; if it emphasizes the duty of work, it also speaks of the privilege and delight of rest. But there are occasions when even well-earned rest must be postponed for further service. This was one such occasion. Jesus, filled with compassion for the crowd who thronged about him, taught them (contrast 8:2). They resembled an army gone forth to war without a commander (Numbers 27:16,17; 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5), and Jesus took his place as their leader.
When it was late the question of food arose. (The problem of accommodation for the night [Luke 9:12] was of secondary importance. People then improvised much more readily than our modern generation which requires its caravans, tents and sleeping bags.) The disciples’ suggestion was the sensible one. Jesus’ rejoinder must have sounded quite mad; it aroused a sarcastic reply, for we may be sure that the disciples did not have so much money with them (the denarius was a laborer’s daily wage). Then Jesus acted. The people were seated in groups of fifty and 100 (or does it mean 100 rows of fifty each?). Jesus said the usual grace before a meal; note that he blessed God and not the food—there is no justification here for blessing the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper. Then he divided up the scanty food available so that all were satisfied and the twelve disciples were each able to gather up a basket of fragments.
What is the significance of the story? In John 6 the miracle is a picture of Jesus’ ability to give the bread of life freely and abundantly to all who believe in him. Is this the point in Mark? Is there a repetition of the miracle of the manna in the wilderness or an anticipation of the heavenly marriage supper of the Lamb? The early church interpreted the feeding in the light of the Lord’s Supper, and some commentators have gone so far as to speak of the Galilean Lord’s Supper, but we may wonder whether this was the intention of Jesus. The Lord’s Supper was for disciples only and was closely linked with the death of Jesus; neither of these elements is present here. Perhaps there is a clue to be found in Jesus’ comments in 8:14-21.