jesus feeds 5thousand

7/28/2019 Jesus Feeds 5Thousand

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Jesus Feeds

5ive Thousand(4-in-1 Disciples account)

Author:

Shibu Devasia, Jesus Youth Hyderabad

[email protected]


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5ive Thousand: 4-in-1 Disciples account v1.0 2

What it is?It presents, compares and kneads the four gospels to bring out startling facts and reflection about the historic event of Jesus feeds five thousand.

What it is not?

It is not (neither claims to be) a theological

study of the event based on the four gospels.

For whom it is?

Anyone who loves listening to real life stories

and/or has the eye and desire to dig deeper in

scriptures.

Bible referred

Good News Bible (GNB), New American Bible (NAB) & NRSV.


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Starters

Lets serve starters before the main course.

S-1: Apart from crucifixion it is the only sign

(miracle) that is captured by all the 4

gospels.

S-2: Mark and John took 15 each,

Matthew packed it in 9 and Luke

wrapped up the story in 8 verses.

JF5T

Matthew

John

Luke

Mark

Crucified

Matthew

John

Luke

Mark

9

15

8

15

Story narrated in how many verses?

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John


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Leaving, but why?

The story starts with Jesus leaving to somewhere. The reason of leaving pointed by authors is diverse yet united. Mark & Luke pairs up this time.

Thinking Hat:Luke puts the best reason forward; too much inflow of people probably because of the miracles the apostles has performed and

was still performing (Apostles are kinda liking the attention too). Jesus notices and orders pack up guys, time to leave. Guess,

when we see excess of praises and appreciation its time to flee.

"When Jesus heard thenews about John, he

left..." - Mt. 14:13

After going in pairs, theApostles had just

returned... Many peoplewere coming and going

that Jesus and hisdisciples didn't had timeto eat. So he said to them:

"Let us go off byourselves..."- Mk 6:30-31

"The apostles came backand told Jesus everything

they had done. He tookthem with him and they

went off.."- Lk 9:10

John? Hello John..? -Looks like he skips this

part.


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Going, but Where?Where is Jesus taking them (or going alone)? Matthew and

Mark know for sure that it is a lonely place. Luke gets morespecific in naming the town and as usual John missing in

action. Guess, Bethsaida was a town less inhibited by

people or must be having a deserted look?

Logistics?Looks like Matthew and Mark remember

how exactly they went to Bethsaida

(lonely place) in a boat. (Mt

14:13, Mk 6:32)

Which Lake they crossed?While other gave it a miss, John this time jumps into action and mentions Lake

Galilee (Lake Tiberias as it is also called). Jesus and his disciples by water and

people came by land.

Who reached first?People (at least some of them). Matthew and Mark clears it up for us: Jesus got out of the boat,

and when he saw large crowd...Mt.14:14 or Many peopleran ahead by land and arrived at

the place ahead of Jesus and his disciples(cf.Mk 6:33). When Jesus arrives? Nobody mentions

Thinking Hat: John scholars says that John presumes thatits reader are well versed with the synoptic gospels (Mt, Mk & Lk) thus

he skips what other gospels narrate and adds the missing part. Fair

enough? (Ex: Lake name)

LonelyPlace

(Mk6:32)

LonelyPlace

(Mt14:13)

Bethsaida

(Lk9:10)


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Jesus reaction?Remember Jesus and his disciples are sailing to a secluded or lonely place. (...we will be alone and

you can rest a while Mk. 6:31). Lo and behold they arrive at secluded place and surprise surprise,look who all are here? Three authors capture a supposedly tired Jesus reaction,

(Oh no not again? Yeah that would be probably ours). But, he:

Pity, why?Here I assume that most of the people who came were blind, lame, leper or having

some sort of illness. Imagine a multitude of them (sick people) standing there.

Well, the others (relatives or mere spectators) who were there were not better

either - they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mk. 6:34)

What did he do?Retreat Began Session, Teaching, Healing Service, (Guess only

the music was missing)

Matthew says he healed the sick (cf Mt. 14:14), Mark narrates,

he teach them many things (cf .Mk 6:34) and Luke mixes both,

spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who

needed it (cf. Lk 9:11). By saying those who needed it, Luke gives

an insight that not all who arrived were sick; some just

accompanied or came to listen or to witness the miracles.

NB: John again missing in action by now it may be clear why he

doesnt mention anything (as there is nothing left to mention here)

"...hisheart wasfilled with

pity forthem" -

Mt. 14:14

Jesus

Spoke&

Healed

TeachHealed


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Not our responsibility

"so thatthey...findfood and

lodging,..."

"letthem...buy

food forthemselves"

"let themgo...to buythemselvessomethingto eat..."

When Disciples Interrupt?Matthew, Mark & Luke have almost the same tone. That evening (cf. Mt.14:15), sun was beginning to set (Lk. 9:12) and it was getting

late (cf. Mk. 6:35). Something made them uncomfortable so disciples came to him (cf. Mt. 14:15, Mk 6:35), no no, Luke specifies, the twelvedisciples came to himand in a tone to educate Jesus said:

Why disciples were all so hyper?For logical reasons, so that they can buy food for themselves (After all they came on their own accord)

Thinking Hat:Do away with them They screamed in their heart. So true in our lives as long it is preaching,

teaching and healing, we dont mind. But the moment more is expected, when we need to

give, the time to practice our faith, we say: let them go.

Jesus

"...Send thepeople

away..."

Mt. 14:15

"...Send thepeople

away..."

Lk 9:12 "...Send thepeople

away..."

Lk. 6:36


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Jesus response?Again Matthew, Mark and Luke groups together (well almost). Startling came the Masters

response: You yourselves give them something to eat. They have just come after drivingdemons across towns and performing miracles, so no surprise when Jesus snaps back at and

challenges them.

NB: By the way John is busy narrating another side of the same story, Jesus dialog

with Philip: he asked Philip, Where can we buy enough food to feed all these

people? (He said this to test Philip) cf. Jn. 6;5-6.

You kidding me?Disciples almost giggled and they turned their smirk into a sarcastic

answer:

Thinking Hat:Something in Marks (go and spend), Johns (it would

take more than two hundred) and Luke (want us to

go and buy) statement gives me slightest indication

that they had the said amount with them. If they

had, then it clearly explains why they echoed

together send them away. Two reasons, one they

dont have to spend their resources, secondly they

could have plenty to eat themselves. Well if one

doesnt have anything, then there is nothing much to

loose. Reminds us: How we can and yet Send them

away followed by a soul screeching sound: Do you

want us to? God must be crazy!

Youyourselvesgive themsomething

to eat

Mt.14:16

Lk. 9:13Mk.6:37

Discip

les

Do you want us to go and spend two hundred silver coins on bread in orderto feed them? - Mk. 6:37

For everyone to have even a little, it would take more than two hundred

silver coins to buy enough bread. - Jn 6:7

"All we have are five loaves and two fish. Do you want us to go and buy foodfor this whole crowd? - Lk. 9:13

All we have here are five loaves and two fish, - Mt. 14:17


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Thinking Hat:This is the first time I am seeing the exact same words captured across the three gospels. You yourselves give them something to

eat(GNB version) or Give them some food yourselves.(NAB version) This must be really important for us as faithful, isnt it?

Loaves & Fish!In reply to the Christ challenge, you yourselves give themMatthew and Luke trys to put some sense in Jesus: All we have are five loaves and

two fish (cf. Mt 14:17, Lk 9:13). Mark too joins in with something similar: Five loaves and also two fish. Eyeing an important thing missing,

John wastes no time and covers in his narration: There is a boy here who has(cf. Jn 6:9).

Look who joined the gang?The way Matthew and luke put ..we havegives me a

sense that they had a new recruit in the form of the boy

and as a sign of his commitment has offered his lunch box

long before, even before the evening sets in.

What type of bread?John gets to the details five loaves of barley

bread..(cf. Jn 6.9) as all the other three jumps

over.Barley loaves: food of the poor. (NAB)

Was the boy crying?We just cant imagine him crying right? Or the disciples

canvasing the little boy to give them what he had? (Thats

just not how Lord works)

Being a father of 4 year old, it makes me wonder did

the boy was sad while offering all he had? Nevertheless,

sure he is of Saints stuff. Which makes me wonder do we

willingly offer all our stuff when needed, without ever being sad.

Kids meal: 5 loaves & 2

Fish?Another account: Isnt it surprising that

the kid is carrying too much of food? We as

family too travel, for short distance we just

take snacks for the kids, but if we are in for a

long journey we take for the whole family.

Did the people in the story travelled a long

journey? Yes for sure. Lets speculate for a

moment that the mother of the family packed

food for the whole family. Evening comes,

guess who has occupied the front rows of the

ongoing retreat? obviously children.

Children as we know, unpack their food well

before time. Among many, one notices the

restlessness (disciples interrupting) on the

stage (hill) he over hears, goes to his dad

seeking permission can he give his food?

Mother/father seeing it offers the whole

share. Next we hear the kid arrives with 5

loaves & 2 fish for HIM.


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Sit down!All authors remember this part too clearly:

It again surprises me, probably Jesus disembarked from the

boat during the morning hours or noon time. He straight away

went about doing his business (healing, teaching, etc..). Right

from that moment, its evening time now. Is crowd standing?

Anyways my inquisitiveness is put to rest and luckily

enough I had gone to a live concert (Joyce Mayers &

Delirious 08 I guess). Oh the crowd and mood is

electrifying. Who cares to sit during that time? This eventwas no less than a concert (Teaching, healing services

lame walking, blind seeing, deaf hearing, dumb speaking oh

the crowd must have been electrifying. Wouldnt be surprised

if they were joyful {singing, dancing} as well)

Sit down on?Matthew: grass (cf. Mt 14:19). Mark chips in: hey you know

what not just any grass but ..green grass (Mk. 6:39). John

looking to fill the gaps specifies the quantity lot of grass there

(cf. Jn 6:10). Remember people it is a desert place and to have grass there is not usual. Probably it indicates a particular season: Its spring time

(NAB) and how do we know it is springtime? Lo and Behold John comes to our rescue when in the initial verses of the story

he says: The time for the Passover Festival was near(cf. Jn 6:4). Passover festival is a springtime festival for Jews.

Thingking Hat:We must admire the crowd, braving the comfort of lot of green grass, they stood till the evening. Do we brave the comforts?

"He ordered the

people to sitdown..."

Mt 14:19

"Make thepeople sitdown..."

Lk 9:14

"Make all thepeople divide

into groups andsit down..."

Mk 6:39

"Make the

people sitdown.." -

Jn 6:10


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Order in the house?Luke who was missing in action in regard to the grass stuff, now gives insight that they just didnt sat in ad-hoc manner. Jesus brings order in the

house and teaches a lesson or two to the disciples about crowd management when he commands, sit down in groups of about fifty each (cf. Lk9:14). Mark layouts sat down in rows, in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty (cf. Mk. 6:40)

Took, Looked & Thanks?Looks like Jesus is praying the grace, just as any pious Jewish Head of the family will do. But

it also has a hidden formula - the three steps to miracle:

Took: He holds the least of the type of loaves the barley loaves (given in free will) Looked Up: He accepts what he has and never looks down upon it Thanks: Gave thanks with a sincere heart to its creator.

Simple recipe of Miracle

Accept what we have or took hold of who we are, look up (feel good about it) and

with a sincere contrite heart give thanks to God!

Why Broke?

Synoptic gospel speaks Jesus broke the loaves (Mt. 14:19). Can wedraw

parallel to the verse unless the seed falls on the ground and dies.

Lossing onself for other.

Reminds me of this gentleman. Perhaps the only animal Jesus chooses to ride. Are you available?

"...he took the five loaves and thetwo fish, looked up to heaven, andgave thanks to God" - Mt. 14:19

"...took the five loaves and two fish,looked up to heaven, thanked God

for them" - Lk. 9:16

"..took the five loaves and the twofish, looked up to heaven, and gave

thanks to God" - Mk. 6:41

"..took the bread, gave thanks toGod...He did the same with the fish"

- Jn. 6:11


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Ate, Ate & Ate!

Everyone ate and had enough (cf. Mt. 14:20, Lk 9:17, Mk 6:42, Jn 6:11). They were filled till the brim. Now, it is so clear that they took much

more than they wanted, and tried their max to eat as much as they can but still what we are left with?

Baskets

Twelve . (Theologians suggests that it represents the 12 tribes)

Of Leftovers

That brings to an interesting topic. We plainly read and

move over that disciples gathered the leftovers. Lets

analysis it a bit deeper, a multitude just had a

banquet and they had full (Jn 6:11). The

disciples on the command of Jesus are going

around like rag pickers picking all the

leftovers. Probably the half eaten loaves

lying around, fish meat sticking to the

bones scattered everywhere. People passing

by must have even accidently stepped on the few food lying

around.

Dear people, it is this food that the disciples gather. And I have no doubt in my

mind, that it would be this food that they must have eaten at last after

gathering. As Jesus said, let us not waste a bit(cf, John 6:12.

Pope Francis

The food we throw away is as if stolen from the table of poor

"...twelvebaskets of whatwas left over"

"...twelvebaskets full ofwhat was left ofthe bread and

"...twelvebaskets full ofwhat was leftover"

"...let us notwaste abit...filled twelvebaskets with thepieces left over

John6:12-13

Matthew14:20

Luke9:17

Mark6:43


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How many?

If one has only read Johns gospel you would never come to know how many were present there that evening. about five thousand men (cf. Lk

9:14, Mk. 6:44,) claims Luke and Mark. about five thousand, not counting the women and children (cf. Mt. 14:21) tells Matthew. Did they really

count? Since they were sitting in groups of 50 or 100 (cf. Mk 6:40), so guess just by sheer number of groups (50/100) they would have arrived at a

common consensus. Matthew specifying not counting woman children, must be indicative that they sat in separate groups.

Climax?

The number account is given as an ending by Matthew & Mark. Luke stops at the leftoversand as usual John has a missing piece to add: People

raised their thoughts: Surely this is the prophetseeing the praises and awe rising, Jesus does what he is best in doing, (Slips off) he went off

(cf. Jn 6:15) Where? again to the hills by himself. Looks like its prayer time.

God Bless!

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