Jesus Feeds

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

Author: Shibu Devasia, Jesus Youth Hyderabad shibu.devasia@gmail.com

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

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.

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

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.
Mark Matthew

JF5T
Luke

John

Matthew

Mark

Crucified

John

Story narrated in how many verses?

Luke
9 Matthew Mark Luke John 8 15
S-2: Mark and John took 15 each, Matthew packed it in 9 and Luke wrapped up the story in 8 verses.

15

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

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.

"When Jesus heard the news about John, he left..." - Mt. 14:13

"The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him and they went off.." - Lk 9:10

After going in pairs, the Apostles had just returned... Many people were coming and going that Jesus and his disciples didn't had time to eat. So he said to them: "Let us go off by ourselves..." - Mk 6:30-31

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

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.

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

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 more specific 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?

Lonely Place (Mt 14:13) Lonely Place (Mk 6:32) Bethsaida (Lk 9:10)

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:
enough? (Ex: Lake name)

John scholars says that John presumes that

its reader are well versed with the synoptic gospels (Mt, Mk & Lk) thus he skips what other gospels narrate and adds the missing part. Fair

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

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:

"...his heart was filled with pity for them" Mt. 14:14

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)

Spoke & Healed

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

Jesus
Healed

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)

Teach

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

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 twelve disciples came to him and in a tone to educate Jesus said:

"...Send the people away..." Mt. 14:15

"...Send the people away..." Lk 9:12

"...Send the people away..." Lk. 6:36

"let them...buy food for themselves"

Jesus
Why disciples were all so hyper?

"let them go...to buy themselves something to eat..."

"so that they...find food and lodging,..."

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.

Not our responsibility

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

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 driving demons 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.

Mt. 14:16

You yourselves give them something to eat Mk. 6:37 Lk. 9:13

You kidding me?

Disciples almost giggled and they turned their smirk into a sarcastic answer:

Thinking Hat:

Disciples

Do you want us to go and spend two hundred silver coins on bread in order to 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 food for this whole crowd? - Lk. 9:13

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!

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

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

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 them Matthew 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 have gives 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.

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.

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.

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10

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 event was 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)

"Make the people sit down.." Jn 6:10

"He ordered the people to sit down..." Mt 14:19

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

"Make all the people divide into groups and sit down..." Mk 6:39

"Make the people sit down..." Lk 9:14

(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?

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11

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. Lk 9:14). 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.

"...he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave 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 two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God" - Mk. 6:41 "..took the bread, gave thanks to God...He did the same with the fish" - Jn. 6:11

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 we draw 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?

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12

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.

"...let us not waste a bit...filled twelve baskets with the pieces left over

"...twelve baskets full of what was left over"

John 6:12-13

Matthew 14:20

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

Mark 6:43
"...twelve baskets full of what was left of the bread and the fish."

Luke 9:17
"...twelve baskets of what was left over"

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13

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 leftovers and as usual John has a missing piece to add: People raised their thoughts: Surely this is the prophet seeing 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!