Topical Bible: Jesus, the Christ: Miracles of More than Five-Thousand People Fed

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The miracle of feeding more than five thousand people is one of the most significant and well-documented events in the ministry of Jesus Christ, recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-14. This miraculous event not only demonstrates Jesus' divine power and compassion but also serves as a profound teaching moment for His disciples and the multitude.

Context and Setting

The miracle takes place after Jesus and His disciples withdraw to a solitary place following the news of John the Baptist's death. Despite their desire for solitude, the crowds follow them, eager to hear Jesus' teachings and witness His healing power. Moved by compassion, Jesus heals the sick among them and teaches them about the Kingdom of God.

The Miracle

As evening approaches, the disciples express concern about the remote location and the lack of food for the large crowd. They suggest sending the people away to buy food in nearby villages. However, Jesus challenges His disciples, saying, "You give them something to eat" (Mark 6:37). This statement highlights Jesus' intention to involve His disciples in the miracle, teaching them reliance on divine provision.

Upon assessing their resources, the disciples find only five loaves of bread and two fish, a meager amount for such a vast crowd. Jesus instructs the people to sit down in groups on the grass. Taking the loaves and fish, He looks up to heaven, gives thanks, and breaks the loaves. He then gives them to the disciples to distribute to the people.

The Abundance

Miraculously, the food multiplies, and everyone eats until they are satisfied. The Gospel of John notes that the crowd consisted of about five thousand men, not including women and children, indicating that the total number fed could have been significantly higher. After the meal, the disciples collect twelve baskets full of leftover pieces, a testament to the abundance of God's provision.

Significance

This miracle is rich in symbolism and theological significance. It echoes the Old Testament provision of manna in the wilderness, highlighting Jesus as the new and greater Moses who provides for His people. It also prefigures the Last Supper and the Eucharist, where Jesus offers Himself as the Bread of Life. In John 6:35, Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst" .

The miracle underscores Jesus' divine authority over creation, His compassion for human needs, and His ability to provide abundantly beyond human limitations. It also serves as a lesson in faith and trust for the disciples, who witness firsthand the power of God working through Jesus.

Lessons for Believers

For believers, the feeding of the five thousand is a reminder of God's provision and care. It encourages faith in God's ability to meet needs, both physical and spiritual, and challenges followers of Christ to trust in His sufficiency. The event also calls believers to participate in God's work, as the disciples did, by offering what they have, no matter how small, for God's purposes.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 14:15-21
And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
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Mark 6:35-44
And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
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Luke 9:12-17
And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said to him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
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John 6:5-14
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come to him, he said to Philip, From where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
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Library

Christ Teaching by Miracles
... In the next place, among the miracles of Christ, we find some that ... It is most likely
that the miracle took place in immediate connection with Jesus himself. ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/christ teaching by miracles.htm

Jesus the Bread of Life.
... Came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. ... Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles. ... Thus
do all who seek in religion secular advantages and follow Christ for the ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/jesus the bread of life.htm

The Lad's Loaves in the Lord's Hands
... When things get into Christ's hands, they are in the very focus of miracles. ... had
employed to carry this slender provision for the use of Jesus and his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the lads loaves in the.htm

John Chapter vi. 14-Jan
... Let us interrogate the miracles themselves, what they tell us ... And the Lord Jesus
took the loaves, gave thanks ... veil of the temple rent, while Christ is hanging ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxiv john chapter vi.htm

"Give Ye them to Eat"
... It was to accomplish this purpose that the miracles of Christ ... So all who are united
to Christ will receive from ... In full reliance upon God, Jesus took the small ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 39 give ye them.htm

Feeding the Multitudes.
... they did not know that the kingdom of Christ was not ... Then Jesus bade the people sit
down on the ground around ... These miracles show not only the power of our Lord ...
/.../anonymous/wee ones bible stories/feeding the multitudes.htm

Answer to Mr. W's First Objection.
... as they might have easily done, many more, or much larger books of the history of
Jesus Christ. ... and particularly in the account of miracles, and have also ...
/.../section 1 answer to mr.htm

The Feeding of the Four Thousand - to Dalmanutha - the Sign from ...
... Then, also, must the miracles which He did have been wrought ... 3615] that there was
a Coming of Christ in His ... It was to this, that Jesus referred in His reply to ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvi the feeding of.htm

The Leaven of the Pharisees
... And Jesus, perceiving this, remonstrated in a series of ... Did not Philip presently,
when Christ spoke of ... When we long for miracles, neglecting those standing ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 8 11-21 the leaven of.htm

Jeremy Taylor -- Christ's Advent to Judgment
... end and design of all the miracles and graces of ... disgraces the religion and institution
of Jesus, he discourages ... reproachfully of the name of Christ; but altho ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/jeremy taylor christs advent.htm