Loaves And Fish

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?" He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. 

Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people recline."

Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone. (John 6:1-15)

Someone in the Old Testament multiplied loaves, and they were barley loaves. Elisha was the successor of Elijah, the greatest of all the prophets. Elijah multiplied flour and oil to save a widow and her son from starvation. Elisha did a bit better than his master by multiplying 20 barley loaves to feed 100, with some even left over.

But in John’s Gospel, Jesus multiplied 5 barley loaves and fed 5,000, leaving 12 baskets left over.  This was serious one-upmanship. There is a clear message: Jesus is a prophet greater than even Elijah and Elisha made even clearer by the conclusion: "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." We also get a clue about Jesus’ superiority at the Transubstantiation when Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus to witness that transformation.

Of great interest, we read from 2 Kings (4:42-44): A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing the man of God twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred?” Elisha again said, “Give it to the people to eat, for thus says the LORD: You will eat and have some left over.” He set it before them, and when they had eaten, they had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.”

Furthermore, why were 12 baskets of scraps left over?  Twelve is the number symbolizing God’s people: 12 tribes, 12 patriarchs, and now 12 apostles. According to one interpretation: “The patriarchs of the New Israel gathered up the remnants of a feast to be the new covenant meal of God’s new people.”

Here’s a curious statement: “Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.”  Why the strange reference to grass?  We can speculate.  The people recline where there is much grass, that is, in a verdant pasture reminding us Psalm 23: The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down (my emphasis); to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

The Good Shepherd, after giving thanks [“Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining”] feeds them with rich fare causing their cup to run over with blessings. Jesus performed this miracle as Passover approached. Moreover, later in John 6 Jesus referred to himself as the bread of life. Such a magnificent miracle steeped in Old Testament references and symbolism!

We remain in the Easter season.  None of us are scraps.  We are all loaves to be broken and shared with others as our expressions of love for one another.

Deacon David Pierce