Jesus: and the disillusioned

A five loaves and two fish episode evidently made an impact! It is one of the few pericopes reported (variously) by all four of the Gospels.

 

At the common climactic point a small (child’s?) meal is being consumed by a huge company.

John makes it very clear this was a critical moment for the "general public" of that time and place. (To this I return below.)

The twelve apostles knew first. They saw Jesus accepting 5 common loaves and two fish and they saw him breaking them and handing the pieces to them for distribution. (Did each of the twelve have just a piece of fish and a piece of bread? If so, nothing remarkable yet.)

 

The twelve were given ordinary food, nothing special said of it. Then they were sent off to feed large groups; there must have been many (in modern arithmetic more than 100 groups of about 50). That was what Jesus said to do. They were to give out just what they received from him; no more, no less. (That is a good mantra for the modern follower.)

 

The people in the groups must have seen what each individual apostle was carrying. At what point was the multiplication of the food happening? The individual apostle knew and the witnesses saw. The witnesses could eat, and talk.

Had an approaching apostle been loaded down with enough food for a "50", it would be evident, I think. Hardly likely. Perhaps we may imagine the apostles going forth and back from a central (inexhaustible) point. Or not. Perhaps just quietly going along the groups. Was one pass enough? People could pass to others and share. Somewhere a huge quantity of left-overs was accumulated and accounted for.

The emphasised fact that everyone was satisfied says to me the individuals were looked after. To each according to their need. This was not just a faceless mob. Never would there be such with Jesus. People count with him; one by one, we count. (Even when making a serious mistake, we count....)

 

The scene abruptly changed (Matthew; Mark). 

With such a huge number of people and such a big happening, how could things be the same again? Many a conversation must have happened during the meal and in days following. John (alone) makes it plain that a turning point was reached that day, and not a happy turning point.

 

The folks had come probably looking to see and hear Jesus; now they had seen, and experienced for themselves. They were ready to take sides. Could anyone who was there that day be ambivalent or antagonistic? Yes, they could, if they wished. They could resent having their primary goals frustrated (John). From that time I see natural antagonists sharing a uniting opposition to Jesus. Reasons would vary but the effects would coincide in Jerusalem one Passover. Choices were made and followed.

And so it is with each of us this day. Each of us matters to Jesus. Each of us has a choice to make and a Saviour to follow. Or not. With Jesus, your welcome stands... always.

Looking at the reports (Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; John 6)

Jesus was not able to have time alone with the twelve. When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a[a] town called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. (Luke 9:10-11, CSB). Seeking privacy! Welcome, nonetheless.

 

In fact Jesus cared for them all from the outset; Mark emphasised that Jesus wanted the listeners to be guided to the truth: When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things (Mark 6:34, CEV). They needed God's truth.

 

We get a close glimpse of the setting that day: Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties (Mark 6:39-40, ESV). John says there was a lot of grass; Mark notes that it was green (ie, not brown). Perhaps that meant greater comfort for people sitting. It was memorable!

 

John summarised: Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish (John 6:11, NIV). The four reports tell us everyone was satisfied (and there were plenty of leftovers).

The break seems abrupt. Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd (Mark 6:45, NIV).

 

The reports also have Jesus abruptly departing the scene. John tells us what was happening. When the people saw him[a] do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”[b] When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself (John 6:14-15, NLT). That wrong response and decision meant Jesus would leave. Although unidentified, "they" were clearly influential and could enlist a sizeable following.

That report is unique and the whole context in John is informative.  Meantime, I note that Jesus' abrupt departure (as per Matthew and Mark), fits with John's analysis. John connects this day with "difficult" and telling conversation with Jesus the following day.

Elsewhere, the other Gospels also report Jesus' care to keep control of the potential for political upheaval. His messiahship had to be kept, as it were, "secret", in that community, though he did such things. There are multiple comparable instances, like this:

And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus[a] ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” (Mark 7:35-37, NRSVUE). Not easy to keep it quiet!

Nor was it easy for his close followers to resist the lure of popular success. Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 

And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:18-22, ESV). "Strictly charged and commanded" - to circumvent any misuse of the truth; any triumphalism. I think they heeded! And were flummoxed by contradictory ideas.

 

Later, there was one "palm-waving" day in a crowd setting, only the one, when the "liberty" feelings were at the fore and may have seemed irresistible (see Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 12, John 12).

 

It is easy to understand the desire for a true and decent Israelite to take over as their king; after so long, to make "The People" great again. Perhaps "they" (of John) grasped that Jesus did intend to serve. His service ended in his life given as a ransom, not in a failed rebellion.

 

Having him in power was a wish which could not be turned into a goal. He did not seek human authority over others. [When eventually arms were taken up on a large scale, the end was tragedy. Everyone has to die once, but it does not have to be from others' deliberate (selfish) action or with harm to others trying to do good.] The people Jesus slipped away from that "Bethsaida" day did not have to continue to hold on to the "mob" view; to keep wanting his powerful intervention in public life; to require him to fulfil their illusions. Just like U n Me now, they could listen to Jesus.

 

Jesus did not accept political power then; he will not now. No-one may give Jesus what is already his, and will in time be undeniable. His kingdom now is not of this world. It is a mistake to imagine Jesus as leader and to try to "put him in control" of public affairs. Jesus does not use here coercion, or force.

 

Jesus invites each of us to crown him and join his service and be his agent in the world now. Our hands are to be his hands. Each of us is to be accountable for our actions. Each of us. He wants to be Lord in my life. He wants us to think as he would think about the issues, challenges and successes of our days.

 

Each individual is invited to make Jesus Saviour and Lord. You are invited. Invited you are. Each one who makes Jesus Lord and Saviour becomes a member of his family, joins his kingdom. Family members do well to listen to each other.

With Jesus, no one is left behind, no one misses out. Not ever. 

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:287, NRSVUE).

 

Footnote addendum

I think the general impression and "public esteem" of Jesus shifted at that time. Were "public relations" set on a different course?  The rest of the chapter in John does indicate just that. How widespread was the disappointment? Was it even easier thereafter for "authorities" to oppose Jesus? I think it is so in the other Gospels. I plan to look further. It may not be a simple question. (The Gospels do not pledge to be in chronological order - the writers of the time did not come under our expectations. They had their own models.)

There are marked differences between the Gospels at this point in the account (assuming they have comparable chronology). Matthew and Mark have Jesus ordering the "disciples" (presumably the Apostles) into a boat to leave the area. John agrees that they took to a boat. From them we learn of Jesus water-walking. [Luke simply does not tell about this, but moves into reporting a (shared) solemn discussion about Jesus' identity.]

The Bethsaida feeding comes after a troubled visit by Jesus to Jerusalem. All was not well! The Synoptics tell of Jesus also having extended his impact by sending out the Apostles and thus drawing the attention of the powerful. John alone makes the feeding, and following interaction, such a clear turning point. When they were fed, people may well have been thinking, "It's Time"! People reading John would clearly realise the popular impact of Jesus' declining status and be prepared for what would follow.

God bless you!

Allen Hampton  

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