Our Predecessors in the Truth bore many trials, including persecution, denial of privileges and even physical abuse. The results were often a growth in faith and a strengthening of resolve to serve the Lord. Our trials, however, are more likely to consist of physical ease and compromise of moral values because of a gradual lessening of spiritual content, which can lead to preoccupation with mundane events such as the neighbours of Noah and Lot filled their lives with (Lk. 17:26-29).
The preventive treatment is to refresh our minds daily with spiritual food from God’s Word. However, it is possible to do so and yet be undernourished by a lessening in our minds of the size and scope of the events recorded in the Bible. Because of our secularised response to other parts of life we may tend towards rationalising or reducing the Bible records to a mere legendary status. In order to nourish our faith to a strong state it is necessary to see the miracles in Scripture as true revelations of the might, majesty and glory of God, and as His authorised display of supernatural occurrences.
It is the task of His servants to view these accounts of the distinct hand of our Creator and to think about the moral objective and moral effect on our thoughts and actions so that we may bring glory to God. We will then be more adequately equipped to respond to the inevitable conflicts in the course of daily life in a faithful manner (2 Tim. 4:7). Jesus performed miracles approved by God which identified him then, and now, as the promised Son of God (Acts 2:22; Heb. 2:3).
Christ performed more miracles than those recorded; and John declares, with apostolic recognition, the extent of his use of extraordinary means in these words:
“And many other signs (miracles) truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book” (Jno. 20:30); “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (Jno. 21:25).
Thus we have, in our Bibles, accounts specially selected for spiritual upbuilding and teaching, that were preserved by the power of the Holy Spirit There is in them a concentration of principles and lessons that provide strong spiritual food. For example, the feeding of the five thousand has numerous lessons in only a few verses. Since it is the only miracle done by Christ that is recorded in all four Gospels, and is referred to a second time in Matthew and Mark (Mt. 16:9; Mk. 8:19), making six mentions in all, its prominence leads us to give it a close examination.
Jesus had retired to a desert place apart when he heard of the death of John the Baptist. We know that Jesus experienced every emotion common to mankind, and we are able to sense his feelings of sorrow, grief, and loss. His meditations would lead to prayer and contemplation of his own trials to come, and to refreshment in God’s will and purpose. His example provides thoughts for our consideration, particularly when negative emotions can so easily lead to hardening of the heart instead of a gentle softening.
Because Jesus was moved with compassion, he denied himself rest, and turned to the multitude with healing and teaching (Mt 14:14), thus signifying his response to the needs of others and his provision of spiritual refreshment to those who will partake.
The Scriptural records show the knowledge of Jesus, and yet his gentle leading of his followers. First he commanded, “Give ye them to eat” (Lk. 9:13), and when lack of faith brought a negative response from the disciples, he did not alienate them, nor permit the multitudes to depart without provisions due to the weakness of human nature. He led the thoughts of the disciples to increased faith through asking questions, and thus proved (tested) their faith (Jno. 6:5,6).
One commentary estimates the penny or denarius mentioned in Mark’s record to be a labourer’s wage, and thus the disciples declared that two hundred times a daily wage would not be sufficient money to provide for the people, even if they could overcome the obstacles of distance to Bethsaida, and lack of food supply due to the lateness of the day.
Their faith was in the process of growing; and perhaps they were reminded of God’s promise, “I will satisfy her poor with bread” (Ps. 132:15), or of the proving of Israel through provision of manna” which the Lord hath given” (Ex. 16:4,15). God prepared a table in the wilderness (Ps. 78:19) from the barley loaves, which were the food of the very poor, along with the fishes of the sardine family.
When the command was given to be seated, the people were organised into small manageable groups of hundreds and fifties on a grassy slope (Jno. 6:10), showing the continuing requirements for all things to be done decently and in order. The 5,000 men sat apart, and the record of this distinguishing feature requires us to consider it carefully. We recognise that our heavenly Father feeds billions of people daily, and therefore this event was of a special design, not only in the incomprehensible miraculous multiplication of the food in an instant in a desert place, but also in the specific order of things. It was a display of creative power, revealing Christ’s authority from God.
The thousands signify the multitudes of mankind, and the number 5 (the loaves) indicates Divine grace. Thus we see the miraculous power of Christ, through the grace of the five loaves, providing for the countless needy of mankind. The number 2 (the fishes) illustrates division or difference, and in the example we see Jesus at the transition point that divides the two dispensations, law and grace, permitting humanity to lift their eyes from the old creation and hold fast to the spiritual vision of the surety of the new heavens and earth.
We cannot precisely identify the instant or the process of multiplication that was wrought, but by its occurrence we focus our minds on the important meaning. The miraculous work performed by the hands of Jesus was distributed to mankind by the hands of his chosen disciples. Thus the disciples became involved in the work of Christ, physically and in the Spirit, leading to a practical understanding that they received miraculous gifts in order to give.
The Divine mind is also revealed in the utilization of the number 12 ( the baskets). Jesus later used the number along with the names of the tribes and the apostles as a part of the vision of the future hope (Rev. 21:12-14). Twelve signifies governmental perfection. This motivates us to consider its achievement in the coming Kingdom, when the governing forces in the spirit of Christ will bring glory to God in the highest. We have an improved ability to see another facet of the infinite beauty of that time, when the abundance of supply will be such that “the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed” (Amos 9:13).
Jesus will provide all things; even the leftovers show his abundant provision. In the miracle of the fountain of oil (2 Kgs. 4:1-7) the only limiting factor to the supply was the number of vessels available. Similarly, the bread and fishes satisfied the 5,000 plus the women and children, and there was a surplus of twelve baskets-full in this case, one for each disciple. When the bread of life is spared there is enough for one; when it is shared there is enough for multitudes.
We are reminded that “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Not one of God’s promises has ever failed, nor ever will. The contrast with man’s promises is more clearly seen by examining the miracles. Though their execution surpasses our comprehension, and though we “see through a glass, darkly”, we can improve our vision of the omnipotence and omnipresence of our Heavenly Father. As with Philip, our faith will be tested, and the resulting growth will be accompanied by a clearer understanding of the power and purpose of Jesus, along with his tender and loving leadership.
The spirit of the occasion that day was such that great enthusiasm was distributed by the disciples, along with the loaves and fishes, to the extent that the multitudes saw Jesus as the person who should be enthroned as king and lead them to Jerusalem for the Passover. However, Jesus refused the fleshly pressures for a temporary elevation at man’s hands, placing his trust in the future Kingdom in God’s time and with His authorization. Thus the vision and the hope is still available to multitudes 2,000 years later, including our generation, in God’s great mercy. The central government in Jerusalem will come to pass in accord with God’s will and revealed plan.
Probably the greatest lesson of this miracle is Christ as the bread of life for a world that is in a dying condition. The sharing of the bread reminds us that there is sufficient for all of mankind who are willing to partake. We partake and share as we place our lives in willing submission to his God-given authority seen in his miraculous power, his all-sufficiency and his infinite grace. May our Heavenly Father grant that we shall grow in the faith and be among the immortal servants of Jesus who will witness the future miracles by the King of the world bringing glory to God, peace on earth and goodwill among men.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One