The Miracles as Sign

Studying the life of Christ we are reminded of the order of the years of His ministry.

1. Year of obscurity.
2. Year of public favour.
3. Year of opposition.

The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand brings to a climax the year of public favour — the only miracle mentioned by all four gospels. Jesus had received the news of the death of John Baptist, and apart from the fact that he mourned the death of one who had served His Father faithfully, the incident would have been a remin­der to him of that which must come to pass in his life : That he must be put to death by the hands of men. We hear Jesus then telling his dis­ciples to go to a desert place, where they can rest a while. “Come ye yourselves apart and rest a while”.

Yet even as Jesus set out to the desert place in Bethsaida, Julius, his destination was anticipated by the crowds that sought after him. Throughout the day Jesus gave His full attention to the multitude. speaking to them the word of God and healing the sick. As the day wore on, Jesus realized that the multitude wits getting hungry. To Phillip the question was put as to how the multitude should be fed. The gospel tells us that it was to prove him. The question is often raised, as to why Phillip should be asked and not one of the other disciples. It is said that Phillip was of Bethsaida and he would be familiar with the food supplies from that area, but this explana­tion does not hold firm when we re­alize that there were two Beth­saidas, and Phillip belonged to the other one. There is another inter­esting point to take note of before we talk of the miracle, to be found in John Ch. 6, Verse 4, “And the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.”

There we have mention made of the feast of the Jews. Through corruption which had crept into their feasts from the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, this feast which had been called the feast of Je­hovah was now given the title, “The Feast of the Jews”. The rea­son John mentions this is to explain why so many people were in Caper­naum at this time. This passover followed a sabbath year and it preceded the first harvest after the fallow year. We readily see then that food at this particular time would be scarce, so the mir­acle would answer a very real want for many.

Miracles it is said are acted par­ables and like parables are signs. They speak forth the real desire of Jesus Christ. When Christ cleansed the lepor of his leprosy, it spoke of his desire to cleanse men and women of sin. The blind who were made to see was a sign that Christ wanted everyone to have their eyes opened to the hope of the Gospel.

Now with the feeding of the five thousand, it was a sign that he wanted everyone to partake of the bread of life and to have the oppor­tunity of eternal Life. John ch. 16, verse 11. This act was speaking of his future sacrifice, when he who was in symbol the bread of life would allow his perfect body to be given for the remission of sins.

John Ch. 10, verses 17 & 18. Christ himself gives us the key to the meaning of the miracle in his dis­course at Capernaum.

The incident of Christ stilling the storm has passed, now he is in Capernaum. The multitude have caught up with him again and they are seeking him for the bread which would give them strength to exist a few more mortal days, instead of the bread which would give them eternal life. John Ch. 6 verses 26 & 27.

Yet they are not easily con­vinced and they seek for a sign, for did not Moses provide them with bread from heaven. Christ said that it was not Moses which gave it, but God. The love of God towards them has not varied, for now God desires to give them that true bread which is of more value than the manna in the wilderness. John Ch. 3, Verse 16. (God so loved that he gave his only begotten son). The question was then raised by the multitude, “How could they obtain such bread” ? John Ch. 6 Verse 28. Jesus gives the answer to this question in verses 34 & 35. It was necessary for the individual who desired this bread of life to believe in the one whom it repre­sented. All of us have been privileged to receive that high calling from God and now believe in his return, when we hope we shall en­joy the blessing of a place in God’s Kingdom. Though we have not seen Jesus we believe in his death and resurrection and are comforted by the words of scripture, “Blessed is he that hath seen and believed, but more blessed is he that hath not seen and believes”. Though we have all tasted of that bread, its full affect will not be realized until we have been before the judge­ment seat. Until that time we must not tire or forsake our daily habit of partaking of the spiritual nour­ishment, so that our belief becomes more perfect and that our lives blend with Christ’s the saviour.

Returning to the day of our Baptism, we recall those words which we enjoy repeating, found in Galatians Ch. 3 Verses 26 & 27. At that time we became part of Christ and as Peter says, we be­came new creatures, alive in the hope of the resurrection. After our baptism we endeavoured to continue our belief in Christ and to understand more fully what His saving name means to us. Doing this by following the instruction of the scriptures. 1st Peter Ch. 2 Verse 2. So Jesus exhorts us in John Ch. 6 and at verse 27, that we should not labour for the meat that perisheth, but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life. We cannot help but remember the example of Christ whose meat and drink it was to do the will of his father.

The sign of Christ’s second com­ing and the gathering of the elect is shown in this miracle. When the multitude had received sufficient food Jesus told his disciples to gather up the remnant of bread and that nothing be lest. When he returns then this sign will become reality, fulfilling His words in Verses 39 & 40.

In our walk in Christ we can be encouraged by the message of Christ to the churches, Rev. Ch. 2 Verse 7. “To him that overcometh will I give to each of the hidden manna”