This section of the Word serves to remind us of a principle which should never escape the keen student of the Truth, the vital necessity of comparing Scripture with Scripture. All four Gospel writers record this incident, but it is Mark who provides most of the detail not evident in John’s account. Thus we must carefully compare all accounts, giving particular attention to Mark .
The lesson here is that Christ is the Bread of Life, given as a sacrifice for men, broken even as were the five barley loaves, yet providing a “feast” for those who desired the bread of eternal life. Matthew gives nine verses to this incident, Luke gives seven. But Mark records sixteen verses, and John fourteen. (The penmen of Yahweh did not write in verses, as we have them defined in modern Bibles, but we use this method of comparison because it is most suitable.) There is a wonderful reason why this should be so. Mark presents the Lord as the humble “Servant” of Yahweh, and John reveals Him as the glorious “Son of God,” a manifestation of the Father. Thus in this sign the Lord Jesus is shown to be: (1) The humble Servant, without rights or position, a lowly Man carrying the iniquities of the world upon Himself; (2) The glorious and righteous Son of the living God, a living manifestation of the Father’s perfect character. These two features are abundantly evident in the sacrifice of Christ, thus they are most graphically revealed in the two most appropriate Gospels, Mark and John.
Mark provides the background. The death of John the Baptist had just occurred (Mark 6:27,28), bringing sadness and heaviness of heart to Jesus and His disciples. This incident would have come as a particularly sad reminder to the Lord of His own coming death. (We do well to consider the thoughts and feelings of the Lord on such occasions as this.) Only in Mark are His words recorded: “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while (Mark 6: 31). Here is the Servant of Yahweh showing tender sympathy for His friends, demonstrating the need for those who are Servants to have time alone, with quietness for prayer and meditation.
The progress of Jesus and His friends did not, however, pass unnoticed. Verse 33 states that the people “knew” Him. The word signifies that they “recognized” Him, and therefore a considerable number of people attached themselves to the little group. In verse 34 we are given another instance of the Servant of God fulfilling His duties without thought of self. He sought to be alone, but permitted this intrusion. Though tired and in need of rest, He gave Himself to the work at hand, and taught the people.
The hour became late (verse 35), and the need for providing sustenance for the multitude had become alarmingly evident to the disciples. What could they do? Their most practical thought was really impracticable, that they might “go . . . and buy themselves bread” (verse 36). But the type of “bread” Christ was about o offer could not be bought with money! (Cp. Isaiah 55:1). Particular note should be taken of the contrast between the “buy” of the disciples in verse 36, and the “give” of Christ in verse 37. The Lord stated boldly: “Give ye them to eat.” Here was their Master presenting a challenge! They had the “words of life” (John 6:68; Cp. John 17:8). Therefore they were in a position to “feed” the multitude with spiritual food ! But the disciples did not understand this challenge. It was left to the Lord to demonstrate o them, with His miraculous powers, the way in which the glory of Yahweh was to be revealed through this incident.
Seated by Companies
The company was seated, according to the Lord’s instructions (verses 39,40). The phrase “by companies” indicates “in an orderly manner .” They would have been seated on the outside and served from the inside, according to the custom of the day. Only Mark and John mention that the multitude were seated “upon the green grass” (verse 39). John is more explicit: “Now there was much green grass in the place” (John 6:10). Why this casual and yet careful reference to the surroundings? In Palestine the green grass appears only for a short season in the spring, after which the brown earth is bare. Green grass indicates “fruitful growth,” and the lesson to Israel was that the Messiah was in their midst for only a short time, after which the hills of Israel would be bare of Christ’s teaching. “Behold, the days come, saith Adonai Yahweh, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the word of Yahweh” (Amos 8:11). The focal point of Mark’s account is reached in Mark 6:41 where it is recorded that the Lord Jesus “looked up to heaven, and Blessed And Brake . ” How dramatically these words are associated with that later occasion (Matthew 26:26) when Christ instituted the Last Supper, to commemorate His own death! Thus the loaves provided a striking symbol for the coming sacrificial death of Israel’s Messiah!
Turning back to the account in John 6, it is befitting that we consider certain features not evident in Mark’s account. The first of these is stated in verse 4: ‘The Passover . . . was nigh.” This was twelve months prior to the crucifixion. How appropriate that this sign, illustrating the coming sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, should be manifested at the time of Passover! This was the great feast in Israel which had been given to typify the redemptive work of Yahweh, to be effected through the offering of His own Son.
The question arises: Why were there five barley loaves? The number five is most suitable to this occasion. It is the number of “grace” and “restoration” (Numbers 18:16). “Five” was the number of shekels required from each Israelite in relation to redemption. Joseph gave Benjamin “five” times more than his brethren, at the time of their Restoration to the brother whom they had wronged, but who now showed them Grace or favor (Genesis 43:34). At the time of Israel’s Restoration, “five” will chase one hundred enemies (Leviticus 26:8). The “five” stones David took from the brook resulted in the defeat and humiliation of the Philistines, but the Restoration of the Israelites (1st Samuel 17:40). The symbology is clear: through the sacrifice of Christ we are able to find “grace” and “restoration” with God.
Barley and Fish
The barley loaf, together with the fish, was the staple food of the poor classes in the days of Christ. It is thus a suitable symbol to represent the food required by those who are “poor” spiritually. Barley is associated with the Mosaic rituals (Numbers 5:11-31). It provided the lowliest variety of flour. There is sound evidence in support of the view that it was the barley harvest which provided the “firstfruits” offering (typifying the resurrection of Christ as the “firstfruits”). This is indicated by the fact that the Passover came too early for wheat to be sufficiently ripe for harvesting. The symbol would therefore be highly appropriate, the commencement of all the grain harvests. In anti-type, Christ is the “firstfruits” of a great and far-reaching resurrection.
The quantity of fish is also to be considered. Firstly, it is important to note the association of bread with meat. This is an unmistakable link with the food miraculously provided in the wilderness, manna in the morning and quail at even. Christ is both bread and meat, which “endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27; 35; 55). “Two” is the number denoting “difference.” On the Second day of creation a Division of the firmament took place. In cases where two people or parties find themselves in disagreement, “two” implies opposition, enmity and division. Compare the use of the word “double” when it is applied to “heart,” “mind,” “tongue,” etc. In the sign we are considering, the numbers “five” and “two” are related. While the former refers to the hope of “grace” and “restoration,” the later is a strong reminder that a choice must be made in accepting the conditions by which we might be saved. Only TWO decisions are possible, either acceptance and obedience or rejection and disobedience. In the days when this dramatic “sign” was unfolded, the choice was Israel’s. Today it is ours.
With the miraculous increase in the quantity of food (verse 11), the point was established that, through the mighty power and divine benevolence of the Father, Christ’s sacrifice should result in the formation and development of a vast multitude, all of whom should be of the same “one bread” (1st Corinthians 10:17). It is significant that the food was “distributed” to the people through the disciples. The word means “to give through (an agent or agents”). Thus the Bread of Life, which is the Word of Life, was “distributed” through the disciples after the ascension of the Lord. They “distributed” the Word in the Name of Jesus Christ. The bread “broken” was a symbol for the death of Christ, yet out of this “breaking” the bread was multiplied! Thus, through Christ’s death, the mystical, multitudinous Christ-body was born.
Twelve Baskets Collected
The feast having concluded, twelve wicker hand-baskets of food were collected (verse 13). “Twelve” is immediately identified as the number of “government” and as the principal symbol for the twelve united tribes of Israel. Thus in this manner we are able to discern the formation of The true Israel, to be revealed in the Age to Come. By linking verse 13 with verse 27 we have the key to the meaning of this sign: “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.” The Word can “feed” us with that sustenance which alone can bring us eternal life. To Israel, Christ was this Word made flesh. And the glorious climax is that there was no shortage of food, but rather an abundance left over. This is to teach that the Word is Spirit-Power, And that there is Ample for All!
This “sign,” however, concludes on a note of stark tragedy. When “those men” (the Jews) had seen the miracle, they said: “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (verse 14). But, although they acknowledged Messiah’s divine appointment and power, They Lacked a Comprehension of his Mission. A similarly disastrous state of affairs is apparent in Christendom today.
The Meaning of this Sign to Israel: To show that their Messiah would be the perfect sacrifice, and the only means of redemption. They must “partake” of His sacrifice, or be without hope.
The Meaning of this Sign to Us: He will grant us food that can result in our eternal salvation.
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