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In the preceding verses we have a picture of the popularity of Jesus' ministry. Of course, Jesus was never about being popular, as we have already observed. However, we see in these verses just how popular he was at this point. We are told that the number of men who had eaten was 5,000. This, according to Matthew's account, is "besides women and children" (Matt.14:21). In these days of super stadiums and huge concerts this may not seem much but the number needs to be seen against the fact that the neighbouring towns of Capernaeum and Bethsaida had populations of about 2,000 - 3,000 each. Including women and children, then, he had drawn more than the equivalent of the total population of two sizeable towns.
This is a big crowd to feed and there are those who say that, following
the example of Jesus and the apostles, the crowds brought out the food
they had with them and were fed. The difficulty with this is that it
makes redundant the problem the apostles bring to Jesus, "This
is a remote place," they said, "and it is already very late. Send the
people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages
and buy themselves something to eat". Surely, if people were
"bound to have brought food with them" then the disciples would be bound
to know. But there is more going on here than the feeding of thousands
of people in the Galilean hills, and Jesus is more than a charismatic
teacher drawing crowds.
Delegation and Organisation
The profound symbolism of these events is so very important as we see
prophecy fulfilled and shadows become realities among these ordinary
people. In answering their concern Jesus said, "You
give them something to eat." This is reminiscent of the advice
Moses received from his father-in-law in the desert. Just as people
flocked to Jesus so they came to Moses (Exodus 18:15). Moses father-in-law
advised, "Select capable men from all the people
- men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint
them as officials…"(Exodus 18:21) God works through ordinary
people to achieve his ends and this often amazes us. But this is his
purpose and plan and we are humbled by it.
Jesus then had people sit down in groups of hundreds and fifties, reminiscent
of the division of the people in the Exodus passage, where we read further,
"…appoint them as officials over hundreds,
fifties and tens." (Exodus 18:21) The God of Exodus organising
his people in a familiar pattern that speaks of who Jesus is and shows
us how important it is to know the Scriptures so that we can recognise
God in our day because we have become familiar with what he has done
and said in the past.
Provision and Prophecy
Jesus described himself as "the good shepherd"
(John 10:11-16). God had promised that when the true shepherd came the
sheep would be gathered, the land would be fruitful and God's people
would know God's provision (Ezekiel 34:23-31). Just as we see Jesus,
the true shepherd of God, eating here with his people in the desert
so Jesus, our true shepherd is the one who provides for all our needs
and is the assurance that we will lack nothing (Psalm 23:1). That provision,
as with Israel in the desert, is a miraculous provision, it is God's
provision. It is also important to look beyond the temporal provision
of food for today and see in Jesus one who provides life eternal to
those who sit at his feet in their hundreds, fifties, tens and even
in twos and threes (Matthew 18:20).
May we see and gain confidence from the bigger picture and know the provision of God even in our small part of it this week.
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