Sunday 29 July 2012

Background

The feeding of the 5,000 is one of the iconicGospel stories -not only because it is a spectacular miracle, butalso because that story of feeding a multitude in the wildernesspicks up the Exodus 16 imagery of God feeding the Israeliteswith manna from heaven.

A version of this story appears ineach of the four Gospels. This affords the reader a rare andwonderful opportunity to contrast and compare these accounts. Whenwe do so, some interesting observations emerge.

In the Synoptic Gospels, so calledbecause they express a similarity in viewpoint, Matthew (14:13-21), Mark (6:32-44) and Luke (9:10-17) each present the feeding of the 5,000as a response to need. The massive crowd had followed Jesus intothe wilderness. It was getting late and they needed to eat. Thedisciples recommend sending them away to seek food in thesurrounding towns, but Jesus decides instead to provide foodhimself.

In John's account, however, thefeeding of the 5,000 is not presented as a response to need. It isas the crowd was approaching, that Jesus, knowing what he is goingto do, raised the question of how they were going to feed such amassive crowd. (I suspect that food venders during London's OlympicGames will be asking not dissimilar questions.)

This is a subtle but significantdistinction. The Synoptic Gospels present this miracle as a divineresponse to human need. Simply put, had there been no need therewould have been no miracle.

John's Gospel, in contrast, presentsthis miracle as a sign of God's glory. Here the 5,000 are not indanger of going hungry. They are not a crisis that needs to beaverted. Rather they are a people who are invited, as they arrive,to share in a simple feast in which they can eat as much as theywant (verse 11).

It is an act of lavish hospitality,which they receive without ever having asked. This is a textbookexample of grace; a gift which is neither deserved nor sought. Thepeople understand this act to be a sign (verse 14).

And just in case the point about God'sglory is missed, Jesus immediately follows the feeding of the 5,000with walking on water.

To Ponder

• Whilst this story is a great one, when was the last time youcan recall God demonstrating his God's own glory inyour life? What happened?

• This can be a difficult story to read in a world in which manyroutinely do not have enough to eat. What can we do to ensure thatthose who need food receive it, and without having to be reduced toasking for help?