This, That and the Other

Sometimes this is about this.  Sometimes this is really about that or the other.  But sometimes, it’s actually about this, that AND the other.

Aside from the events of the Passion narrative, it’s incredibly rare to find an occasion where all four gospel writers covered the same event.  One of these occasions is the familiar story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. 

(See Matt. 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:4-13 for full text)

I’ve heard dozens of sermons on this passage over the years, and they tend to focus almost exclusively on the miracle – Jesus’ provision for his disciples, as well as for the large crowd of roughly 5,000 men (which many scholars speculate could translate closer to 20,000 after accounting for women and children).

And THIS is what the passage is about.  But it’s not ALL this passage is about.

We have to remember that Jesus was a teacher and therefore sought every opportunity to instruct His disciples, knowing that these disciples would go on to build the Church.

So what was the lesson that Jesus wanted His disciples to gain from this experience?  

Mark’s account provides us with critical insight in the preface to this event.

And He (Jesus) said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)  They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.  The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them.  When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:31-34)

If we back up in the text just a little further, we realize that these events are occurring in the wake of the wicked tetrarch’s (Herod Antipas) party.  His party was exclusive, pagan, and resulted in the death of John the Baptist, whom many of the Jews revered and respected.  With political leadership like this, and the apparent silence from Jewish religious leadership after these events (probably due to their fear of Herod), Jesus recognized that the people were like sheep without a shepherd – both politically and religiously.

As an interesting aside, it’s curious to note that Jesus’ “feast” was INCLUSIVE where Herod’s was EXCLUSIVE.  Jesus’ “feast” was centered on compassion and instruction in the ways of life where Herod’s was centered on hedonism and resulted in death.  Jesus’ focus was on others while Herod’s focus was on himself.

In light of the preceding events, and especially in light of Mark 6:31-33, I am amazed by Mark 6:34.  I can imagine the disciples feeling completely exhausted from their extensive ministry efforts, and looking forward to a day “off”, to rest and recuperate – only to arrive at shore and be greeted by even more work and ministry.  Even just reading the passage makes me feel spent, and maybe even inconvenienced for the disciples.

And yet, Jesus’ response was compassion!

How!?

Surely this is the lesson that Jesus had intended to teach his disciples – compassion, even when we don’t feel like it; compassion that is too great for our own efforts, and requires the grace of the Holy Spirit working in and through us.

And so this passage is also about THAT.  But this passage is not ONLY about this (the miracle) and that (the teaching).

Prior to crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and His disciples were likely in Capernaum – a predominately Jewish trading village.  Crossing near the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee would have kept them near enough land to recognize and for regional towns people to amass on the other side of the shore, in the region of Bethsaida.

Bethsaida and the surrounding region were predominately Gentile (non-Jewish).  In addition to this, all four Gospel writers specify that they docked in a remote/“desolate” place, rather than in or near a large town or city.  Although there were several small villages in the region, even the largest towns would have only had about 3,000 people.

Well this leads to a problem.  When the day gets late and the people get hungry, what do you do?  To disperse a crowd of 5,000 – 20,000 people into small hamlets and villages would be absolutely crushing to the locals, who simply weren’t equipped to feed such a large group at such a short notice.  Add to that the likely resentment towards Jesus’ ministry that would have arisen in the minds of these gentiles – a resentment that could have even impacted their willingness to hear/receive the Gospel message from the Church.

In a best case scenario, the Gentiles would simply have to turn away the Jewish crowd, which would leave them with a long journey home on an empty stomach.

So Jesus’ compassion was for the Jewish crowd’s spiritual health, and also for their physical health, but it was also for the surrounding region – for the health and well-being of the Gentiles.  And that was always a difficult lesson for His Jewish audience to receive.

So there was a miracle (this), and a lesson (that), and a great consideration for how these few actions would affect a great many people (the other).  

So may we learn and grow from Jesus’ example in faith, compassion and wisdom.