13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the towns. 14 When He went ashore, He saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ 16 Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ 17 They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ 18 And He said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ 19 Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children’” Matthew 14:13-21.
The Gospels often tell us that Jesus and His disciples criss-crossed the Sea of Galilee in fishing boats. This was a faster means of reaching the opposite shore than hiking around the lake on foot. It was also a convenient way for Jesus to pull away from the crowds in order to be by Himself. Of course, if word of His next destination became known, as in this episode, a crowd could quickly gather to meet Him when He arrived. Still, Jesus showed no signs of being irked by this. Instead, His heart was moved with pity as He peered out across the vast human sea of hunger and heartache that pressed in around him. However fatigued, Jesus made Himself available to the sick and suffering.
Eventually evening began to fall and the disciples advised sending the people away to buy food. To this thoughtful recommendation the Lord responded: There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves. All they had on hand were a few loaves and fish. This would barely add up to a meal for Jesus and his disciples! Yet before them stood a multitude several thousand strong.
For Jesus, however, this was more than enough to work with. So He made the people sit down (or “recline”) and, like the host of a Jewish feast, He pronounced the blessing, then broke the loaves, then gave them to the disciples to pass out to the people. Here, with considerable restraint, Matthew reports a miracle that supersedes every law of physics known to us. The bread and the fish just kept on coming. No one knew how it was happening. It was certain only that the generosity of Jesus was streaming forth in superabundance.
But the significance of Jesus’ action does not end here. The multiplication of loaves not only draws our minds back to the Old Testament; it also points us forward to Communion. Readers familiar with the Last Supper account are not likely to miss the connection between these events, for Matthew recounts them in similar terms. Notice that both events take place at the same time (evening, 14:15; 26:20), and those in attendance assume the same posture (reclining, 14:19; 26:20). Likewise, Jesus performs the same actions with the bread in both instances, and in the same sequence (took, blessed, broke, gave, 14:19; 26:26). Lastly, Jesus hands the broken loaves to the same recipients (the disciples, 14:19; 26:26). No doubt Matthew considers the multiplication of the loaves a sign of a future Communion to be distributed as Communion to the multitudes of God’s people.
Once the loaves were passed out, all ate and were satisfied. Jesus provided the people with enough for a full meal. In fact, the disciples collected twelve wicker baskets full of leftover pieces. This suggests yet another layer of symbolism in the event: Jesus is calling the twelve tribes of Israel to Himself, for He wants none of them to be lost. This aspect of the Messiah’s mission is elsewhere revealed in Matthew’s Gospel by His action of selecting twelve disciples (10:1–4) and promising them pastoral authority over the twelve tribes (19:28).
This story concludes with an estimated head-count of five thousand men, a figure that does not include women and children. Add them and the total number could be tripled or quadrupled.
What strikes me the most today about this story is the plan that Jesus has for the world and for each of us. So consider today in your prayer time this story in light of the remarks the Prophet Jeremiah spoke through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: “11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile” Jeremiah 29:11-14.
What plans does Jesus have for your life now? What is calling you to do and what kind of a person does He want you to be.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
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