#0088

Loaves and Fish

Overview:

Every one of the Gospels contain stories of Jesus miraculously multiplying a small number of loaves of bread and fish to feed a massive crowd. There are two separate stories. In the first, Jesus feeds 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, and there are 12 surplus baskets of food collected by the disciples. In the second story He feeds 4000 from seven loaves and a few small fish, and there are seven leftover baskets. In either case, these stories tell of the physical signs Jesus performed to display the power of God over the natural world. In particular, the account in the Gospel of John where the 5000 have just been fed, Jesus follows it up with the all-important “Bread of Life” discourse. He explains to the people that they are not following Him because they saw a miraculous sign, but because they ate their fill from the loaves and fish. They ask him what sign he will perform that they may believe in Him. He tells them that God fed their ancestors in the desert with manna from heaven, but this was only food to sustain the body. Jesus will be giving them a new sign, which will be his flesh, which is the eternal Bread of Life from heaven. It is His body, blood, soul, and divinity given for us in Holy Communion. As he says “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world.” John 6, 51-52

Bible / Historical References: