Introduction
The account of Jesus feeding 5,000 people is one of the two accounts that all the four gospels recoded. The two accounts of the feeding and the resurrection play significant role in all the four gospel. Seemingly, it is more persuasive to take the account of resurrection as more important teaching or foundation of faith than the account of the feeding. On the other hand, the authors of the four gospels seem to have common ground of agreement of the important role of the miracles of Jesus feeding 5,000. In general, gospel authors commonly omit accounts of miracles in their book. For example, only Matthew (1:1-17, 18-25) and Luke (3:23-31; 2:1-7) recorded the genealogy and the nativity story of Jesus whereas the gospel of Mark and John omit those account in their book. There is no account of the miracle that Jesus perform can be found in all the four gospels apart from the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000. Though the gospel of John consistently omits the parable teachings of Jesus and many other miracles from the synoptic gospels but he recorded the feeding account as one of his seven series (seven signs and seven “I AM” saying of Jesus, seven witnesses). The feeding account will become the only cross point in all four gospel miracle narratives if we have to omit the resurrection account. The approach of this paper is therefore to examine the four parallel accounts in the sequence to compare and contrast the accounts together with the uniqueness of each account.
The Context and the Setting
Commonly the gospel writers have different purpose and agenda and they emphasise their theological point by putting the same event or Jesus in different timing and places in their writing. In this context the synoptic gospel put the feeding account in exactly the same place although they put different emphasis. However, John has very different context compared to the other three accounts.
A. Matthew
Matthew 14:12 “His disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus (NASB).” In Matthew’s account, 14:1-12 recorded the death of John the Baptist and immediately after hearing such horrible news Jesus deserted himself from all people to an isolated place far from any town or village. Evidently, Jesus is seeking solitude to reflect on John’s death.[1]Nevertheless, the crowds seem to eagerly seeking for Him and Jesus indeed responded to all their needs especially healing their sicknesses (Mat. 14:13-14; 15:30-31). In this context of Matthew, Jesus is portrait as passionate preacher and teacher who cares for those who come unto Him. Furthermore, the narrator contrasts different attitudes and respond of Jesus and His disciples towards the needy crowds. Jesus wishes to feed and later multiplies insufficient amount of food (14:15-16). Whereas, disciples wish to send people back to find their own food and later they bring small amount of food (14:17-20).[2] In this context the small amount of food that disciple bring to Jesus seem to me that it is for them to prove their point to send people back to the nearest town or village where they could find their own food.
In Matthew’s account the setting for this miracle is very short. Matthew 13b-14 “He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 When He went [h]ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick (NASB).” Matthew does not provide long details about what Jesus teach or preach but it seems that Jesus heals many peoples. Jesus could not neglect people for His own convenient to rest rather He continues to minister all their needs. Matthew account provides that Jesus keep extending Himself to serve peoples. The setting is that Jesus is serving people in a deserted place.
According to Matthew 14:15-17 the disciples came to remind Jesus about the time (as evening) and the place (as deserted). The disciples also come to Jesus with solution as to release people in order to get their own food for the day. However, Jesus overturned the table and asks the disciple to take the responsibility to feed the crowd. In Matthew’s account disciples seem to done enquiry and all that they could find is only five loaves and two fish. Jesus orders the crowds to sit down on the grass as if Jesus is the host of the feast.[3]
B. Mark
Mark 6:30-31 “The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. And He 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.) (NASB).” In Markan narrative the death of John the Baptist was also recorded. However, the sending of the twelve (7-13) and their report (30-31) is the key context in Markan narrative. Mark’s introductory of chapter 6 seem to highlight Jesus’ desire for privacy.[4] In v30-31 the disciples gave report on their mission and Jesus responds them by inviting them to take a time to rest or to stay away from the crowds. Therefore, Markan account is different from Matthew as Jesus is not taking solitude alone but disciples were part of the group and Jesus stated that it was for their good. Furthermore, Jesus pointed out their need for taking solitude as they were busy and do not even have time to eat.
Mark 6:31-34 provide accurate account of Jesus’ intention to rest and Markan Portrait Jesus as a compassionate teacher who cares for His disciples. The primary purpose of traveling in Markan is not only for isolation but to rest with disciples. According to Mark people spy Jesus’s route and run on foot so that when the ship lands they are awaiting Jesus from the shore. In Matthew people heard the ship had left and they travelled to meet it over the other side. Therefore, it is likely that they meet the same demanding group of people that they try to avoid over the other side of the sea. In Markan account Jesus is depicted as not only having compassion upon the crowds but also seeing them like sheep without a shepherd. Furthermore, in Markan account Jesus does not do healing but teaching the crowd. Therefore, it is more likely to say that the condition of without shepherd was more related to lack of teaching than lack of care compare to Matthew and Luke.
In Mark 6:35-38, disciples not only come to inform Jesus about the time and location but also they were telling Jesus that people have nothing to eat. However, their suggestion seems to be not acceptable to Jesus who is already seeing the crowds like sheep without a shepherd. Therefore, Mark omit Jesus’ assurance that the crowds does not need to go away instead command the disciples to feed the multitude. Mark is intentionally depicting Jesus as a kind shepherd. Markan narrative is significant because of the discourse between Jesus and the disciples. In Markan narrative Jesus askes His disciples whether they have any loaves when the disciples offer to make a journey to buy for the crowds. Jesus is not only concern for the crowds but also for His disciples. Instead of sending out to buy food for the crowds, Jesus asks them to find out how many loaves they have so that they need not go to the nearest town to buy for the crowds. The demonstration of Christ’s care and concern for whoever follows Him was one of the key points in Markan account.
[1] David L. Turner, Matthew (Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker Academic, 2008), 23.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Robert H. Stein, Mark (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2008).45.
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