Matthew 14:15-21…“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.” vs. 19
Most everyone knows the gospel story of the miraculous feeding of the 5000 people beside the Sea of Galilee. It was obviously one of the more significant acts of Jesus’ ministry. It’s mentioned in all four of the gospels, but nowhere is there any indication of how he did it. But that doesn’t keep us from wondering! In fact we regularly ruin the story by trying to explain how 5000 folks were fed from just five loaves of bread. For early Christians it was the perfect way to proclaim Jesus as the bread of life, and it quickly became associated with the Lord’s Supper. Matthew even used the same words to describe Jesus’ actions in each event. It’s a sequence we’re familiar with: Jesus took the loaves, blessed and broke the bread, and gave it to those who sat with him.
When we see the connection, it’s easy to understand the significance the breaking of the bread has in the life of believers. This is the central action of most Christian worship, and some of us continue to feast on the bread of life every week. We still don’t know how Jesus does it, but as our debate continues, we also know that like that crowd of hungry folks, we are filled and satisfied.
Thought for the Day: Why do we try to explain miracles?
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