Reading the Gospels Together The Multiplication of the Bread and Walking on Water – Part 1 We have already noted that John tells his readers very little about the ministry of Jesus in Galilee. This ought to be surprising to readers of the gospels since Mark, Matthew, and Luke spend so much of their time telling about that ministry. There is one set of two stories that all four gospel writers tell; however, and it is the only thing they all share in common regarding specific stories of the Galilean ministry of Jesus. In this section we will need to consider Mark 6:30-52 and Mark 8:1-21; Matthew 14:13-33 and Matthew 15:32-16:12; Luke 9:10-17; and John 6:1-71. Mark sets the stage for the story of the feeding of the 5000 by telling his readers that Jesus’ disciples have just returned from the missionary journey he sent them on to preach, heal, and cast out demons. Though Mark does not say so specifically, apparently they have been successful and are anxious to tell Jesus all they have done. Jesus seems a bit uninterested and suggests that they go off by themselves to a deserted place to rest. So they leave on a boat but when they arrive back on land the people have come from far and wide seeking Jesus. Mark tells his readers that Jesus has compassion for them because they are like sheep without a shepherd – a clear allusion to the OT message that God’s people are like those sheep in need of a shepherd. The scene begins with Jesus teaching them but soon a problem arises. They have nothing to eat. The disciples recognize the dilemma and suggest that Jesus dispense the crowd. Jesus simply tells them to give the people something to eat. The disciples have no idea how they might do that and their consternation is fully reasonable. But Jesus has other plans and asks them what they have. It is only a little – five loaves and two fish. But that is enough for Jesus who multiplies the loaves and fishes and 5000 are fed. The way in which Jesus blesses and breaks the loaves is a clear allusion to the Lords Supper which is yet to be narrated by Mark. Immediately following the multiplication of the bread and fish Jesus sends his disciples off in a boat to Bethsaida while he dismisses the crowd. Mark has not told his readers where the feeding of the 5000 took place. If Bethsaida is thought to be across the lake then perhaps we are to think of Gentile territory on the southern bank of the sea. Or, perhaps the location is somewhere near Tiberius on the western shore. The traditional site for the feeding is just to the west of Capernaum; however, Bethsaida is not exactly across from there but actually just to the east and it would have made more sense to simply move their by land. At any rate Jesus sends the disciples out in a boat. And once again they are faced with another challenge. This time the wind is against them and they are unable to make progress toward their destination. Jesus, seeing their plight, comes to them walking on the water. Mark tells his readers that Jesus’ intention is to “pass them by” which sounds very strange. Why would Jesus seek to pass by them? However, it is likely that Mark is using an OT indium when he uses the words “pass them by.” In the OT when God was seeking to make himself known to someone he was said to “pass them by.” So it seems Mark’s intention is to say that Jesus was attempting to make himself known to his disciples. If that is Jesus’ intention it fails. They see Jesus but are terrified thinking that Jesus is a ghost. And when Jesus addresses them with words, “I Am” – which is a clear reference to Name of God in the OT – they do not understand. In fact Mark tells his readers that their hearts were hardened and they understand neither Jesus walking on the water nor the multiplication of the bread. And with that Mark’s readers come to realize that both of these stories were more than the mere reporting of events – they have deep symbolic meaning. But Mark does not fill his readers in any further and leaves them, and us, to ponder what this all might mean.