Reading the Gospels Together The Multiplication of the Bread and Walking on Water – Part 5 We are now ready to turn to John’s gospel. As we begin to read the story it becomes very clear that John has the same stories in mind that have been shared by the others. These stories are the only events in the Galilean ministry of Jesus that John shares with the synoptic writers. The gist of the stories is essentially alike. It seems very likely that these two stories – the multiplication of the loaves and the walking on water – were already joined together before Mark found them in the traditions he used and also before John used those same traditions. We need to begin with a few observations regarding the setting that John gives for these stories. John tells his readers that Passover is approaching. This is the second Passover John will tell about in his gospel. The first was earlier when Jesus arrived back in Jerusalem following his brief encounter at Cana in Galilee. That the setting is a Passover is crucial to John’s story. John also tells his readers that Jesus and his disciples have gone to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. We need to remember that we are in the midst of one of the “seams” in John’s gospel – he has given us no reference for what has preceded this story. Just before this story Jesus was in Jerusalem. John will tell his readers that Jesus and his disciples cross the sea to Capernaum following the story of the feeding of the 5000. But, like Mark, the exact location for the multiplication of the loaves is not given. Likely we are to understand that it was on the eastern or southern side of the sea since Capernaum is on the northwest side. John does add a few details to the story but it remains essential the same story Mark told.