Feeding of the 5,000...

Many things that were recorded concerning Christ's earthly ministry only appear in the three synoptic Gospel accounts. Conversely, there are many events of Christ's ministry only recorded in the unique Gospel of John. There are various aspects of our Lord's passion that appear in all four Gospel accounts.

We must first recognize, "Every word of God is pure" (Proverbs 30:5). "Every word" incorporated within the sacred Scriptures is placed there by divine inspiration to convey truth to us. There are no non-essential or superfluous words. When a verse or an account is repeated, it is for emphasis. For this event to be recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-13), there must be a purpose.

According to The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, this miraculous event took place in the third year of Christ's ministry. Thompson's Bible styles it as The Year of Opposition. The Jewish leaders impugned Jesus' credentials, stating, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" (John 7:15). They questioned Jesus' authority, asking: "By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?" (Matthew 21:23). John 5:16 and 18 tell us: "Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him .... Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him." 

This miracle, recorded in all four Gospel accounts, reveals Jesus' "power" over various realms and validates His position. Let us view a few.

(1) Christ has power over nature. Matthew 14:15 says, "This is a desert place, and the time is now past." (Also, read Mark 6:35 and Luke 9:12.) This reveals Jesus' authority over time and place. The natural elements rest in His control! Nahum 1:3 says, "The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet."

(2) Christ has power over man. He commanded the multitude to sit down (Matthew 14:19; Mark 6:39; Luke 9:14; John 6:10). Daniel 4:17 tells us, "The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men."

(3) Christ has the power to meet the needs of man. "They did all eat, and were filled" (Matthew 14:20; Mark 6:42; Luke 9:17; John 6:12). The Apostle Paul was inspired to pen, "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). 

(4) Christ has the power to set things in order. Luke 9:14 tells us He commanded the disciples, "Make them sit down by fifties in a company." He has the authority to make certain "all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).

(5) Christ has the power to meet man's needs through His ministry: "Give ye them to eat" (Matthew 14:16; Mark 6:37; Luke 9:13). His instruction to the ministry was "feed the church of God" (Acts 20:28). 

(6) Christ's power knows no respect "of persons" (Acts 10:34). This miracle provided for "five thousand men, beside women and children" (Matthew 14:21).

(7) Christ has the power to make provision for the future. "They took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full" (Matthew 14:20; Mark 6:43; Luke 9:17; John 6:13). Here we have seven distinct expressions of His power (the Biblical number of perfection). Deuteronomy 32:4 proclaims that "He is the Rock ['Christ'; 1 Corinthians 10:4], his work is perfect."
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Look at the effect of this miraculous event: "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world" (John 6:14). They were quoting the verse that Moses spoke concerning the Messiah (Deuteronomy 18:18). This miraculous event was recorded in all four Gospels to establish the power and authority of Jesus as the Christ, or Messiah. Some of the last words our Lord uttered prior to His Ascension were, "All power ['authority'; The Emphatic Greek Diaglott] is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). This miracle stands as a witness to His power and authority!

Earl R. Borders

From the June 2025 issue of The Gospel Trumpeter