Still without understanding?

I will divide him a portion with the many - Isaiah 53:12

Teaching of Jesus Christ through the Miracle of Multiplication

When God walked on this earth, he did many wonderful things, so apostle John finishes like this - Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written - John 21:25

And in this article will explore the miracle of multiplications, Feeding 5000 and 4000, and the questions which Jesus Christ asked after these miracles confirms that is has so much message for us and also we need to compare it - When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” - Mark 8:19-21

These miracles do have follow-up boat travels and intermediate stops, so to understand the message we need to read including the boat travels.

Only certain incidents in the bible comes with full details including time, location, etc. The feeding of 5000 and 4000 is one of those incidents which has full details, and also feeding the 5000 miracle recorded in all four Gospels which tells that how important these teachings would be in our life, and it's hard to keep all 4 gospels together and compare both of the miracles, so trying to put together so that we can understand the amazing teaching of Jesus Christ.

How it's started?

As the disciples started their ministry, they were involved in preaching, casting demons, healing sick people, but they did not face any opposition or persecution which clearly tells that they neither preached Jesus Christ is God, nor Jesus Christ is the only way for our salvation - So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them - Mark 6:12-13

And also they do not know the most crucial thing that salvation comes from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ - for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him - Mark 9:31-32

So Jesus Christ took them into desolate place to teach the truth that the Heavenly Bread must be broken for our salvation, so it's not an accident that Jesus Christ ended up feeding 5000 with few loves, but with the great purpose Jesus Christ took his disciples into desolate place - The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat - Mark 6:30-31 & On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing - Luke 9:10-11

Breaking 5 loaves for 5000

According to Matthew, the Disciples of John the Baptist also came at same time, their intention is to take revenge for the death of their leader, but the Son of God came to this world to save the people which God displayed thorough the miracle of multiplication - And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns - Matthew 14:12-13

According to Mark the destination was a desolate place where we cannot buy any food, if eating and resting was the main purpose, then they would have gone into Caesarea or some other cities, which clearly tells that Jesus Christ took them to feed the spiritual food - And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat - Mark 6:35-36

What is the meaning of eating and resting in Lord's presence? The disciples used to get their personal time with Jesus Christ to learn and clarify their doubts (Eating or resting), when they do not get their private time, they used to say "oh we could not even eat" - Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat - Mark 3:20

Traveled by Boat

Since the river Jordan runs between Capernaum and the destination, Boat is the viable option to travel, and John has mentioned that there was only one Boat at destination that they traveled - On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone - John 6:22

Jesus Christ knew that this teaching would require a boat which could accommodate all his disciples, so in well advance he made an arrangement - And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him - Mark 3:9-10

Luke mentioned that the Boat is belongs to Simon Peter - and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat - Luke 5:2-3

While Returning

Disciples were holding 12 baskets of bread and Fish - And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish - Mark 6:43

What is the proof they traveled with the leftover bread? Bible says, in the next boat travel, the disciples traveled without carrying the bread (Now they had forgotten to bring bread - Mark 8:14a) from that we can understand that this time they travelled with the leftover bread.

Disciples are having two hundred denarii at their hand - But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” - Mark 6:37

But they experienced severe storm, and what they possessed could not help them, but in the midst of the storm Jesus Christ came and helped them to reach the ashore safely - You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them - Psalm 89:9

According to Matthew

Matthew has mentioned that, their boat was tossed by waves and strong wind, and at fourth watch of the night (could be between 3 and 6 AM) that means they were struggling in the ocean for 6-9 hours, and finally Jesus Christ came to them by walking on the sea and saved them - but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” - Matthew 14:24-27

And Peter also walked on the water and became an example for many believers - And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus, But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” - Matthew 14:28-33

According to Mark

Mark recorded unique information that Jesus Christ did not walk towards them, instead he meant to pass by them, which is like what Jesus Christ did after his resurrection (So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther - Luke 24:28).

And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened - Mark 6:48-52

Meant to pass by them: it’s an ancient Jewish culture where the bride groom looking for the opportunity to meet the bride, when the opportunity comes, the bride groom showed as "he meant to pass by them".

Did not understand about the loaves: Mark finishes their boat journey as "they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened", Basically the disciples started their Journey with 12 baskets full of bread, and when the boat is tossed by strong waves, the heavenly bread Jesus came and saved them, but the Disciples could not understand which bread is needed in our life.

According to John

And John is telling that they were rowed about three or four miles, which tells the severity of the wind that they were able to row only three to four miles until the fourth watch of the night - The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going - John 6:18-21

John also wrote the prophetical statement that "Jesus had not yet come to them", basically John agreed that the Disciples focus were changed to worldly bread, and "Jesus Christ had not yet come to them" to teach them - Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God - Deut 8:3.

According to Psalm

There is a wonderful prophecy about this boat travel recorded in the book of psalm, and we can see every single line of the prophesy got fulfilled - Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders - Psalm 107:23-32

According to John, when Jesus Christ fed 5000 at Desolate Place there was only one boat that Jesus and Disciples travelled. And after the miracle, only disciples traveled back to Capernaum.

So, in the next day, they all were searching Jesus Christ in the Desolate Place, when they could not find him they took the boat that came from Tiberias and came to Capernaum, when they saw Jesus Christ at Capernaum, considering the distance and the Jordan river that runs between them, they asked “Rabbi, when did you come here? - John 6:26”.

And this Question also so crucial for the conclusion message to be delivered - Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” - John 6:26-33

Conclusion at Capernaum

As the conclusion teaching continued at Capernaum, Jesus Christ delivered the critical message that he is our heavenly bread - They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me, not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” - John 6:34-51

To deliver this message in understandable manner Jesus Christ took the disciples to Desolate Place where he broke the bread, and then they came to Gennesaret, and finally returned to Capernaum, if you draw the entire travel root you can find the picture of fish, which reminds the prophecy of Jesus Christ "like Jonah the Son of Man will be in the belly of the fish for three days".

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him - John 6:52-66

With Pharisees and Scribes

Both Matthew and Mark recorded this unique encounter that Jesus Christ had with Pharisees and Scribes.

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” - Matthew 15:1-9

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches. And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God) then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” - Mark 7:1-13

But from the question which Pharisees and scribes had asked, we can understand that how Jesus Christ trained his disciples that they could not find any mistake over obeying God's commandments, and we should remember this basic principle to be a disciples of Jesus Christ.

With People

And then Jesus spoke to the People in a parable manner.

And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” - Matthew 15:10-11

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” - Mark 7:14-16

With Disciples

And finally, the Disciples got their personal time with Jesus Christ, so this time they did not complain, otherwise they used to say we could not even eat.

And Jesus Christ explained the meaning of what he said to Pharisees and to the people, It's all about keeping God's commandment first in our life and obeying it, these teaching made disciples to keep aside their own ideology or cultural practices and preach only what the Spirit of God says.

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” - Matthew 15:12-20

And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” - Mark 7:17-23

Breaking 7 loaves for 4000

The Miracle of feeding 4000 begins right after the visit of Tyre and Sidon - Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee - Mark 7:31

The feeding of 5000 miracle happened at the Desolate Place, but for feeding of 4000 miracle the chosen destination is Mountain. And at the destination, Jesus Christ did many miracles as he did in the Desolate Place.

Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel - Matthew 15:29-31

And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” - Mark 7:32-37

Miracle of Multiplication

If we could gather all the key information from Book of Matthew and Mark, we can summarize it as below.

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, (Mark) he called his disciples to him and said to them, I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. (Mark) And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away. (Mark) And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” (Matthew) And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” (Matthew) And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. (Mark) And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. (Mark) And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. (Mark) And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. (Matthew) Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew) And he sent them away. (Mark)

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children - Matthew 15:32-38

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away - Mark 8:1-9

After the Miracle

After the Miracle of feeding 5000, Disciples alone started their travel back to Capernaum, But this time Jesus Christ joined with them - And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan - Matthew 15:39 & And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha - Mark 8:10

Intermediate stop - Dalmanutha

After the Miracle of feeding 5000 Jesus Christ had an encounter with Pharisees and Sadducees at Capernaum where he emphasized the commandments of God, and now he is traveling towards Dalmanutha to meet the similar group by knowing the question that they would be asking.

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven - Matthew 16:1

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” - Mark 8:11-12

And Jesus Christ responded them with below question - He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed - Matthew 16:2-4

If Jesus Christ came to Dalmanutha with his disciples just to rise this question, how important this question would be? And this question also confirms that the Bible has enough signs to identify Messiah's time.

Question still speaks

The question that Jesus Christ raised made the Pharisees and Sadducees not to ask any more question, and the same question spoke to Disciples to leave everything and follow him with whole heartily, and the same question still speaking among us to be ready for his second coming - He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? - Luke 12:54-56

If the single command of God "Let there be a light" still alive and working among us, then how important this question would be in our life? At the time of Jesus Christ's first coming, the people had to rely on natural signs to predict the weather, but now we are living the world which could predict the climate for month also, and everywhere we are hearing about the sign of Christ second coming, then how much more we should be ready for his kingdom?

Traveling towards Bethsaida

After intermediate stop at Dalmanutha, the bible says they traveled to other side of the ocean where Jesus Christ delivered conclusion message to the disciples.

And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side - Mark 8:13

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him - Mark 8:22

Travelling with Heaven Bread

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread - Matthew 16:5 - Here the Greek word epilanthánomai used for forgotten which also has the meaning of "abandoned", which tells that the Disciples abandoned the bread as their focus changed to the living bread Jesus Christ.

What caused Disciples to abandon the bread, and follow the Living bread whole heartily?

· The message they heard about the Messiah at Dalmanutha.

· The lesson learnt from their previous boat journey, they traveled with 12 baskets but Jesus Christ came and saved them.

· The teaching of Jesus Christ - Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics - Luke 9:3

And when they ignored the worldly bread, the heavenly bread joined with them, and Mark wrote this in his style - Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat - Mark 8:14

Leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees

When they kept all the worldly things aside, the Heavenly bread revealed the truth that we should not allow any doctrine other than the true living bread Jesus Christ.

When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread, Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” - Matthew 16:5-6

How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees - Matthew 16:11-12

Conclusion Teaching

Finally Jesus Christ put all these questions to teach that he is our heavenly bread - And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them,

Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread?

Do you not yet perceive or understand?

Are your hearts hardened?

Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?

And do you not remember? - Mark 8:16-18

And he continued his question, so that the disciple can understand after his resurrection that the bread must be broken to feed many, and as much as the entire world - But Jesus, aware of this, said,

O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?

Do you not yet perceive?

Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?

Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? - Matthew 16:8-10

Evaluation at Caesarea Philippi

After all these miracles and by perfect life, the God who was in flesh acknowledged by disciples as Christ.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ - Matthew 16:13-20

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him - Mark 8:27-30

So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him - John 6:67-71

After the Crucifixion

After the resurrection, Jesus Christ did similar thing with his disciples and shared the bread and fish with them - Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish - John 21:5-13

but two things were missing this time.

1. He did not break the bread, as he was already broken on the Cross.

2. The crowd was missing, as he was broken for every soul in the world including you and me.

When Jesus Christ broke the little kid's 5 breads, 5000 men were satisfied. And when he broke disciple's 7 breads, 4000 men were satisfied, now the heavenly bread was broken for you and me, and this broken bread could feed everyone in this world, but the message of Gospel should be reached, that was the reason Jesus Christ asked this question - When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” - Mark 8:16-21

Conclusion

The "Sermon on the Mount" is like a class room teaching where Jesus Christ delivered the message to all, but the "Miracle of Multiplication" is like a practical exam organized for his Disciples so that they can carry the Gospel to the world - Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh - John 6:47-52

The only reason that Jesus Christ came into this world to take away our Sin, and to bore our punishment upon him, and Miracle of Multiplication is all about breaking the bread to feed them all, basically to tell the world that the heavenly bread must be broken to redeem us.

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you - 1 Peter 1:20

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin - 1 John 3:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed - Isaiah 53:5

Teaching of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ knew that he has to leave the world, so he trained his disciples with all that is needed to carry the Gospel, And the critical part of the teaching is that disciples need to understand that their responsibility is not just carrying the Gospel, but they also need to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ which we can see in the teaching of Jesus Christ, and these teaching are recorded in the bible not just for apostles but for every believer - Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself - Leviticus 16:11

Disciples Growth in Faith

And these teaching helped the disciples to grow in their faith, and we can see the improvement between the miracle of feeding 5000 and 4000 - He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength - Isaiah 40:29

Is Manna Heavenly Bread?

The Manna what the Israelites had is a symbol of the promised heavenly bread, because all those who ate manna died in the wilderness - So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord - Deuteronomy 8:3

When Jesus raised this question, How can you claim that manna is a heavenly bread when all those who ate died? no one able to answer that question - I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die - John 6:48-50

This tells that we need to long for true heavenly bread (Jesus Christ) who can lead us into the eternal life.

True Manna Yet to Come

Apostle Paul putting his argument little bit differently, he was referring Psalmist promise about the word "Rest" and telling that what Joshua did is not the actual rest which God is referring - Again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on - Hebrews 4:7-8

if Joshua had lead the people of Israel to rest, God would not have spoken again through King David, which indirectly tells that what the people of Israel had ate is not the true manna, and the true manna is our Lord Jesus Christ - Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.” Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.” - Psalm 95:8-11