Symbolism or History?
John 6:1-14
Do you believe the impossible is possible?
Photo by Gregor Moser on Unsplash
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” - John 6:1-14
There is no doubt that John intended to draw comparisons to Biblical events and prophecies in his Gospel.
Five barley loaves could be a reminder of the five books of the Torah, while barley is the bread of the poor.
Five loaves and two fish make seven, the number of creation. And the twelve baskets represent the twelve tribes.
So, early followers would have interpreted these numbers to have special meaning. Does that mean John fabricated the details of this story?
We need to realize that symbolism was essential to storytelling in those days. It aided in remembering the story. All throughout the Gospels, symbols are used to help the listener 9since no one could read) understand and remember the story.
The listeners expected layers of meaning in the story, so the Gospel writers gave it to them.
This miracle appears in all four Gospels, so there is reasonable conviction that this event happened. So, it is a retelling of history with symbolic meaning, something that was expected and desired by the people.
We tend to think of these types of stories today as fiction, but even in fiction, we have more profound meaning and truth.
So, whether you choose to believe that this was a miracle or not, something happened here, and it had an impact on the people. Jesus saw a need among a group of poor followers, and he did something to help them. He fed them.
He multiplied the bread of the poor and the labor of the fishermen to feed the multitudes.
Maybe the lesson for us is that it doesn’t take great wealth to solve big problems. It takes desire and a willingness to act with God to support us.
More to come...