Why did the feeding of the five thousand happen? It happened for personal training in faith. Along with the purpose of a miracle. The purpose of a miracle is to bring thoughts to the human mind. Thoughts designed to grow your faith
This event during the ministry of Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus Christ) was recorded in all four gospel accounts. I believe this is historical event. And there is a special significance the Feeding of Five Thousand" men, plus women and children has for all humankind. For the Gospel accounts read in Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6.
Let's understand how the event began. Following the return of the disciples coupled with the news regarding the death of John the Baptist its time to get away from the religious leaders for awhile. Yeshua had suggested to his disciples that they go away from the community filled with the crowds traveling in for the Passover. Yeshua proposes they go to a desolate place for some rest and relaxation.
Understand about the crowds, Passover was close at hand. Observant Jews were coming in towards Jerusalem from the outlying communities and foreign nations. These travelers were hearing the reports about the young rabbi. Why did the feeding of the five thousand happen? There will be a miracle and thoughts to grow faith.
These travelers coming in for the Passover heard the reports. Blind people had received sight, crippled people restored, deaf could hear, lepers were cleansed, sickness was healed, and a dead little girl came back into knowing life. The expectation in the hearts of hard working Jewish people was that God would fulfill the promise of sending his Messiah. Could this young rabbi be the one the prophets had told us to expect?
The average hard working Jewish people held to the prophesy God had given the prophet Ezekiel to share about the promise of his anointed Hamashia. You can read that prophesy in Ezekiel 34. Here is my take away notes.
#1. The Hamashia will have a special relationship with Yahweh.
#2. The Hamashia will Feed his people
#3. The Hamashia will Gather his people together
#4. The Hamashia will give Peace
#5. The Hamashia will represent Justice and Compassion
#6. The Hamashia will judge his people.
#7. The Hamashia is the only only true shepherd.
#8. The Hamashia will mediate a covenant of peace
#1. His anointed would have a special relationship with Yahweh. Or any of the other names of honor and respect given to our One God. Maybe you know God to be your:
Adonai (Lord and Master)
El Elyon (The Most High God)
El Olam (The Everlasting God)
El Shaddai (Lord God Amighty),
Elohim (God)
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Host)
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Yahweh (Lord Jehovah)
What name is missing? There is about 15 times in the Old Testament the image of God is described as Father. In the New Testament Father is used about 245 times.
Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus Christ) said as recorded in John 10:30 "I and the Father are one.”
The minister to the Gentiles reported:
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (CJB) For God is one; and there is but one Mediator between God and humanity, Yeshua the Messiah, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom on behalf of all, thus providing testimony to God’s purpose at just the right time.
Fourteen times in Ezekiel chapter 34 verses 11-16 God said "I will" take on the role of being a shepherd providing for my people. That means that in Yeshua is the presence of God. No other person could defy the laws of nature unless the presence of God was within them. Verses 23 and 24 identify one shepherd and our one servant of God.
Ezekiel 34:23-24 (CJB) “‘I will raise up one shepherd to be in charge of them, and he will let them feed — my servant David. He will pasture them and be their shepherd. I, Adonai, will be their God; and my servant David will be prince among them. I, Adonai, have spoken.
Everything about Yeshua shows that he is the one with a special relationship with God. In the Old Testament there is about thirty times when God is called or defined using a father name or image. But there is not a single hit when searching for the name "Abba". Abba as a name for God began with the ministry of Yeshua. In the New Testament God is called or referred to as Father over one hundred and sixty five times. Clearly Yeshua did more than just introduced us into a special relationship with God. He had and lived the experience of that relationship.
Ezekiel 34:13-14 I will bring them back from those peoples, gather them from those countries and return them to their own land. Then I will let them feed on the mountains of Isra’el, by the streams and in all the livable places of the land. I will have them feed in good pastures; their grazing ground will be on the high mountains of Isra’el. They will rest in good grazing grounds and feed in rich pastures on Isra’el’s mountains.
For your personal training in faith; Yeshua is the Hamashia and he has a special relationship with Yahweh.
#2. The Hamashia will Feed his people
Taking his disciples to a desolate place, when he came ashore he saw the crowds. Knowing their need for spiritual nourishment he taught them. But there comes a time to address the needs for nourishment of the body. Why did Yeshua not send the crowd back to their communities? That would have been like sending the people back to the oppressive religious leaders and an uncaring church.
That would have not been illustrated the compassionate heart of the the Good Shepherd. That would not have been in unity with the presence of God, our Abba Father. So Yeshua prepared to feed and satisfy both the physical and spiritual needs of his flock.
John 6:5-6 so when Yeshua looked up and saw that a large crowd was approaching, he said to Philip, “Where will we be able to buy bread, so that these people can eat?” Now Yeshua said this to test Philip, for Yeshua himself knew what he was about to do.
The five barley loaves symbolizes the first five books of Torah, containing the Word of God. The two fish have been regarding by some to represent the two kingdoms when Israel was divided. Others find the symbolism to the people Yeshua came to shepherd; Jews and Gentiles.
For your personal training in faith; Yeshua is our Hamashia and he continues to Feed his people
#3. The Hamashia will Gather his people together
Ezekiel said the sheep would be gathered together.
John 6:10 (CJB) Yeshua said, “Have the people sit down.” There was a lot of grass there, so they sat down. The number of men was about five thousand.
John 6:12-13 After they had eaten their fill, he told his talmidim, “Gather the leftover pieces, so that nothing gets wasted.” They gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
The reason for collecting the leftovers was to show the twelve tribes of Israel would not be lost. It symbolizes the bringing back together from what had been scattered.
For your personal training in faith; Yeshua is our Hamashia through him people around the world are drawn together by a holy bond.
#4. The Hamashia will give Peace
He will reestablish Peace with His people. The 23rd Psalm tells us about the shepherd's care for his flock and the characteristic of having and sharing a holy peace.
John 14:27 “What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom. I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened.
Under Yeshua's rule the people will have all the 23rd Psalm qualities that promote peace and security
no want (23:1), no worry (23:2), no weakness (23:3), no wickedness (23:4), no death (23:4), no fear (23:4), no defeat (23:5), no deficit (23:5), no judgment (23:6), and no end (23:6),
For your personal training in faith; Through Yeshua Hamashia you will know a divine Peace within your spirit, you will know a holy peace with God.
#5. The Hamashia will represent Justice and Compassion
Yeshua will rule with justice and compassion.
Ezekiel 34:16 (CJB) “I will seek the lost, bring back the outcasts, bandage the broken, and strengthen the sick. But the fat and the strong I will destroy — I will feed them with judgment.”
Mark 6:34 When Yeshua came ashore, he saw a huge crowd. Filled with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, he began teaching them many things.
Jesus began his public ministry by claiming the role of the servant of the Lord. Justice and compassion will be his reign in the latter days (Rev 20:4).
Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them received authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for testifying about Yeshua and proclaiming the Word of God, also those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years.
For your personal training in faith; Yeshua is Hamashia, because of his compassion sinners will be know the loving Justice of God.
#6. The Hamashia will judge his people.
Ezekiel 34:17 “‘As for you, my flock,’ Adonai Elohim says this: ‘I will judge between sheep and other sheep, between rams and billy-goats.
Ezekiel 34:20 Therefore here is what Adonai Elohim says to them: ‘I will judge between the fat sheep and the thin sheep.
Ezekiel 34:22 therefore I will save my flock; they will no longer be prey; and I will judge between sheep and other sheep.
Following the Feeding of the five thousand people came looking for Yeshua. In the back and forth that followed when they found him. He could tell what was in their hearts.
John 6:26 Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed! I tell you, you’re not looking for me because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate the bread and had all you wanted!
For your personal training in faith; Yeshua Hamashia knows your hearts and will judge all of his people.
#7. The Hamashia is the only only true shepherd.
Yeshua is the only only true shepherd; he is is the way, the truth, and the life.
Ezekiel 34:23 “‘I will raise up one shepherd to be in charge of them, and he will let them feed — my servant David. He will pasture them and be their shepherd.
John 6:29 Yeshua answered, “Here’s what the work of God is: to trust in the one he sent!”
John 6:35 Yeshua answered, “I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty.
For your personal training in faith; Yeshua is our Hamashia is the only only true shepherd.
#8. The Hamashia will mediate a covenant of peace.
Yeshua will mediate a covenant of Holy peace. The peace provided by the Good Shepherd is peace with God.
Ezekiel 34:25 I will make a covenant of peace with them; I will rid the land of wild animals; and they will live securely in the desert and sleep in the forests.
For your personal training in faith; Yeshua our Hamashia will mediate a covenant of peace between our sinful soul with God.
Why did the feeding of the five thousand happen For our personal training in faith.
What does the feeding of the five thousand mean for you and I today?
Like the scattered children of God. You and I have been called by God, and by God's Holy Spirit to experience the presence of the Good Shepherd in each of our lives.
Called to experience receiving the bread of life in our own lives. Yeshua is calling us to experience his spiritual and physical nourishment. Yahweh called His Children out of bondage in Egypt. Yahweh is calling each of us out of the wilderness. Bondage in a world filled with addictions, evil, and death. We are called to know the Promised Land.
Answer the call. Come to Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus Christ)
