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After the disciples returned back to Jesus, we find Jesus wihdrew with them to an isolated place belonging to the city of Bethsaida. But the crowds found out where he was and followed him there. Jesus received them and taught them about the Kingdom of God and healed as many who were sick. Toward the end of the day the twelve came to Jesus and asked him to disperse the 5000. Instead Jesus offers to feed them and asks the disciples to feed them on what food they have? All they have is five loaves and two fish. It must have seemed baffling to them that Jesus asked them to feed the multitude.
Next we see the feeding of the 5000. It must be said that 5000 people was more than in most towns. Most towns at the time had about 3000 people. So we see that almost two towns have come to listen to Jesus. Jesus tells the disciples to group them into 50's and for them to sit down.Marks account says they were divided into 50's and 100's.
This is what Moses did in Exodus 18:21 where Israel were divided into camps. The imagery of Israel in the wilderness is to evoke in the readers minds of how YHWH gave Israel sustenance in a place where no sustenance could be found. Here instead of the law they are told of what the law pointed to,ie the Kingdom of God. It is meant to illustrate that Israel under Jesus are going through the new exodus from captivity. Jesus is portrayed as the end time deliverer who saves the leaderless and exiled Israel who have no leader or saviour of their own. Through the preaching of the Kingdom of God under Jesus, Gods new people are been sustained and born. Again the preaching of the Kingdom is accompanied in power. The miracle of changing 5 loaves of bread and two fish into meals for 5000 and still with much left over is to point again to who Jesus is. It is to point to Jesus as one greater than Moses, Jesus is their life giver and that Life and deliverance is found in the Christ of Israel. Even so we see the people were dull in understanding. For Jesus asks his disciples who the people say he is? Again they answer with all the wrong answers. Jesus then asks the same question of Peter who answers that He is Gods Christ which means God's King of Israel. Surprisingly Jesus told them not to tell anyone who He was. We aren't told why he held them to silence, except that Jesus ministry would have ended before he could accomplish what he intended for Israel. That is why he immediatly brings up the fate which awaits him in Jerusalem. It is there that all will be told, not now so as to accomplish the purpose of God for that generation.
In turning their attention to what would happen to him at the hands of the Pharisees and Scribes in Jerusalem. He brings in a challenge to his disciples. The challenge is that to follow him would likely result in them dying on his account. Not only that, they must expect to do Jesus will and die to their own will. he is showing them it is a radical thing to follow him. This is about allegiance and full allegiance at that to Gods' Christ who is King. This is not the way of comfort but of sacrifice,of giving it all, including your life to do the will of Gods King. Having said that Jesus promises them that in doing this they will find life. Death will not hold them. Jesus then says what good is it if you gain the world but lose your life. What is important is a mans life. The meaning of life according to Jesus is to know your King and to do his will. Then you will gain your life. The matter of life and death is what is important and all that is really important as far as Jesus is concerned. His people need to speak up for the name of Jesus and not draw back and be ashamed because if they do Jesus will put them to shame at his appearance. Jesus concludes his talk by saying that many here will they will not taste death till they see the Kingdom of God. What does Jesus mean? We know that he died and was raised to life 2000 years ago and the Kingdom hasn't come in the sense where there will be wickedness no more and when God himself will rule the people.But you see God in His perfect wisdom brought the Kingdom about by Christs resurrection. When the Holy Spirit was poured out, after Jesus was seated at the right hand of God on Davids throne. The kingdom had come because the true King of Israel is now on the throne of David. Jesus been raised to life was something believers in YHWH only expected to happen on the last day,but it happened to Jesus in the last hour. Believers are now joined to Jesus resurrection and are living the resurrection life. Also by pouring out the Holy Spirit the new creation of Gods people has begun in the lives of believers in Jesus. The powers of the age to come are been poured out into the lives of Gods people. Believers are living the resurrection life and are living in Gods ways and are been transformed into Jesus' likeness. The power of sin has been broken.Though they are not sinless, they don't live in sin. The kingdom has began to break through in this wicked evil age and the powers of righteousness have begun to be revealed. The miracle of a person been transformed, born again shows the power of the age to come of Gods Kingdom. It is evidence of Gods new creation been brought into being now, just before God makes everything new. So yes the kingdom has begun but has not been consumated. The kingdom is now but not yet!!This what Jesus meant when he said many standing with him would not taste death till they see Gods Kingdom. Come Lord Jesus come!! |
