Matt.15:35 – 37 – And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full.
This passage comes from the second recorded time that Jesus multiplied fish and bread and fed a large crowd of people. The difference in this case is that it happened near Decapolis where several months ago Jesus delivered the demonized man from the cemetery near Gadara. This miracle took place with a predominately Gentile crowd. This was the rare occasion that Jesus ministered to Gentiles, He was preparing the way for worldwide evangelism. Just as He had done with the Jews, Jesus was moved with compassion and fed the people. He is still the same today, he feeds those who love Him and even those who resist Him. Here is an interesting observation I found in Barclay’s Commentary.
“In writing of this passage, the biblical scholar Alfred Edersheim has a lovely thought: he points out that in three successive stages of his ministry, Jesus ended each stage by setting a meal before his people. First, there was the feeding of the 5,000; that came at the end of his ministry in Galilee, for Jesus was never to teach and preach and heal in Galilee again. Second, there was this feeding of the 4,000. This came at the end of his brief ministry to the Gentiles, beyond the bounds of Palestine – first in the districts of Tyre and Sidon and then in the Decapolis. Third and last, there was the Last Supper in Jerusalem, when Jesus came to the final stage of the days of his earthly life.”
What I take away from this is that the Lord feeds us all the way until the end. Apparently He closed His ministry in Galilee with a celebratory meal, His ministry amongst the Gentiles by feeding the 4000, and the last night with the twelve with a Passover meal and the Lord’s Supper. The good news is that He feeds us everyday. I think the two cases of feeding the multitudes and the last meal with the disciples point to what happens when we see Jesus next. We will be with Him at the greatest feeding of all, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
