Mark 6:42

They did all eat. Among the Jews the joys of the Messianic kingdom were often pictured under the figure of a banquet (see on Luke 13:29; 14:15), and it is conceivable that as the great multitude of people ate the food thus miraculously provided for them some turned their thoughts to Messianic prospects. On the same day they ate of the loaves and fishes the people had already concluded that Jesus was “that prophet” (see on John 6:14; cf. Deut. 18:15; Matt. 11:3; John 4:25) who was to come into the world. The undeniable miracle drove them to the inescapable conclusion that Jesus must be the One foretold by all the prophets (see Luke 24:27; John 1:45), the coming King of Israel (see Isa. 9:6, 7; see on Luke 1:32, 33). They attempted to crown Him king on the spot (see John 6:15). He who could raise the dead, heal the sick, and provide food for multitudes obviously had it in His power to deliver Israel from bondage to Rome. Under His leadership the armies of Israel would be invincible, and the fondest hopes of those who looked for a political messiah would be realized (see on Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 5:2; Luke 4:19).

The feeding of the 5,000 was the crowning miracle of the Galilean ministry, one witnessed by a vast throng, and one that cannot be explained away by skeptics either of Christ’s day or of ours. As a result of this miracle the Galilean ministry came abruptly to a climax (see on Luke 2:49). Compare the healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda a year previously (see on John 5), which brought the early Judean ministry to a close.

Were filled. The miraculously multiplied bread — evidence of the genuineness of the miracle — was distributed to each person in the vast throng, not in minute quantity, but sufficient completely to satisfy the appetite. This abundance testified to the limitless power of Jesus. Only when the needs of all were fully satisfied was the supply halted. Jesus was as attentive to the physical needs of those who came to Him as He was to their spiritual needs. But the provision thus made to satisfy physical needs was intended to direct men to their infinitely more important spiritual needs and to the bread of life as the means of satisfying those needs (see John 6:26-51).

The kind of food provided was the simple fare of fisherman and peasant, and testified against luxury. The manner in which it was provided testified of the power of God by which all man’s needs are supplied. The abundance testified to the infinite resources of God and His ability to provide for us “above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Collection of the fragments testified that none of God’s blessings are to be wasted. The participation of the disciples in the distribution of the food testified to the fact that the blessings of Heaven are made available to men through the agency of those who are willing to cooperate with the Omnipotent. The disciples were simply channels of blessing; they must receive before they could give.

The fact that the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle recorded by all four evangelists, marks it as of unusual significance. For a comparison of this miracle with that of feeding the 4,000 see Additional Note on Matthew 15.