The Table in the Wilderness
J.A. Macdonald Matthew 14:13-21 When Jesus heard of it, he departed there by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof… Jesus had several reasons for his crossing the lake to the desert of Bethsaida. 1. He was there out of the jurisdiction of Herod. (1) Antipas, instigated by Herodias, had recently beheaded the Baptist, and might have been moved to proceed against Jesus, who he suspected was his victim risen from the dead (see vers. 1, 2). Jesus could have secured himself by Divine power, but, as our Exemplar, he chose to do so by human prudence. It is lawful in times of peril to fly from persecution when we have no special call of God to expose ourselves to it. (2) Herod desired to see Jesus, but was unworthy of that honour. So, when afterwards they came face to face, "Jesus answered him nothing" (cf. Luke 9:9; Luke 23:8, 9; cf. also the case of Saul and Samuel, 1 Samuel 15:35; 1 Samuel 20:24). 2. He avoided the pressure of the people and gained some leisure to converse with his disciples newly returned from their progress (cf. Mark 6:31, 32; Luke 9:10). 3. He intended to spread before the multitude a table in the wilderness. He knew that the people would follow him. Note: Jesus sometimes leaves us that we may follow him. He lures us into spiritual solitudes to show us there the wonders of his compassion and goodness. The scene is before us. I. THERE ARE THE GUESTS. 1. They are many. (1) Seldom do we hear of a banquet spread for ten thousand. There were "about five thousand men." They were easily reckoned, for they were ranged in companies of fifty. "Beside" these were the "women and children." (2) Yet these thousands were only representative of the thousands of millions who are daily feasted upon the bounty of Divine providence. Also countless millions of animated organisms. "Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing." (3) They were also representative of the host for whom God has provided the bounties of his grace. From these none are excluded who have not excluded themselves. 2. They are earnest. (1) Their interest is excited by the "signs which Jesus did on them that were sick" (see John 6:2). They travelled round the lake on foot, many of them a distance of about four miles. (2) They brought with them their sick to be healed. Perhaps, in some cases, sought his healing for those at their homes too invalided to be carried. Certain it is that Jesus required faith for healing. It is equally certain that "he had compassion on these, and healed their sick." He "healed them that had need of healing" (ver. 14; Luke 9:11). (3) They are earnest in attention to his teaching. Luke tells us that Jesus "received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:11). From the texts of his power he unfolded his wisdom. Such is the effect that they are scarce restrained from proclaiming him king (see John 9:14, 15). 3. They are needy. (1) This fact is recognized in the prudence of the disciples (ver. 15). Note: Disciples are often more apt to show discretion than faith. (2) If they need the bread that perisheth, how much more do they need that which endureth to everlasting life! Jesus "had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd" (Mark 6:34). The poor people were woefully neglected by the Pharisees and scribes. (3) "They have no need to go away." In their eagerness after Jesus they had forgotten their ordinary food; but Jesus had not forgotten them. "Seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." II. THERE IS THE TABLE. 1. It is spread in the wilderness. (1) The disciples did not yet properly estimate the resources of their Lord. Instead of looking to him for the supply of their wants, like Israel in the desert, they were for returning to Egypt. Are there now no disciples in that prudent apostolical succession? (2) When the Lord said, "Give ye them to eat," still they did not properly consider who it was that spake to them. They now looked to their own resources and found them utterly inadequate. In this error also the disciples have many successors. (3) Soon, however, they discovered that the God of Israel was among them. The five loaves and two fishes were so multiplied that the thousands were satisfied, and the fragments left were greatly in excess of the original store. Hallelujah! 2. This recalls an earlier scene. (1) Every reflective person in that company would be reminded of the earlier miracle when their fathers in the wilderness were fed from heaven with manna. Even the desert was suggestive. Moreover, "the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh" (see John 6:4), and many in this company were on their way to Jerusalem to celebrate that feast, so significantly recalling the history of the Exodus. (2) Who, then, but the same God of Israel, who fed the fathers with that heavenly bread, is this Jesus who now feeds their children no less miraculously? 3. This also anticipates a later scene. (1) This broken bread was a type of the Bread of life, to be broken for the spiritual nourishment of believers (see John 6:26, 27). "By it" Jesus "proclaimed himself the Bread of the world, the Source of all life, of which there shall be enough and to spare for all evermore" (Trench). (2) The Lord gave the bread to denote the life we have in communion with him. The identity of the teaching in the argument of Jesus upon this miracle (see John 6.), with the teaching of the Eucharist, cannot be missed. (3) This, by parity of reasoning, invests with new interest the corresponding miracle of the multiplication of the wine at the marriage (see John 2:1-11). The communion of Christ is the cheer of our joy as well as the food for our need. III. THERE IS THE SERVICE. 1. The King heads his table. (1) "We have here but five loaves, and two fishes." God often permits his servants to be brought low that they may have the more frequent opportunities of trusting him. (2) "Bring them hither to me." If we bring our frugal fare to Jesus for his blessing, he will make it a sufficiency for the body and a sacrament to the soul (cf. Psalm 37:19; Haggai 1:9). He clothes himself with a body that he may encourage us to depend upon him for the supply of our bodily wants. He takes special care of the bodies of those who are engaged in his service. (3) "Looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake." God's creatures must be received with thanksgiving (see 1 Samuel 9:13; Acts 2:46, 47; Acts 27:35; 1 Timothy 4:4). But the blessing of Jesus was more than a thanksgiving. (4) The presence of Christ can turn a wilderness into a paradise (cf. Isaiah 41:19, 20; Isaiah 51:3). 2. The disciples are the servitors. (1) They are commissioned to order the multitude into companies (see Luke 9:14). These fifties are representative of the Churches of Christendom, which are presided over by the ministers of Christ. What Christ designed for his Churches he signified by his servant John (Revelation 1:1-4). (2) They were commissioned to give the loaves to the multitude. Receiving the bread of life themselves, they are strengthened to minister it to others. Through their hands the multitudes are to receive it from the Lord (cf. ch. 24:45; 2 Corinthians 5:20; 2 Corinthians 6:1). (3) The bread multiplies in their hands. Herein the Word of God proves itself to be the living bread. So it is like seed. The living Word is the life of the word preached. As seed is multiplied, not by hoarding, but by sowing, so is the Word. "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth." Note: What we give in charity should first be given to Christ, that his blessing may multiply its benefit. They that have little must relieve others out of that little, that they may have more. (4) They are instructed to "gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost" (John 6:12). What they gave they received back manifold. There were "five loaves," one forevery thousand men; they gathered up twelve hand baskets full, one for each apostle. They had also fragments over from the fishes (see Mark 6:43; Luke 15:17). - J.A.M. Parallel Verses KJV: When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. WEB: Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.