Bible Bites

You might have never opened a Bible before. You might not even believe in God. That’s ok. There’s no reason you can’t benefit from the interpretations here. Check it out and see what you think.

Matt 14:13-21

The Loaves and the Fish

I’ll set the scene. Jesus has been healing people and speaking his parables to people. Massive crowds are following Him from place to place.

At this point, Herod, the ruler of the area, already had John the Baptist in jail. Herod’s daughter Salome does a dance for Herod that he likes so much he promises her anything she wants. She wants John beheaded. Herod does it, and “gifts” her John’s severed head.

Jesus was close friends with John, and He hears about how Herod chopped off John’s head. It’s horrible, inconceivable. Jesus goes to an isolated place to be alone and digest this. The 5000 people who had gathered to hear Him and get healing now follow Him. His mourning is interrupted, but He goes ahead and prays for them, healing them.

That night, Jesus’ disciples say that it’s really late and He should send all these people home so they can get some food. Jesus says “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” (16)

The disciples say, “We have only five loaves (of bread) and two fish.”(17)

Jesus says, “Bring them here to Me.” (18)

Then Jesus “looking up to heaven, blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples.”(19)

The disciples give it all out. Not only do they feed 5000 people with this, but the leftovers filled twelve baskets.(20)

So, what do we have? Jesus is healing people who had no previous hope of ever being healed, giving wisdom that changed people’s lives, etc. Thousands of people know about him at this point. This is all positive; things are really going in a positive direction.

Then John the Baptist, the man who announced Jesus’ arrival, someone with whom Jesus was personally close, is beheaded. His head is cut from his body with a sword or an axe, and everyone knows it. It’s horrible news for everyone and must have affected everyone there. Fear must have clutched many of them, especially the disciples. If the rulers of the land would take a sword to John’s neck, how much more will they do to these disciples?