Étude 1 sur 6 · La multiplication des pains pour les 5000 personnes

  1. Étude 1 : La multiplication des pains pour les 5000 personnes
  2. Étude 2 : La réaction de la foule
  3. Étude 3 : Enseignement du Messie Jésus à propos du pain de vie
  4. Étude 4 : Seconde multiplication des pains pour 4000 personnes
  5. Étude 5 : Départ en barque pour la ville de Magdala
  6. Étude 6 : Nourriture des 4 000

From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week

  • The multiplication of the loaves for the 5,000 people

    The multiplication of the loaves for 5,000 men is a miracle attested by all four evangelists, set near Bethsaida in April AD 32. With only five loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds an immense crowd, illustrating his divine power and his shepherd's compassion, and foreshadowing the Eucharist. The twelve baskets left over symbolize the abundance of the Kingdom of God.

    John 6.5-13 (King James Version) :
    When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
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  • The reaction of the crowd

    After the multiplication of the loaves, the crowd recognizes Jesus as the prophet announced by Moses and wants to crown him king. Only John reports this episode. Jesus withdraws to the mountain, refusing a political kingship. This passage reveals the tension between popular messianic expectations and the spiritual mission of the Messiah, who refuses to conform to the nationalist hopes of his time.

    Deuteronomy 18.15 (King James Version) :
    The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
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  • Teaching of the Messiah Jesus about the bread of life

    John 6.22-59 records Jesus’ discourse on the bread of life, delivered in the synagogue of Capernaum on a Sabbath in May AD 32. After the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus reveals himself as the 'bread of life', inviting the crowd to believe in him in order to obtain eternal life. This passage, found only in John, displays a major christological and eucharistic richness, in the face of the incomprehension and murmuring of his hearers.

    John 6.25 (King James Version) :
    And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
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  • Second multiplication of the loaves for 4,000 people

    The article analyzes Jesus' second multiplication of the loaves for four thousand people, with reference to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. It explores the nuances between the two accounts while stressing Jesus' compassion and his ability to provide for the needs of the crowd.

    Mark 8.1-9 (King James Version) :
    In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
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  • Departure by boat for the city of Magdala

    The article discusses Jesus’ departure by boat for Magdala after the multiplication of the loaves, exploring the differences between the accounts of Matthew and Mark and stressing the importance of historical study for understanding these differences.

    Mark 8.10 (King James Version) :
    And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
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Miracles

  • Feeding of the 4,000

    This article recounts the multiplication of the loaves, in which Jesus miraculously feeds four thousand people. Matthew's and Mark's accounts describe Jesus' compassion for the hungry crowd, the multiplication of seven loaves and a few fish, and the collection of seven baskets of leftovers. Differences include the destinations after the event: Magadan in Matthew and Dalmanutha in Mark.

    Mark 8.1-10 (King James Version) :
    In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
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Further reading