After Jesus returned, he walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a mountain and took his place, ready to receive visitors. They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus’ feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them. When the people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them.But Jesus wasn’t finished with them. He called his disciples and said, “I hurt for these people. For three days now they’ve been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. I can’t send them away without a meal—they’d probably collapse on the road.”
His disciples said, “But where in this deserted place are you going to dig up enough food for a meal?”
Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”
   “Seven loaves,” they said, “plus a few fish.” At that, Jesus directed the people to sit down. He took the seven loaves and the fish. After giving thanks, he divided it up and gave it to the people. Everyone ate. They had all they wanted. It took seven large baskets to collect the leftovers. Over four thousand people ate their fill at that meal. After Jesus sent them away, he climbed in the boat and crossed over to the Magadan hills.
“Over four thousand people ate their fill at that meal. After Jesus sent them away”
hmmm – I wonder how easy it was, after that, to send the people away! I just love the way that Matthew reports all this in such a non-sensationalised matter-of-fact way. Maybe the way that Matthew writes is a lesson in keeping our feet firmly on the ground!
Indeed. The fact Jesus healed them all is a miracle in itself, but is so overshadowed by what follows it’s almost forgotten about. And as you say Matthew reports it all as if it’s an everyday event.
Perhaps rather than him not being interested, he’s keeping it simple so any excitement he shows doesn’t get exaggerated until the story changes or is unbelievable.
Am I missing something? Hadn’t jesus just done a similar miracle? So why were the disciples still wondering how He was going to feed the crowd, knowing they had a few loaves?
Maybe i’m not the only one who gets all surprised every time God shows His power and goodness, even though I’ve seen Him do it before..