John 6:1

THE FIVE THOUSAND FED.

This miracle is the only one recorded by all the Evangelists, and as the details vary somewhat,. study of all the accounts (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17) is needful to get the entire history. At Jerusalem, in the last chapter, Christ revealed himself as the Giver of life; here in Galilee he shows himself as the Support and Guide of life.

1. After these things.

If. am correct in regarding the feast at which the miracle of Bethesda was wrought, the Passover, this incident is about. year after. We are aided in locating it by the account of Matthew. He declares that Christ had just heard that John the Baptist was put to death. It is agreed by the most judicious scholars that John was beheaded about the third year of Christ's ministry. This began some months before his first Passover, when he cleansed the temple; the miracle of Bethesda was at his second Passover and in the second year of his ministry; this Passover season (see verse 4) was in the third year. The date of this miracle tends to confirm the view that the feast of John 5:1 was the Passover.

Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee.

Matthew (14:13) says that he went because he heard that Herod had slain John. He wished to have. season of retirement, probably for reflection, and he went out of Herod's jurisdiction. Mark indicates (6:30) that he retired for rest. Luke adds. fact that helps us to understand the reason. He says, "Herod sought to see Jesus." The news of the death of the Baptist, of the design of Herod to see him, the return of the Twelve from their mission (Luke 9:10), and the need of rest all co-operated to cause him to seek the wilderness over the sea.

Sea of Tiberias.

Another name of the Sea of Galilee at that time better known to Gentile readers.