John the Baptist has just been beheaded, died and then been buried by his disciples.
Jesus is followed by a crowd , perhaps of John's disciples, into the desert.
Maybe they are looking for a response, something violent and powerful.
Instead Jesus tells them of the Kingdom of God
and maybe some of them are converted to the cause,
but time runs on and the disciples have no food.
"If you have nothing more for them, send them away",
say the disciples, assuming improvidence in the crowd.
(perhaps taking the role of Scribes and Pharisees in such a situation).
So we see this wonderful enacted parable of sharing our resources.
Jesus took what he had and shared it, encouraging others to do the same,
as a perfect and practical example of the ways and the spread of the Kingdom of God.
Of course such an explanation is not enough for those who major on miraculous powers,
despite the obvious points that the stories differ in each Gospel account and
that a crowd of five thousand was not credible.
It would have denuded all the nearby towns, be beyond the reach of his voice
and attracted unwelcome attention from the civil authorities.
The miracle is untenable but the parable is plain.
It is the same scene that can arise from any potentially disastrous situation,
where human need brings a human response; where generosity responds to shortage,
or courage to another's danger.
Jesus just triggers the action, - as he can today;
for herein lies the very heart of true Christianity.
There is no pagan magic here, but
an appeal to the goodness of the Spirit within us.
It is a practical example
of the very heart of his message,
of what it really means to be Christian.
MIRACULOUS PERCEPTIONS