Academic Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes:

An In-depth Analysis of ” Five thousand fed”

Matthew 14 :13-21

In a Nutshell ;

1. The complexity of spiritual narrative

2. Comparative religion was imperative

3. Religion is not restricted to denominational perspective

4. Attaching the spirituality to denominational views is detrimental

5. Search for solutions than to let it go

Key Research question:

How many times have we turned away those whom we are supposed to give hope? For example our relatives from the rural areas? Those who come to our places searching for hope?

The empirical evidence and the lacuna inferiority complex has clear spiritual narrative. On this occasion, the nature of the problem need practical solutions. Our human perspective is we just pray for the individual and let them go. You must remember, the problem was ” situational” and the nature of the problem was complex and nature was supposed to take it’s course. Human survival depends on food, shelter, water and clothing. I have often argued using historical imperative that you take away the four basic fundamentals, you easily drift away from any humanity.

Jesus pulls a bigger crowd than expected and it was over 5000 , and according to Jewish laws, they counted men only. In the cultural context, attaching men and women was regarded as a phenotypic concept. So this was a radical stance, the crowd was estimated using the presence of men. Let’s come closer home on this one, now they have been fed spiritually and what’s next?

Our nature is after service people are told that we will meet at 1400 hrs strictly and we must be able to stick to time. This is comparative and imperative. So this was a spiritual narrative giving birth to hostility. To shed more light, there was no proper plan on how to feed people and some had travelled for over 35/50 Km to hear the word.

What is next? There was an emergency board meeting with disciples, and Jesus did it deliberately not to chair the meeting. Remember this was an emergency board meeting because generally people were waiting for feed back.

Obviously the following questions were asked ;

1. Who organised such a bumper crowd unexpectedly?

2. How do we handle such a meeting?

3. We must learn to be organised?

4. Next time, we expect proper planning

5. This is a treasury and Personal Ministries issue so deal with it?

6. For me, I will have to drive some few kilometers away from this scenario, I have lunch for my family only

7. Turn them away

8. This was a blunder on our part

9. So you tell me that ” noone brought food amongst them? What were they expecting to eat?

10. Any shops around? Or we talk to the conference.

11. After our this can be a conference responsibility

12. We are simply lay people, and we are not on pay-roll

After deliberations, Jesus comes for feedback and he says to them ” You give them something to eat”

Quite interesting

Finally a young boy resurfaces with a solution. The solution was in 3 loaves and 2 fish.

Lessons drawn from this concept ;

1. Never rush to conclude

2. Turning away a brother or sister is detrimental

3. Give hope for others

4. The solution was in someone who was easily dismissed. Never look down upon others.

5. The solution was from ” within”.

6. How many times have we rushed to look for solutions from far away? China, look East Policy , look West policy, yet around us we have enough resources to turn our lives for the better

7. Shifting blame to others when problems arise is not necessary

8. We must own up and take responsibility

9. The word of God is key. We must value the word.

10. Take heart

11. We must have faith

12. Solutions come from ” availability of little things”. At least there must be something. You want to travel, you want food, you want to pass, you need assistance from others, at least where is your effort? There must be something to show

12. Don’t be judgemental. Had the disciples turned away the crowd, it means they were going to face hunger at the same time. The solution was part of the crowd.

13. Amongst the board members ” noone had food”, sometimes The ordinary people resemble God’s plans

14. When Jesus called the young man, he blessed the food and multiplied.

15. When disciples met to discuss the problem, we never heard the issue of prayer. We must pray first

16. There is always a solution to everything. Do not rush to turn away the problem

17. Learn to live with the problem. Why do you want to turn away the orphan? Why turning away visitors? Why turning away guests? Give them something to eat

19. Be part of the problem

20. Be part of the solution

I thank You.

God bless you

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo – D. Phil Cand

Email [email protected]