Why the Multiples of Fifty?

417 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 6:38-40 “But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish." Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.

The disciples have given their excuse for not attempting to feed the crowd, so Jesus proceeds with the miracle. His command to have the throng sit down in groups of fifty is reminiscent of the time He commanded the servants to fill the water pots and bring them to the master of the wedding at Cana. The seating arrangement meant that He intended to feed them and I suppose the disciples were wondering what He was up to but like the servants at the wedding they did it anyway.

Why the multiples of fifty? I don't know. I do know that the idea of sitting in ranks is like the orderly rows of a garden. Perhaps the idea of ranks is connected with the church as individual congregations. Here on the mountain side we can picture the individual congregations, like individual garden plots. All being strengthened by the teaching of Jesus, then miraculously fed by Him, much like what we see in a worship service that includes the Lord's Supper. It's a great picture isn't it?

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.