John 6:13

The disciples do as Jesus asks.  They collect it all and fill twelve baskets with the leftover barley loaves.  No fish scraps are collected. John 6:13 EFP

Obviously, the words “no fish scraps are collected” is not explicitly in the text, although it can be argued that it is implicit and sensible.  In fact, I believe there is some serious symbolism in this scenario that requires the exclusion of the fish from the collection.

Follow me, the barley loaves are a basic staple of Palestine.  The arrival of the first fruits of the harvest of barley is celebrated prior to Passover.  Barley is the poor man’s grain.  It is used in the temple bread.  The parallel to the story of Moses and the people of Israel is clear.  God provides manna to his people in the desert.  Now Jesus provides bread to the hungry masses.  I read somewhere the five loaves of bread, a possible symbol of the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses), become twelve baskets of bread, an obvious symbol of the twelve tribes of Israel leading into the twelve disciples.  The torch is being passed.  One greater than Moses is here.  Moses did not feed anyone.  God did.  Moses was the instrument.  In this case Jesus is the miracle-worker.  He is the one who provides for the needs of the God’s people.

Here’s the amazing part—this miracle is not performed in Israel!  It is performed on the “far side of the sea,” in Perea.  The net of salvation has been thrown wide open to include all, to the exclusion of none!  The Kingdom that Jesus has come to establish is not limited by national, ethnic, racial, or even gender boundaries.  God is the God of all…even me.