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Book of Luke - Chapter 9 - Verse 16

9:16
Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Meaning

When Jesus took the five loaves and two fishes, looked up to heaven, blessed them, and broke the loaves to feed the multitude, it was a powerful demonstration of his miraculous abilities. This act symbolizes Jesus' ability to provide for the needs of his followers and perform miracles beyond human comprehension. By looking up to heaven and giving thanks before multiplying the food, Jesus showed his dependence on God for everything he did. He taught his disciples an important lesson about faith, trust, and relying on God's power to perform the impossible. This iconic moment in the Bible highlights Jesus' compassion and willingness to meet the physical needs of those around him. It also serves as a reminder to believers today that nothing is impossible with God and that he is able to provide abundantly more than we can imagine.

Theological Overview

One theological interpretation of this verse involves the miraculous nature of Jesus' ability to multiply the five loaves and two fishes to feed the multitude. This event is often seen as a foreshadowing of the Eucharist, where Jesus takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to his disciples. The act of looking up to heaven before blessing the food suggests a connection to God the Father as the ultimate provider of all sustenance. Jesus' action of breaking the bread and distributing it to the crowd symbolizes his ability to satisfy the spiritual hunger of the people, just as he satisfied their physical hunger. Through this miracle, Jesus demonstrates his compassion, power, and authority over all creation.

American Standard Version

And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
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