Christianity and morals

[The Grand Nudger]

I think you have a point, Drich; but so-called miracle-workers were a dime-a-dozen in that region and time. It was easy to convince people you were divine or connected to the divine with a flashy miracle or clever prophecy.

You've given him too much credit. One of the major themes of the NT is that Jesus does not set out to prove that he is god. It seems to be an area that the character lacks any interest in whatsoever. Meanwhile, the character is often busy in establishing theology and re-purposing older narratives (this narrative is a very direct reference to David). To put it plainly, Jesus is made to be a never ending source of "bread". Not physical bread....spiritual bread. The only source of this bread, in fact. Drich's alternate exegesis of the story is only offered up to support his own preoccupancy with some authoritarian narrative (a narrative which is completely out of line with the feeding of the multitudes). It ignores the elements of the narrative that make it effective, and opens the narrative to severe criticism (ask him why the disciples were so surprised that jesus just poofed something into existence.....after having just poofed something into existence a few chapters earlier - and the chorus sings and sings...) where none is warranted.

In short, it shits on one of the few competent narratives in the whole of the NT.

Now is this traditional exegesis of the story accurate? Who knows, but best as we can tell this is what the author was hoping to convey with it - regardless of whether or not it was supposed to be factually accurate or merely a vehicle - it serves it's purpose in conveying that message......unless someone is devoted to writing their own message over it - which is okay by me.