The True Story of Jesus — Page 33
Chapter Six—Miracles of Jesus 33 them, and gave them to the disciples; and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up seven baskets full of pieces left over. The number of men who ate was four thousand, not counting the women and children. ’1 The number seems to be exaggerated because it is very strange that after witnessing such a great miracle, the people present did not accept him and become his disciples. Miracles of no less wonder were bestowed upon earlier Prophets of Israel, and even on persons of lower spiritual status. For example, Samson is described in the Bible to have performed impossible deeds under divine inspiration. It is related that when the Philistines attacked the town of Lehi, the men of Judah asked them, ‘Why are you attacking us’? They answered, ‘We came to take Samson prisoner and to treat him as he treated us. ’ So three thousand men of Judah went to the cave in the cliff at Etam and said to Samson, ‘Don’t you know that the Philistines are our rul- ers? What have you done to us?’ He answered, ‘I did to them just what they did to me. ’ They said, ‘We have come here to tie you up, so that we can hand you over to them. ’ Samson said, ‘Give me your word that you won’t kill me yourselves. ’ ‘All right’, they said, ‘we are only going to tie you up and hand you over to them. We won’t kill you. ’ So they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him back from the cave. When he got to Lehi, the Philistines came running towards him, shouting at him. Suddenly the power of the Lord made him strong and he broke the ropes round his arms and hands as if they 1. Matthew 15:34–38