In a previous article, I discussed the undesigned coincidences around the Apostle Philip's part in the feeding of the 5000 miracle. But that's not the only undesigned coincidence related to this occasion.

Mark 6:30-43

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.

Take note of how in Mark's account of the feeding of the 5000, he mentions that the people sat down in groups on the green grass. To some of us, that might seem like the most obvious statement in the world. Of course grass is green. But actually, the grass was normally brown in Galilee, not green. Only for a short time each year was the grass green, and that was in the spring. Mark also made a note of plenty of people coming and going, but made no explanation as to why. Let's now have a look at John's account of what happened.

John 6:1-14

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

John also mentioned the grass, but made no note of its color. But what he did mention is that the Jewish Passover was near. Guess when that happens? In the spring! And it also explains why there would be a lot of people coming and going, as there would be many travelling for the festival, and much preparation to do.

Without making any references to it, John's gospel casually explains two details in Mark's gospel. This is a typical case of an undesigned coicidence. Actually, two of them even, relating to the same detail. And guess what, it's not even the last one! Stay tuned, there will be yet another post about undesigned coincidences in the accounts of this miracle!

By the way, if you read this and under why an undesigned coincidence really matters, and how they work, read this.