A crowd of five thousand plus has gathered, and Jesus has preached and healed all day long. The disciples are tired, and everyone is hungry.
Rather than send them home, like the disciples suggest, Jesus suggests that they feed the crowd. He’s not exactly putting the responsibility wholly on them, but he is definitely offering them the opportunity to step up.
The disciple’s response is shocking given their history with this guy. They’ve witnessed Jesus’ miracles and been given the “power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases” themselves (Luke 9:1). And yet they can’t even begin to imagine how it would be possible to feed all these people. They had forgotten that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
They do manage to find some food, but it doesn’t look like much. In fact, they say, “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” (italics mine). Even with these resources, the disciples were helpless and lacked the ideas that ought to come with FAITH.
Nevertheless, they present the basket to Jesus. It was all they had, and they gave it to him.
And he took it. And he blessed it and broke it.
Then he gave it to the disciples, and the disciples distributed it to the people. They had a hand in the miracle. When they had all eaten and were satisfied, the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of pieces that were left over.
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We’ve probably all heard this story, but it has special significance for me as I prepare for the World Race. A lesson that I keep needing to learn.
I find myself chastising the disciples, (you can read it in my tone, can’t you?), “Duh, guys …”
then I catch myself, “..um, Vicki, let’s get that plank out of your eye …”
and I relate to them so much,
and I feel such relief and humbled joy at Jesus’ patience as he compassionately teaches and empowers them.
It is amazing how when we bring him everything we have, he multiplies it beyond our wildest imagination. Jesus takes our measly offering and transforms it into something that brings him glory.
Take my life, Lord. It’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got, and it’s yours.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
– Galatians 2:20
Everything comes from you, and
we have given you only what comes from your hand.
– 1 Chronicles 29:14
The story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with loaves & fishing can be found in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-15.
