Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand - Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Reflection: The feeding of the multitudes with fish and loaves is one of the only miracles Jesus did that is recorded in all four Gospels. There is much for us to learn about God's provision when the needs before us as ministers of Christ seem overwhelming. Sometimes we look at how much needs to get done, the number of people who need help, the amount of resources we have, and we ask how Lord is there going to be enough? How are we going to get all this done?
When the disciples see the crowds, see that they are in a remote place, they start calculating the need and realize that by mere human logic they are going to fall woefully short of feeding all the people. The only logical conclusion for them is to send the people away. But Jesus has a different opinion. He tells them that they do not have to go away and suggests they actually give them something to eat. The disciples survey the situation, the number of people, the fish and loaves they have at their disposal and wonder how they are going to get the job done. Then we hear the punch line when Jesus says, "Bring them here to me."
Jesus gave thanks, broke the loaves, directed the people to sit down, and distributed the fish and loaves and all were fed, were satisfied, and there were even leftovers. The gospel writer Matthew records that there were 12 baskets left over corresponding to the 12 apostles Jesus would send out later. So what can we learn from today's story of the miraculous provision that met the needs of the people and more?
First, when we are faced with an overwhelming need that God has presented us, rather than looking at what we don't have, look at what we do have no matter how meager it seems. Second, Jesus says bring it to me. When we realize what we have, the next step is to offer that up to God in His service. This is where faith comes in because we really don't know how God is going to use what we offer to meet the need. Finally, we give thanks in advance for what God has given us and distribute what we have. Is there anything else we can do? Yes. Let God do the multiplying! This is probably the hardest part because most of us like to control outcomes because of our anxiety. But if we have done everything we have with what we have been given, we can let go and allow God to do what He does best. Who knows there even may be leftovers?
I encourage you to think of a situation in your life where the need seems greater than what you have at your disposal. Offer what you can give with thanks and allow God do what only He can do in multiplying our fish and loaves for His glory. Then truly let go of the anxiety of being God and let God be God and you stay human.
Let's pray. Jesus we often feel overwhelmed by the people we see in our lives and their needs. Ultimately we know that only you can satisfy them as the true bread from heaven. Help us to be faithful to offer what we have and help us to trust that you can multiply what we have given for your glory. Amen.
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Reflection: The feeding of the multitudes with fish and loaves is one of the only miracles Jesus did that is recorded in all four Gospels. There is much for us to learn about God's provision when the needs before us as ministers of Christ seem overwhelming. Sometimes we look at how much needs to get done, the number of people who need help, the amount of resources we have, and we ask how Lord is there going to be enough? How are we going to get all this done?
When the disciples see the crowds, see that they are in a remote place, they start calculating the need and realize that by mere human logic they are going to fall woefully short of feeding all the people. The only logical conclusion for them is to send the people away. But Jesus has a different opinion. He tells them that they do not have to go away and suggests they actually give them something to eat. The disciples survey the situation, the number of people, the fish and loaves they have at their disposal and wonder how they are going to get the job done. Then we hear the punch line when Jesus says, "Bring them here to me."
Jesus gave thanks, broke the loaves, directed the people to sit down, and distributed the fish and loaves and all were fed, were satisfied, and there were even leftovers. The gospel writer Matthew records that there were 12 baskets left over corresponding to the 12 apostles Jesus would send out later. So what can we learn from today's story of the miraculous provision that met the needs of the people and more?
First, when we are faced with an overwhelming need that God has presented us, rather than looking at what we don't have, look at what we do have no matter how meager it seems. Second, Jesus says bring it to me. When we realize what we have, the next step is to offer that up to God in His service. This is where faith comes in because we really don't know how God is going to use what we offer to meet the need. Finally, we give thanks in advance for what God has given us and distribute what we have. Is there anything else we can do? Yes. Let God do the multiplying! This is probably the hardest part because most of us like to control outcomes because of our anxiety. But if we have done everything we have with what we have been given, we can let go and allow God to do what He does best. Who knows there even may be leftovers?
I encourage you to think of a situation in your life where the need seems greater than what you have at your disposal. Offer what you can give with thanks and allow God do what only He can do in multiplying our fish and loaves for His glory. Then truly let go of the anxiety of being God and let God be God and you stay human.
Let's pray. Jesus we often feel overwhelmed by the people we see in our lives and their needs. Ultimately we know that only you can satisfy them as the true bread from heaven. Help us to be faithful to offer what we have and help us to trust that you can multiply what we have given for your glory. Amen.
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