Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had
done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going
that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with
me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many
who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns
and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he
had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a
shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away
so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy
themselves something to eat.”
But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we
to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on
the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 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 his disciples to distribute to
the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and
were satisfied and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken
pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five
thousand.
Before the incident the disciples witnessed some miracles, but in this
scene, they saw a problem. Why the disciples still worried about
anything?
First, they worried about the people.
-“This is a remote place,” “and it’s already very late. Send the people
away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and
buy themselves something to eat.”
Second, how to feed them?
-" Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" (John 6:5)
-“That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and
spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
If you are one of Christ's disciples, would you ask these questions?
Probably, Yes. When you are in a remote area, no water to quench
thirst, no store to buy food. And your Master commanded you to feed
them.
Jesus allows us to be in a impossible circumstances, a negative situation
we do not have any control over. Why does God allow this to happen?
It provides a perfect test.
Why does He test Us?
It impacts our hearts, It changes us. When God test us it is not to grade
us but to make us grow and strong. We become a better person after the
test. The major goal of the test is to bless, enrich and develop us.
God puts us in impossible situations:
- to stretch our undeveloped faith.
- to strengthen our eternal hope.
- to show His incredible love.
Do not measure a problem according to your own abilities.
God's way in teaching Us not to rely on ourselves.
1. God reduces our resources
2. He maximizes the need.
3. He requires our trust
4. He uses our participation.
Jesus used a boys lunch to feed thousands of people. Sound impossible?
What do you have now that God can use? We need to transfer it from our
hands into his hand.
This is our participation:
Jesus Christ invite Us " Bring it to me."
God knows our needs, He just wait for us to ask His Help. Rely on Him
always.
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