Matthew 14:15-21
Verse 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Jesus did more than miracles that healed the physical person. His miracles had to be more than that to show His amazing power over creation. Let’s spend a few days looking at some of them.
This story is so familiar with us that it may lose some of its wonder. It is in all four gospels (Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-15), in fact it is the only miracle performed by Jesus, other than His resurrection, which is in all four. We must not allow it to be a story that we pass over without much thought. Jesus had been healing people and casting out demons but these people who were listening to Him this particular day were about to see what the host at the wedding in Cana had experienced but had gone largely unnoticed by the bigger population, Jesus has power over the very molecules that make up the very nature of things.
The disciples are not looking to keep this session with the masses going any longer. It had been a long day already and they were ready for the people to be on their way. The reason they gave could very well be the reason they wanted to go. They were hungry and knew they would have to travel to get to the nearest village. No one likes to travel on an empty stomach.
Imagine their surprise at Jesus’ response. “What do You mean we need to feed them?” From the other gospel accounts we can see that they find a boy with a lunch of five loaves and two fish. Notice that this is a boy’s lunch, which would be a mere snack for the average man. But that is all that they could find. It was getting late after all. But the boy was willing to share.
The willingness of the boy to share his lunch made him a willing source for the work of the Master of the universe. Jesus didn’t disappoint and though we don’t know how it looked to watch Jesus break this bread and fish and see it multiply we know that the disciples obediently passed out the food until all were full. Can you imagine the conversation as the disciples collected the leftovers? These were not the tiny crumbs that would have fallen to the ground, these were actual leftovers, meaning they were worthy of being served another time. These 5000 men and their wives and children were eating a food given from the hand of God. Jesus provided in a way that could not be denied as having been a miracle.
Making It Personal
Has God ever provided what you needed just when you needed it? Do you depend on Him to provide for your needs when you can’t find a way to provide them for yourself? What do you need to trust Him for today?
Making It Personal Kids
Have you ever seen Jesus provide just what you need? Do you trust Jesus to get you what you need? What can you trust Jesus to provide for you today?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for the wonderful ways that You constantly provide for us. Help us to be willing to give You all that we have for Your use in our lives and the lives of those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Comments