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.
Did you know that this is the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four gospels? I found that interesting.
When Jesus heard about the death of John the Baptist, he sought privacy (difficult as that was to do in that crowded area!) and also removed himself from danger - not out of fear, but because it was not yet time for His death. But when the crowds followed Him, He was filled with compassion. He couldn't help but help them. And He spent the day healing them and teaching them, asking His disciples to solve one problem for Him and that was food.
And they couldn't do it. None of them. After seeing all the myriads of miracles He had performed, none of them suggested that He simply provide the food.
But what they did see, and what is important for us to see, was that they didn't have what they needed and they had absolutely no way to get it. Even the little bit they had to offer wasn't anywhere near enough. And that is exactly where we have to be at spiritually in order to receive salvation.
Notice the miracle. He did it with no fanfare, He simply gave thanks and provided, using the little they had given Him and turning it into exactly the right amount - enough to satisfy them all (on food that must've tasted like no other food they'd ever had, created by God Himself, untouched by sin), with exactly 12 basketfuls left over - one for each of the tribes of Israel. He was the bread of life for them all.
But notice when He performed the miracle. He provided as they obeyed. Notice that? The disciples obeyed Him unquestioningly - they instructed the people to sit down as though they were about to serve them from a bountiful buffet when there was nothing in sight. But they obeyed anyway, And only then did the miracle come.
So many lessons packed into that one miracle - no wonder it's recorded in every gospel!
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Matthew 14:22-36
1 comment:
Very cool! I knew that some miracles were recorded in some gospels and not others, but I didn't realize this was the only one to be in all four.
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