Today, in my devotions, I read of the John 6 account, where Jesus fed the five thousand. It brought to mind a lesson I taught at a ladies’ meeting a few years back, and I found myself digging out the old binder to review my notes. Often I begin a blog not really knowing the turns it will take or where it will end up, and this is one of those. It is my prayer that God will direct the compass needle and that I won’t fall asleep at the wheel. It’s only fair that I warn you, though. I may have to pull over and ask for directions.
This miracle, unlike most Jesus performed while present in human flesh, was recorded in all four gospels, and although it most certainly would be evidence of His identity and power, He performed it because He was simply “…moved with compassion toward them” (Matt. 14:14). How wonderful to have a Savior who is so moved! Isaiah 63:9 foretold what great love He would possess and bestow upon us… “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”
I love to imagine the back-and-forth between Jesus and His disciples here, as they reminded Him that this was…
1. “A desert place” (not to be confused with a dessert place, like Cheesecake Factory *snicker*).
2. The time was “now past”. In other words, it was late and they could use some shut-eye.
3. Their suggestion: “Send the multitude away”. Something tells me that, although Jesus understood the exhaustion of the disciples, this suggestion probably made His heart ache just a little. How many times have I thought the “multitude” was just asking too much of me…when, in reality, they had nowhere else to turn?
In John’s account of this miracle, Jesus asked the disciples, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Beth Moore points out in “Jesus, the One and Only” that “Christ sometimes provokes a question so that He can be the answer.” That was, most certainly, the case here in this desert place! Then, almost strangely, He looks at the disciples and tells them to feed the multitude. It seems almost unfair to the disciples, except when we remember that the source of their exhaustion was from healing the sick and even raising the dead. Hadn’t they been fed by Jesus before? Hadn’t His command been “…freely ye have received, freely give”? Unfortunately, the disciples were guilty of what we, so many times are also guilty of. “…We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.” Friend, never feel inadequate when following a command from God! His specialty is making much from nothing!
Then, Jesus takes the bread, and after blessing it, He breaks it. It is so easy to release something to God when we know it will be returned with His blessing, but surrendering anything to Him to break at His will is a much more difficult task. Matthew Henry said “As the widow’s oil increased in the pouring out, so here the bread in the breaking.” Any life where the sweet scent of love and blessing lingers is sure to have an alabaster box in pieces at His feet.
Continued…
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