Mark spoke on the feeding of the five thousand this morning (though since that number did not include women or children, the feeding actually must have been much more!) Speaking from Matt 14:13-21 and John 6:1-14, he commented that this familiar story involved Jesus, His disciples, an unnamed boy and a crowd of people. Each had their part to play in this miracle.
Jesus would probably have preferred solitude and quiet to mourn his cousin’s death, but instead was followed by a crowd of people. He had compassion on them and healed their sicknesses – something which clearly took a long time, resulting in them becoming hungry. Jesus asked His disciples, ‘Where shall we buy bread for all these people?’, a question that tested their faith as they thought about the cost and logistics of trying to feed so many. Jesus already knew what He planned to do (Jn 6:6), but gave them the opportunity to become part of the miracle.
The boy gave his packed lunch to help Jesus and so he too became part of the miracle to feed so many. God takes the little we have to offer Him and multiplies it. Jesus was able to meet the physical needs of the crowd in healing them and to meet their practical needs in feeding them, but by involving them in this miracle, He also fulfilled their spiritual needs and inspired them. Jesus involves people and the little we give Him can change history. We too can be miracle makers as we yield everything to Him. What can He do through us in this coming year?
