Only five loaves of bread and two fish

Only five loaves of bread and two fish

Scripture:

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. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

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.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said. 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. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children Matthew 14:13-21

Observation:

Upon hearing of the horrific death of his cousin John the Baptist, the Lord seeks some time alone, withdrawing by boat privately to a solitary place. John the Baptist had been the voice in the wilderness that prepared the way for Him. John’s life and ministry had been all about being the forerunner for Jesus. His death would have had a deep impact indeed on our Lord. Furthermore, the manner of John’s death was also a stark reminder of the cruel death Jesus Himself would have to go through in the not too distant future. The Lord needed to spend some time alone with His Father in Heaven to be comforted by their deep and loving communion.

However, when Jesus landed on the shore, a large crowd was already there, traveling ahead on foot in anticipation of his arrival. Even in spite of His troubles, the Lord no longer though about Himself but was filled with compassion for the people, many of whom were suffering in sickness. The word for compassion means literally to feel as the other person would. Jesus felt their pain, their distress, their sorrows like no one else could.

Soon, evening approached, and at that solitary place, there was a major problem because there was no food nearby. The disciples bring up this predicament to Jesus, asking them to send the crowd away so that they can go to the villages and buy food. The Lord instead gives them a surprising challenge. “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat”. Incredulous, the disciples remark that they have only found 5 loaves and 2 fish but the Lord simply asks them to hand those over. After directing the crowd to sit down on the grass, the Lord thanks God for the food and proceeds to give them to his disciples who pass them on to the people. Miraculously, the disciples find that the bread and fish never runs out, We can scarcely imagine how this multiplication kept on happening, but at the end of it, 5000 men as well as women and children are fed to the full, and there is even 12 baskets full of leftover food.

Application:

This story is rich with many applications but we focus on three. Firstly, we would do well to seek the Lord’s compassion for others. In today’s society, we are mainly preoccupied with ourselves and our own needs. The Lord, however, always looks to the concerns of others, especially the sick whom He heals graciously. Ask the Lord to help us truly empathize, to feel what others feel.

Secondly, our part is to bring what we have to the Lord, and He is able to make something far greater than we could ever hope for or imagine. Out of five loaves and two fishes, the Lord fed thousands. We may be small, we may be nobodies, but in the Lord’s hands, we can be powerful instruments indeed for the extension of His kingdom. Our part is to bring what we have to Him, our limited talents, experience and personality, and trust in the Lord to bless it exponentially for God’s glory.

Finally, the Lord’s blessing is never just enough, but always overflowing, always over and above what we need. The Prosperity Gospel likes to focus people’s attention of abundant wealth, big bank accounts, big mansions and flashy cars which of course attract masses. However, God’s overflowing blessings simply put is always having more than enough, day by day – enough for our own needs, and some extra to be a blessing to others.  God does not promise every Christian will live in mansions and drive big cars. He knows what is best for us at our particular point in life. Nevertheless, one thing we know, is that in Christ, we will always have more than enough, never lacking anything because we have a God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

Prayer:

We bless You, Father God, for the great things You have done. You created the whole world, and made everything beautiful and perfect in Your will. Bless us O Lord, and grant us a heart of compassion like our Lord Jesus, that we may feel what those who suffer feel. Lead us away from selfishness, but enable us to be a blessing to others.

We thank You, Lord Jesus, that with so little, You can make so much. Though we do not have much, we bring what we have to You, trusting that You will use us, and create something truly wonderful out of the little we have. We entrust our lives to You, O Lord, for in You, we have true meaning and hope.

Bless You, Heavenly Father, for Your abundant blessings, that are always overflowing. We thank You, Lord that day by day, we have more than enough. We always have room to even bless others. Give us that simple faith day by day, that You O Lord will provide for us. In the midst of economic uncertainty, we trust in You O Lord as our Great Provider. May Your name be praised, Heavenly Father, precious Lord Jesus, sweet Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.