Friends
Last week, we skimmed the surface of a story that appears in three of the four Gospels. Not only was this story deemed important enough to be addressed by multiple writers, but it was also written in great detail. If the feeding of the 5000 was that important to those closest to Jesus, then perhaps it is worth a deep dive from you and me.
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“Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.” But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “
Luke 9:12-13 – NIV
It had been a long, hot day. The disciples had begun the day weary, and the hours upon hours in the sweltering sun had not improved their moods nor their energy levels. Their stomachs
were growling, and so were the stomachs of the five thousand men gathered before them. Not only that, but the tummies of the women and children weren’t so happy either.
The sun was inching toward the horizon, the light starting to fade. Jesus was still teaching. He had been at it all day. That had not been the plan. The plan had been to find a secluded spot to rest, a place to hang out with Jesus and regroup.
But the throngs of people desperate to see Jesus had changed the game plan. The crowds followed Jesus. They wouldn’t leave Him alone. They couldn’t let Him go. Jesus could have turned them away, but He had compassion for them and began teaching and healing.
Now the sun was setting, and the disciples had no supper plans, no food stash to raid. Even if they had brought a knapsack full of food, it wouldn’t be enough for the throngs of people staring at them expectantly. It was time to call an end to this impromptu workshop, time to send the families away into the surrounding villages to search for their suppers. They had hosted these folks all day. It was time for a break.
That’s when Jesus turned the tables on them. That’s when Jesus changed their menu plan. He had been teaching the people all day, and now it was time to teach His disciples a lesson.
Pulling Jesus aside, the twelve filled Him in on the plan. “Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat”” (Mark 6:36, NIV).
It was a good plan, a reasonable solution. But Jesus was having none of it. Instead, Jesus turned to His disciples and asked the impossible. “But Jesus said, “You feed them.”“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” (Mark 6:37, NIV).
I can just imagine the expressions on the faces of Jesus” disciples. I can hear the thoughts running through their minds, Can’t you? “Are you kidding? There’s no way. That’s impossible! We can’t do that!”
But Jesus wasn’t backing down. Calmly meeting the incredulous stares of His twelve best friends, Jesus asked a follow-up question. “How much bread do you have?” he {Jesus} asked. “Go and find out…” (Mark 6:38, NIv).
The disciples had their marching orders, but I bet their minds were running in retreat mode. “How could He ask this of us? There’s no way this will work?”
Here at the site of one of Jesus’ greatest miracles, we find His beloved disciples doubting. These men who had walked and talked with Jesus, these men who had witnessed miracle upon miracle, these same men were flustered over food. They wanted to send the people away, because they couldn’t imagine having the power to feed them. These were the same men who had just returned from being sent out with the power to preach and teach, to heal the sick and cast out demons. They had been supplied with the power they needed to accomplish all that, and now, in the presence of Jesus, in the face of feeding five thousand, they were quick to grumble, “We can’t.”
Isn’t that such a human response? How easily we forget our mountaintop moments. How easily we forget all the ways God has been faithful to see us through, and now, when times get tough again, we doubt whether God can work it all out.
Friends, what’s on your list of “Can’t” today? What problems are weighing you down, making you lose heart? Are you hanging onto them, or lifting them up to The Lord?
Jesus can turn your “Can’t” into “Can.” He can make a way where there seems to be no way. He can take five loaves and two fish and furnish a feast.
Jesus had a lesson plan mapped out for His faithful followers, and that includes you and me. He used five loaves to teach those twelve men, and He has five words to teach me and you, “Stop doubting, and start trusting!”
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, forgive us for falling short, for failing to have faith, for letting doubt diminish our trust. Time and time again, You have shown up and worked it all out, and still, we doubt. Still, we fear, still, we lose heart. Forgive us once again, and strengthen us to step out in faith, for we know that in You, all things are possible.
In the Mighty Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Blessings,
Anita
-APS 2/26/2024
Faith Beyond Sight 