During His ministry, Jesus spoke to many crowds of people and performed many miracles. Even when he seeks out solitude the crowd follows him, eager to hear His words. He so enthralls the masses that they don’t even think of needing to eat. What happens on one occasion is so big that all four of the Gospels tell the story.
Hey, Master, we should totally tell these people to get out of here so they can get something to eat. We’re out in the middle of nowhere here.
And of course, Jesus scoffs at that, Why should they leave? Here I am sharing all the goodness of my Father and you want me to send them away. Just feed them yourselves.
Feed them? There are thousands of people here. How are we supposed to do that?
One of the twelve, Phillip says, Even half a year’s wages couldn’t feed this many people even a little.
Then Andrew, Simon’s brother says, But there is this little boy who has a basket of loaves and a few fish, but that won’t feed all of these.
I have to wonder what Andrew was thinking when he suggested the basket of food. If it were me I might have thought, “Well, this could feed us. We’ll just send all these hangers-on to go fend for themselves and we can enjoy these tasty vittles."
And I can almost imagine the look on Jesus’ face as he’s exercising patience with his followers. He’d been with these men for a long time, yet they still couldn’t comprehend the power of his words and actions.
Just bring me the loaves and fishes. He said.
So, of course, they did. He took them, broke the bread, and raised it to the heavens to give thanks. Then when the baskets were passed around to the multitudes, all of them ate and there was even some left over.
The bible tells us he fed over five thousand, not counting women and children... on what began as only five loaves and two fish.
There is a lot to unpack here. I mean, they fed more than five thousand people from baskets that never went bare. That’s a stupendous miracle.
But Jesus had been doing miracles already. What is it about this particular one that was so important all four gospels described it in detail?
In the bible, we see that food is important to Jesus. Many of the most significant moments of his ministry happen “around the table” so to speak. In the book of Luke alone there are about ten stories where Jesus shares a meal with others. He also uses “food” as a metaphor such as when He told His disciples, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry.” Later, after his resurrection, he tells Peter to “feed my sheep.”
So the miracle of feeding the multitudes shouldn’t be surprising. He’s all about feeding people, figuratively and spiritually... and he could have fed them easily. His Father rained down manna from the sky for the Israelites, right? Couldn’t He have maybe motioned to the heavens and had bread drop from the clouds?
He could have, but he didn’t. Instead, Jesus looked to His apostles. He made them a part of the equation. He told them, Here is the need, how can you fill it?
Jesus told the disciples the people needed to be fed. And after being somewhat confused and incredulous, they finally brought all they could find: Five loaves of bread and two fishes.
Then He took those gifts and did something powerful. He raised them towards the heavens and gave thanks to God.
Jesus presents us with the perfect example of how we should tackle everything we confront in life. We bring our gifts... all of our gifts... and all other means available, then we present them to Him with thanks. God does the rest.
Our Lord provides the increase for all that we’re meant to do in life. It’s really that simple.
Obedience, thanks, and faith.
God knows it’s important for us to see that we can’t do things alone. He doesn’t want us to think we are the sole means to a solution, but he also doesn’t want spiritual laziness.
In The Way St. Josemaría Escríva says:
...it’s your duty to consider what means the world can offer you (2+2=4), but don’t forget-ever!-that, fortunately, your calculations must include another term: God+2+2=...
There is no limit to what God can do when we bring all that we have to Him. God can do things without us, but he counts on our will to make greatness happen.
NOTE: This is a post I originally wrote years ago when writing an Easter-Season devotional with one of my best friends. A lot has changed since I penned these words, but when Jesus gives us a message, it is TIMELESS. I sometimes struggle to remember JOY, but our God can turn anything—sadness, despair, hurt—into something good. Today, now, I’m looking up and seeking that joy He promises and praying that my heart can turn to that in times that anger, hurt, and bitterness try to leach in.
Blessings,
Candace Olivia Hardin Sessums
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