Rachel Workman: 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a
remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed
on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he
stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Here
I see a man who desired some time alone as I do often. But the crowds
followed him but instead of being irritated with them he had compassion
on them and healed them. Unlike me who gets irritated when my "alone"
time is interrupted.
15 That evening 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 food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they
answered.
18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told
the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish,
looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into
pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They
all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve
baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in
addition to all the women and children! In today's world it's easy to
get distracted and begin to feel like God is not on our side. But not
only is he on our side He
provides to us in abundance. You would be a fool to not see it. Notice
what Jesus did, he took what he had and looked up to heaven. What did
God do? He multiplied it beyond their wildest dreams. The question I
have to ask myself is when is the last time I took what I had and looked
up to heaven?
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John Burnett: 13 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the [a]people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 When He went [b]ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
15 When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already [c]late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” 17 They *said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18 And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Ordering the [d]people to [e]sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, 20 and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. God always shows us grace and gives us more than we need.
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Pat Bell: 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he
left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where
he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 That
evening 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 food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.
18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then
he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves
and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking
the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who
distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!
It
saddens me to think of the disappointments Jesus had to endure time and
time again, and yet he never lost his compassion. I may not always
succeed, but I desire to treat my fellow man with compassion.
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Allen Michaels: 13 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.
14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 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.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them
something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they
answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said.
19 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.
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
What
can truly satisfy our deepest hunger and longing? Wherever Jesus went
multitudes of people gathered to meet him - people from every part of
society - rich
and poor, professionals and laborers, even social outcasts and pagans.
What drew them to Jesus? Were they simply curious or looking for a
healing? Many were drawn to Jesus because they were hungry for God.
Jesus' message of God's kingdom and the signs and
wonders he performed stirred fresh hope and expectation that God was
acting in a new and powerful way to set people free from sin and
oppression and to bring them the blessings of his kingdom.
God never rests in caring for our needs
Jesus never disappointed those who earnestly sought him out. We see a marvelous example of this when Jesus and his twelve disciples got into the boat to seek out a lonely place for some rest along the lake of Galilee, only to discover a crowd of a few thousand people had already gathered in anticipation of their arrival! Did Jesus' disciples resent this intrusion on their plan to rest awhile? Jesus certainly didn't - he welcomed them with open-arms. His compassion showed the depths of God's love and care for his people. Jesus spoke the word of God to strengthen them in faith and he healed many who were sick.
Jesus never disappointed those who earnestly sought him out. We see a marvelous example of this when Jesus and his twelve disciples got into the boat to seek out a lonely place for some rest along the lake of Galilee, only to discover a crowd of a few thousand people had already gathered in anticipation of their arrival! Did Jesus' disciples resent this intrusion on their plan to rest awhile? Jesus certainly didn't - he welcomed them with open-arms. His compassion showed the depths of God's love and care for his people. Jesus spoke the word of God to strengthen them in faith and he healed many who were sick.
God multiplies the little we have to bring great blessing to others
As evening approached the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away. Jesus, instead, commanded his disciples to feed the whole crowd. Why did Jesus expect his disciples to do what seemed impossible - to feed such a large and hungry crowd when there was no adequate provision in sight? Jesus very likely wanted to test their faith and to give them a sign of God's divine intervention and favor for his people. Jesus took the little they had - five loaves and two fish - and giving thanks to his heavenly Father, distributed to all until were satisfied of their hunger. Twelves baskets full of fish and loaves that were leftover show the overflowing generosity of God's gifts to us - gifts that bring blessing, healing, strength, and refreshment.
As evening approached the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away. Jesus, instead, commanded his disciples to feed the whole crowd. Why did Jesus expect his disciples to do what seemed impossible - to feed such a large and hungry crowd when there was no adequate provision in sight? Jesus very likely wanted to test their faith and to give them a sign of God's divine intervention and favor for his people. Jesus took the little they had - five loaves and two fish - and giving thanks to his heavenly Father, distributed to all until were satisfied of their hunger. Twelves baskets full of fish and loaves that were leftover show the overflowing generosity of God's gifts to us - gifts that bring blessing, healing, strength, and refreshment.
Bread from heaven to sustain us on our journey
Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospel accounts (Luke 9:10-17, Mark 6:34-44, John 6:51-58, Matthew 14:13-21). What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude recalled the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness under Moses' leadership and intercession for his people (Exodus 16). The daily provision of food for the people of Israel during their forty years of journeying in the barren wilderness foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would pass on to his disciples at his last supper meal on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross. Jesus makes a claim which only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience (John 6:32-35). The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, when Jesus said the blessing, broke and distributed the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, is a sign that prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper which sustains us on our journey to the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four Gospel accounts (Luke 9:10-17, Mark 6:34-44, John 6:51-58, Matthew 14:13-21). What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude recalled the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness under Moses' leadership and intercession for his people (Exodus 16). The daily provision of food for the people of Israel during their forty years of journeying in the barren wilderness foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would pass on to his disciples at his last supper meal on the eve of his sacrifice on the cross. Jesus makes a claim which only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience (John 6:32-35). The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, when Jesus said the blessing, broke and distributed the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, is a sign that prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper which sustains us on our journey to the kingdom of heaven.
The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who lack?
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