Jesus withdrew by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns. As He stepped ashore, he saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
“They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”
“But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him.
“Bring them here to Me,” He said. Then He commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces! Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:13-21
My words…
Praise
When You looked out over the crowd, Lord, what did You see? You saw sheep without a shepherd. You saw weariness and confusion. You were weary yourself, having just completed an evangelical tour around Galilee. And to make matters much worse, You had just learned of the murder of Your forerunner, John the Baptist. A quiet respite is what You needed – time to decompress with Your apostles. But the crowds, the throngs would not allow that once they had seen Your miracles and heard Your message. You could have disappeared for a while, evaded the attention, and withdrew. But You’re not like that. You are compassion. You healed them. You spoke to them. But when it came time to feed them, Your apostles became as fretting nannies: It’s dinner time. What are we to do with all of these hungry people? Send them away. That’s the answer! They had no idea that the answer sat among them. They never thought, The Son of Jehovah God, the One who created everything from nothing, is here and is able to feed everyone however he chooses. And so, Your glory rained down on that patch of wilderness, not with sun bursts and earthquakes (which You could have handled easily), but with a free lunch to more than 15,000 men, women, and children – all they could eat. And to add a meaningful touch, there was one basket of leftovers for each embarrassed apostle. How well they learned that day – You are able to do a lot with just a little! And leftovers besides!
Prayer for me
I shouldn’t be too hard on Your holy apostles. I would have acted in the same manner. I know You are limitless, yet I limit You. Expand my faith so that I am not surprised when You rain down Your glory and bless well beyond what is needed at the moment.
Prayer for others
When the apostles gathered the loaves and fishes, You said, “Bring them to me.” You created a feast from a small lunch. We are the small loaves and fishes, and You are able to do giant things through us if we will only bring ourselves to You. I pray that the small groups of Your followers, meeting in homes, huts, and tents around the world, will bring themselves to You so You may do giant things through them. I pray that the large churches, meeting in auditoriums and theaters, will continue to recognize they need to bring themselves to You so You may bless their endeavors and make them fruitful.
Thank You
Thank You for leftovers. You not only supply me with what I need, but there are always leftovers – extra added blessings. I know these blessings come from You as answers to prayer. Thank You for hearing me!
More praise
When You looked to heaven and blessed the bread, did You see Your Father? Did You see John the Baptist being welcomed into Paradise? What a contrast to the scene on the grass before You – throngs of hungry people and twelve followers who only comprehended a drop of Your ocean of power. But You didn’t rebuke or rebuff. You demonstrated compassion on that hillside. You still do. I praise You – the God who can do mighty things with only a little! And there will still be leftovers!
