today, as i was doing my quiet time while fasting lunch, i decided to study the passage in the bible about the feeding of four/five thousand in the 4 gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This was one of the miracles recorded in all the 4 gospels.
This miracle was recorded in Matthew 15:29-39, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:15.There are some slight variations in the record of this event in the 4 gospels like the no of people (was it 4 or 5 thousand?) and the no. of baskets left over (is it 7 or 12 baskets?), and which came first, (was it Jesus who asked the disciples to feed the crowd first or was it the disciples who asked Jesus to send the crowd away first?). hmmm... other than these slight differences, I noticed some common points in this feeding of the thousand event; 1) Venue of the feeding - a remote place, in the mountainside.2) there was a great crowd of people by the thousand (men, women and children)3) Both Jesus and his disciples saw the crowd's hunger.4) In reponse to the hunger, the disciples told Jesus to send the crowd away so that they could buy food to eat.5) In response to the hunger, Jesus told his disciples "you give them something to eat" and asked them what food were available.6) The disciples replied they only had a few loaves of bread and a few fish. They also saw the huge amount of money involved to feed such a great crowd and the little food they had --it was not enough to feed so many.7) Jesus took the loaves and fish, gave thanks and distributed the food among the crowd. 8) There was enough food for everyone and everyone had their fill.9) When all was fed, the disciples gathered back several basketfuls leftovers of food! In Matthew it was recorded as 7 baskets, in Mark, Luke and John, it was recorded as 12 baskets!Key Points of understanding for me:-The difference between the disciples and Jesus when they both saw the great need is, that Jesus was the the one who provided for that need.-When God sees a great need, He uses what we have/what is available, however little it seems/ however not enough and produces much more to meet that need.-Feeding the thousands is beyond the disciples, but not beyond Jesus.-Jesus used the little to feed many.-There is enough for everyone when God supplies.-God's supply is enough, and more than enough for all.Application:-When I see a great need and the little that i have, what do i do?-When I see a great need and God tells me to give them something to eat, what will i do?-What do i have? What are the few loaves of bread and small fish that i have? What are my available resources/gifts/talents/things that God could use?maybe listening to Corrinne May's Five Loaves and Two Fishes will help as you think through these questions.........just as it helped me... and i found out that;nothing I (you) have is too little for God to use!!!Five Loaves and Two Fishes -by Corrinne May
A little boy of thirteen was on his way to school
He heard a crowd of people laughing and he went to take a look
Thousands were listening to the stories of one man
He spoke with such wisdom, even the kids could understand
The hours passed so quickly, the day turned to night
Everyone was hungry but there was no food in sight
The boy looked in his lunchbox at the little that he had
He wasn't sure what good it'd do, there were thousands to be fed
But he saw the twinkling eyes of Jesus
The kindness in His smile
And the boy cried out
With the trust of a child
he said:
"Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all to feed them all"
I often think about that boy when I'm feeling small
And I worry that the work I do means nothing at all
But every single tear I cry is a diamond in His hands
And every door that slams in my face, I will offer up in prayer
So I'll give you every breath that I have
Oh Lord, you can work miracles
All that you need is my "Amen"
So take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
I hope it's not too small
I trust in you
I trust in you
So take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and my inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
No gift is too small
