There the twelve stood, gazing out at the crowd of people. Latest count, five thousand men, plus women and children. They have been there a long time listening to Jesus. They have been feasting upon His words. Now it is obvious that they need physical sustenance. Jesus turns to the twelve. "What's that you say Jesus? Feed them? You must be kidding. How are we suppose to find enough food to feed everyone? Even if we could come with the money, we are not close enough to any town to purchase it. You are kidding, right?" No He wasn't kidding

        This miracle story is a familiar one. The feeding of the five thousand is found in all four gospels (the only one to be found in all four). We love to visualize the small child handing his poor boy's lunch of five barley loaves and two small fish to Jesus. How we wished we could have been there to see the faces of the twelve as they distributed the never ending supply of food to the crowd sitting there on the grassy hillside. And can you imagine the faces of the twelve when Jesus told to go and gather the leftovers? But, miracle stories are not recorded just to excite our imaginations. They have a message and this one has a bushel full of lessons for us. Allow me to list some of them to stimulate your thinking today.

• It is a living parable revealing Jesus as the Bread of Life;

• It is a preparatory allusion to the Last Supper, The Lord's Table

• It is a test and lesson on faith (note John 6:6);

• It is a confrontation of our woeful lack of resources and ability to meet people's needs;

• It is a visual parable about Jesus' abundant resources and ability to meet people's needs

• It is a lesson about God's calling and using us to meet people's needs;

• It is an example of childlike, surrendering faith

• It is a lesson about obedience;

• It is a sign...

        Take some time today to pause and ponder on one or more of these thoughts. We'll revisit some of them in the near future. As you ponder listen to God's invitation:

        Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread and labor on what does not satisfy? Listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. (55:1-2)

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry