30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
When the disciples returned from their mission of spreading the message of repentance, they told Jesus everything they had done and taught. Then Jesus suggested that they go away by themselves to rest because there were so many coming and going that they didn’t have quiet time to even eat. They took a boat to a desolate place but the crowds recognised them leaving and ran ahead of them and got there before them. When they arrived, Jesus saw the great crowd and had compassion on them because there were like sheep without a shepherd. They had not received the spiritual leadership they needed from the Jewish leaders. When it got late, the disciples came to Jesus and pointed out that they were in a desolate place and the people needed to go to the surrounding villages and towns to buy themselves something to eat. Jesus’ reply is surprising. He says, “you feed them.” They can’t fathom how they are to do that. It would cost an enormous amount of money to feed all those people (5000 men + women and children). Jesus asks them what they have and it is only five loaves and two fish, just one boy’s packed lunch (John 6:9). Jesus has them all sit down on the grass in groups of hundreds and fifties. He then takes the loaves and fish, looks up to heaven and says a blessing and then broke the bread and fish and shared it amongst everyone. Everyone one ate and everyone was satisfied. There was even twelve baskets of pieces leftover (one basket for each disciple to sit with and marvel at what had just happened).
Jesus’ compassion is incredible. They have been ministering non-stop that they need to get away so they can eat in peace and when He sees the crowd selflessly continues teaching them.
When Jesus said, “you feed them,” I don’t think He wanted them to look at the enormous expense and insurmountable challenge that a task of feeding maybe 20,000 people would be. I think He wanted them to look at the enormous God who asked them and in faith ask, “how would you like us to do that Lord?” I think His answer would have been the same, “what do you have?” When God gives us a task to do, He’s not surprised by how big an ask it is or by how little we have to work with. He just wants us to work with Him in faith and He will move the resources needed in His way and His time. Whatever God has called you to do, you just need to take the next step in faith.