Tag Archives: Feeding the 5000

Everyone Deserves to be Fed

Living in the Spirit
August 3, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:13-21 

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. — Matthew 14:15-20

Ever been asked to do the impossible? How about being told to feed 5000 men plus women and children and you haven’t even been to the grocery store this week? This is what Jesus expected of the disciples, You feed them. I have heard sermons of every type preached on explaining this scripture.  One in particular is that when the two loaves and fishes were located everyone in the crowd started showing that they had food too. When all was shared there were even leftovers. I agree, that is a good lesson and certainly fits the message of Jesus, but I rather prefer not to waste time trying to figure out the unexplainable. Delving deeper into the truth of the story is more meaningful to me.

So what are the truths in this story:

  • Jesus had a need for time to be alone with God. Those precious moments are probably the primary reason he could be totally present with the crowds that followed him. Here he sets a good example for us.
  • Everyone deserves to be fed. I believe that includes social, mental, physical, and spiritual nurturing. Feeding the hungry is a primary function of the Body of Christ.
  • We might be surprised at the resources we have at hand to help us deal with any situation, if we allow God to open our eyes to them. The story of feeding the 5000 is similar to the story in 2 Kings when Elijah enables a widow to pay her mortgage by asking her neighbors to loan her as many vessels has they could to hold oil.  When the pots and pans were gathered they contained enough oil to sell and raise the money need to save her home. Most of us have some pots and pans.
  • Communing with God fills us up and makes us whole. When we are whole, we have the abundant resources to make other whole.

Prayer: Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more; Feed me till I want no more.* Amen.

*From Guide, me O Thou Great Jehovah by William Williams

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.