Matthew 14:13-21 (New Living Translation)
13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.
18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!
I love that you can read a scripture several times over several years and still see it differently every time. This scripture is no exception. When I was a child, I focused on the fact that they ate fish and bread. I am not a huge fan of fish, and I was always thankful that I had more food options than fish and bread. I remember thinking about how I would just starve.
Today I see something deeper. This scripture is about so much more than food and miracles. Its about sacrifice. This scripture starts out with a huge following of people from several towns walking for several days to find Jesus. They brought their sick loved ones with them with the hopes that they would be healed. There was Jesus in his solitude mourning his friends tragic death, and instead of asking to be alone, he sacrificed his feelings and solitude to heal the sick. I think about all of those people who walked for a long time with a sick loved one. Had they been at the end of their rope? Had they exhausted all other medical opportunities? Just imagine their journey for a moment. They had to sacrifice their time and plans to commute with their loved one to take a chance on them being healed. This doesn't even take into account those who were sick and without loved ones to walk with them. Imagine being sick and wanting so desperately to be healed that you would sacrifice and put your trust in somebody you have never met hoping that He could heal you.
The disciples were so practical in this situation. They really thought since it was getting late and people were probably getting hungry. The best solution would be to break up this fellowship time and send people on their way. Practical right? I can totally see myself suggesting this to Jesus.....being the planner that I am. Instead of taking the disciples' advice, Jesus had other plans. Fellowship and spending time with people was much more important to Christ at this time. Instead, Jesus asked the disciples to feed the crowds. I would really have loved to be there when Jesus said that to the disciples. Apparently there was a side conversation where a food inventory was taken because the disciples instantly told Jesus the results of their food inventory. Two loaves and two fish. I want to know who was planning ahead enough to bring two loaves of bread and two fish with them on this journey. That person is a planner! The planner sacrificed their pre planned snack so that everybody could have food.
All of these miraculous acts have many things in common- but the one that sticks out to me today is the act of sacrifice and trust. The sick walked all the way to Christ in order to be healed. The food was presented to Christ in order to be blessed and multiplied. The act of giving something we care about and treasure over to Christ is something precious. Miracles require trust and letting go. Somebody had to part with their two loaves and fish so that it could be multiplied in abundance. The sick had to walk to find Christ and give their health to Him so that he could heal them. I think one of the reasons we don't see the miracles that occur around us today is because we are not willing to fully let go of loved ones and situations in our lives and give them to Christ.
We want our loved ones to be healed from cancer- but we are not willing to let go of wanting to control what happens. We want to be dept free but we are not willing to give our credit cards over to Christ. We want our kids to be happy, healthy, and productive in life - but we are not willing to walk long distances to give them to Christ. Miracles can happen and do happen all of the time. Jesus could have fed the 5000 without the sacrifice from the food planning individual - but the sacrifice is what makes this miracle powerful. Jesus could have healed the sick from the comfort of their own homes and villages - but the journey is what made the miracles tangible.
Who is the loved one in your life that you need to bring to Christ in order for miracles to happen?
What is your bread and fish that you need to let go of and give to Christ in order for others to be blessed?
What can you sacrifice in your life for a miracle?
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