The feeding of the crowd is clearly one of those superhero moments in scripture. Each of the gospels highlight it, (How could you not???). The facts are that as folks were following Jesus, they were seeking to gain any and everything they could from Him. They wanted to listen to His words, they wanted to receive healing from His hands, they wanted to be a part of this movement in Israel.
Jesus knew their hearts. Many were lost and desperate. They were poor, sick, and needy. So, as Jesus was teaching that day, He wanted to stretch and test His main guys faith. John focuses on the discussion with His team. How much food can we get to cater this meal? It would take a years salary they reply we are broke! So Jesus says, “Are we? Are we really?” Jesus tells them to show Him what they could find. Grand total…1 child’s lunch. So Jesus seats the crowd, prays and starts handing out loaves and fish. He does so until everyone is satisfied.
Next, The disciples do clean up. Lo and behold, there is just the right amount to feed the 12. It was as if God knew all along what they needed; and perfectly executed His plan to show His love and power. There is little doubt that the bread was fresh and yummy. I would also bet the fish did not have any fishy taste!
When God provides, it is always the best and is perfectly timed. Whether it is food, healing, wisdom, or salvation; God always remains at the ready to show Himself as a loving Father and matchless King.
In our lives, we constantly question God and His plan. We forget that “Piston” the greek word for faith is best pictured as a scutinzing review of what God has already accomplished to show what He remains capable to complete. It is not a blind jump; instead, it is a rational reliance upon what God has already accomplished. Jesus knew the Father would provide, now, He wanted His guys to remember it as well! Thankfully, John, Jesus’ buddy never forgot!
God Bless You
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Walking With God 