Feeding the 5000 (Part 3:The Eternal Question)

Mark 6:35-44

“35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” 39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.”

The Disciples told Jesus that the number of loaves they had was five; plus two fish- for 5,000 people.  Just by the tone of the words, we know that they thought they did not have enough to feed such a crowd.

How many loaves do you have?  That is the eternal question.

In ministry,  our resources always seem to be far shorter than the need. The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few, so to speak. In spiritual things, if we always weighed resources against the need, we would never accomplish anything or help anyone.  We would fold up our tents and go home.

Christ taught His followers that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.  It always starts very small but soon grows and spreads exponentially.  A small resource can be multiplied many times over by the hand of God.

He divided  five loaves and two fish among them all.   They all ate and were satisfied. 

And the number who ate that day were 5000.

 May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)