Today, most people will enjoy leftovers from yesterday’s Thanksgiving feast, but the leftovers are only a portion of all the food that was consumed by everyone.
The Bible tells us about jesus’ big gatherings; they had more leftovers than the food the they started with!
When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”
But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
He said, “Bring them here to Me.”Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Mathew 14:13-21
Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, had just been killed, so He withdrew from the crowd to have time alone with the Lord. John’s death may also have been a reminder of Jesus’ looming death. Nevertheless, Jesus’ time with the Lord was interrupted when the crowd began to follow Him. The people may have been scared and confused about John’s death. Jesus was compassionate towards them and did not turn them away. He ministered to the crowd and healed their sick.
When time came for them to eat, the disciples were ready to send the people home, but Jesus told His disciples that they should give them something to eat. The disciples could only see their limited natural resources, but Jesus saw God’s unlimited supernatural miracles. The only food available were five loaves of bread and two fish. In the natural, that amount of food may have fed 10-15 people but not 5,000. Nevertheless, Jesus gave thanks for what was available and gave it to the disciples to distribute it to the people.
The people were all fed, and they gathered twelve baskets of fragments of bread. How is it possible that five loaves of bread and two fish could produce almost double the amount of leftovers!? Jesus’ compassion towards people and His thanksgiving towards the Lord invited God’s supernatural work on this simple and small meal. His selfless and faith-filled act opened the door for God to meet Him and provide the “daily bread” needed for that crowd.
As we continue through the holiday season, life will get very busy. Let’s make time for those who are searching for answers. Show compassion to those who are lonely and share with those who are in need. God’s supernatural touch will allow us to have more than enough to meet our needs as well as those He sends our way.
