More Than Enough
Opening Prayer
“God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory…” (Phil. 4:19a). Declare this truth over your life today.
Read John 6:1–15
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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 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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is it that draws people to Jesus? His authoritative words, supernatural power, compassion?Jesus cares for us at our point of need, healing and filling us (2,11). Though his miracles clearly point to Jesus’ heavenly identity, the disciples’ and the crowd’s (6,9,14,15) vision is too small and earthbound. The feeding miracle recalls the manna in the desert (6:32), showing that Jesus, being God, is the great provider and the source of life and in him all hunger is satisfied. By healing the sick he’s revealed as the Restorer of broken creation. This is God mighty in power! How might your expectations about what Jesus can do be too modest?
As Christians called to look after the least we may feel overwhelmed by the needs around us. It’s easy to let our serving be led by our own sense of lack in ourselves (7,9). Jesus lacks nothing.
Like him, we can work out of a place of resting responsively in the Father’s love (5:20,30) and so discern best where we are to called to be effective. As resurrection people we can operate out of the victory Jesus has won over all deficiency in the world. He is not the God of the just enough but the God of abundance (12,13; 2 Cor. 9:8)!
Apply
What can you give for God’s use? Your time, money, friendship, hope, imagination? And to whom?
Closing prayer
Jesus, teach me to live like You, to give like You and to love like You. Show me where You can best use me today.
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