YOUR PART IN A MIRACLE
Opening Prayer
Lord, I quiet my heart to meet with You. Let me feel Your presence today.
Read Mark 6:30–44
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
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[a]! 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.
Footnotes:
a Mark 6:37 Greek take two hundred denarii
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
How do you serve God?It has often been said that “Without God, we cannot; without us, God will not.” God is the God of the miraculous, but usually He works in partnership with us to make the miraculous possible. Here the disciples are invited to cooperate with Jesus in something truly supernatural.
First He asks them to gather their resources. Although Mark makes no mention of the little boy who appears in John’s account (John 6:8, 9), they return with five loaves and two fish. This of course is not nearly enough to feed the crowd. However, Jesus takes what they bring and blesses it.
Next He asks them to distribute both bread and fish to the hungry crowd. How did they feel at this point? Perhaps a little foolish, but they obey. To their amazement, there is enough for everyone.
Then, as if to help them appreciate and fully absorb the miraculous nature of what had happened, He asks them to gather the leftovers – 12 basketfuls (43)! What a hands-on learning experience in the supernatural provision of God. And each had a part to play. The key lesson is this: God invites us to work in partnership with Him. He initiates, and we respond.
Apply
What do you have to offer God? A talent? Your time? The words of your mouth? Willingly offer it to God today so that He can use you how He will. Now, walk in expectation today of what God can do!
Closing prayer
God I give what little I have to You. I know that with You, a little goes a long way. Use me for Your glory.
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