FEED THE HUNGRY
Read John 6:1-15
And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
The feeding of the five thousand is one of the greatest miracles ever performed by Jesus. Each of the four gospels tells of this account when over 5000 men, not including women and children, spent their day listening to Jesus. The disciples encouraged Jesus to send the crowd away, seeing that “this is a deserted place and the hour is already late” (Matthew 14:15; Mark 6:35).
Who would provide food for all of them? Jesus asked Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (verse 5) Philip’s reply was a temporal, worldly answer. “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little” (verse 7).
Jesus’ reply astonished his disciples. He commanded, “You give them something to eat” (Luke 9:13, Mark 6:37). In their efforts, they found a boy with five barley loaves and two fish. With this, Jesus looked to heaven, gave God thanks (verse 11), and then divided the meal among the disciples, who shared it with the people. After everyone ate, the disciples collected twelve baskets of leftovers (verse 13).
In this miracle, Jesus reminded the disciples in whom their source of strength and power rested. How quickly they had forgotten all of the miracles they had recently performed through Jesus (c.f. Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1-6).
Today, Jesus is asking us, his followers, to do the same, “You give them something to eat” (Luke 9:13, Mark 6:37). But what will be our source of bread? Who are we to feed? Who are the hungry? How are we to do this, you ask? He has sent us to the world so they might know Him. Jesus says, ” I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Let us keep our focus on Jesus and take every opportunity to share Him this season.
Prayer Focus: Spreading The Message, Unsaved, The Hungry.
Prayer: Dear Father, use us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all who do not know Him. May we have the courage to break bread today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thought for Today: Our Bread And Water Is Sure In Jesus (Isaiah 33:16).
Contributor: Ms. Nichole Shaw (Florida, United States)
Screen Editor: Mr. Neil Cummings
Editor: Mr. Eliezer D. Rodriguez