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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Jesus knew the hearts of men; He knew the thoughts of men even before they articulated them. In short, Jesus knew anything He wanted to know. Why was that the case? Answer: Simply because Jesus was God in the flesh. Isaiah had prophesied seven centuries before the fact that the virgin born Son would be named Emanuel (Isaiah 7.14). Matthew, commenting on that prophecy, said that Emanuel means “God with us.” (see Matthew 1.23). Given these facts, consider this question: Why did Jesus tell His disciples to feed a huge multitude when they didn't even have enough food to feed themselves? Note the passage that follows and the interactions in this text.
“When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him [Jesus], ‘Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.’ But He said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ And they said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of fifty.’ And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.” (Luke 9.12-17).
The twelve were mindful of the plight of the multitude. They knew that the huge crowd who had assembled due to Jesus’ presence would soon need food. The close of the day was drawing near and something had to be done lest they all go hungry. With this in mind, they reminded Jesus of the time of day and the need for food and lodging that would all too soon become painfully obvious to the multitude. Not, mind you, that the multitude minded; it seems that they were totally absorbed in the actions and words of Jesus! But, the twelve were not so rapt.
When Jesus heard the reminder by the twelve, He simply said, “You give them something to eat.” Surely He knew that they did not have enough money to provide for such a huge crowd. Surely He also knew that they did not personally have the quantity of food stashed that it would have taken to feed the five thousand plus crowd that was there. After all, a short time earlier He had sent them on a mission during which He charged them to “...Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.” (Luke 9.3). The reason for not feeding the multitude given by the twelve (i.e. We only have five loaves and two fish!) seems to have been a legitimate reason and not merely an excuse. In any case, they responded with a negative bent!
However, did they not take into account that even as they spoke, Jesus was healing people of all sorts of illnesses (See Luke 9.11)? Did they not remember that they likewise had been empowered to perform miracles even as evidenced by their healing of sick folk who were brought to them (see Luke 9.3 & 6). Now here is an interesting question. If they could heal the sick, and if Jesus could heal the sick, did they, or perhaps Jesus, have adequate power to feed the multitude? It is likely that Jesus knew that the twelve could not “see the forest for the trees.” Perhaps this is why He told them to feed the multitude; He wanted them to think of the power that they possessed through His gifts to them and of the fact that they could do virtually anything needed to the furtherance of Messiah's message.
The lesson for us: Don't overlook the obvious by neglecting the power granted us as believers!
Questions:
1. Who first raised the question of food? Why did they indicate the need was acute?
2. Could Jesus have known that they did not have adequate provisions to feed the multitude?
3. How much problem was it for Jesus to feed the five thousand? Do you think the twelve could have done so had they the faith to request it? Why or why not?
4. Of what use is ability/power if it is not used? How can we ensure that we do not neglect the power that is in us?
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