“In those days the crowd once again became very large, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called the disciples to Him and said, ‘I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a great distance.’ His disciples replied, ‘Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?’ ‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked. ‘Seven,’ they replied.” Mark 8:1-5
Can you remember an obstacle course you had to run through at some point in your life. Some of the challenges were not that big of a deal, some were. I remember having to get my not so tall self over a very high wall and that task seemed impossible, not to mention intimidating.
When we read this story of the feeding of the 4000, once again the disciples hear that Jesus is planning on feeding these people. Unlike the feeding of the 5000 where a little boy came forward with his basket of bread and fish, this time, the disciples are having to search their own backpacks and see what they have. You can almost hear their incredulous reply. Seriously Jesus, we are in the middle of nowhere, how are we supposed to come up with this much bread?
Jesus was not asking them to feed them all, He only asked: “how many loaves do you have?”
In our journey of faith, Jesus often brings us to seasons where we must trust Him to do the impossible. In the practice of faith, we discover we don’t have enough to do what is needed. Yet, we offer to God what we do have and trust Him to multiply our efforts.
I honestly wish walking with Jesus was more straightforward. I think the disciples wished that too at times, like in Mark 8. I bet they wished Jesus would just listen to them and send the people home. It seems to me they were reluctant to tell Jesus just how many loaves they had, but they did and Jesus took them and, if you read the rest of the passage, all 4000 people were fed and then sent home.
Another miracle to tell, even though they were reluctant. I am thankful for Jesus’ mercy on the 4000 people and for the disciples. He takes what they have and multiplies it.
Today, whatever you are facing, offer to Jesus what you do have as opportunity arises. He takes our offering and makes it enough. He is not phased by the impossible, that is the realm He seems to love most! We can find encouragement here for our own journey.
We lay our requests that seem impossible at the feet of the One with whom nothing is impossible and that my friend, is good news!
Dear Father,
Thank You for taking what I offer, however small it may seem and multiplying it for Your purposes. Take the impossible situations Father and sort them out. I have no idea how You are going to do it, but I trust You. You have done it before and You will do it again.
in Jesus’ Name,
Amen