Matthew 14:13-21 (NIV)
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18“Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. 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 the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
How many times have you walked down the street, ridden on public transportation, or driven by and seen someone holding a sign asking you for food or money?
Perhaps, we take time out of our day to get them something to eat rather than give them money, suspicious of whether they would use the money the way we intended. Or maybe this suspicion causes us to look the other way and ignore them all together. We become desensitized to their suffering.
In the story of the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus instructed his disciples to feed the crowd who came to hear the Messiah. With only five loaves of bread and two fishes, Jesus performed a miracle that fed all who were gathered, with leftovers to spare.
Here is a lesson of faith. The disciples placed their faith the Lord and he provided. When we heed the instructions of Jesus, we are enabled to make a difference.
Here, the lesson is that even in times of our own loss, we must not lose sight of the fact that God has called us to minister to those hurting and in need.
Yet, when night was falling, the first response of the disciples was to send the crowd away, despite being in an isolated location.
It is easy to respond as the disciples did and turn away from those who are in need, both physically and spiritually. However, when they followed the instructions of Jesus and met the needs of those who had gathered, the miracle was revealed, and their faith deepened.
According to the United Nations, there are over 70 to 160 million people who are experiencing hunger. Furthermore, 2.37 billion people are without food or a healthy balanced diet. Where are the disciples of today to meet the needs of people going hungry?
We cannot turn our heads away from people dying due to malnourishment.
The world needs people who see and meet that need of those who are hungry. Not only hungry for nutrients, but also for the Word of God.
It is our responsibility to feed them, both physically and spiritually. In Philippians 4:19 (NIV) it says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
The Lord is a provider, and there are times when He gives us more than enough, just as there was at the feeding of the five thousand.
What will you do when you see the hungry? Turn your head? Or will you act as Jesus did and do something?
Download a printable file here: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand