John 6:1-15
When someone wants to have a big event, they invest a lot of time and money choosing the perfect table setting, decorations, flowers, food, and location: everything they can do to make it unforgettable. Planning every detail can take weeks or months.
The disciples did not have the option of taking a lot of time to plan how to feed the multitude that had gathered around them. They also did not have many resources. So when Jesus asked them how they were going to feed everyone, they realized their lack. They were trying to help and figure out a way to feed the people, but realized they could not afford it. There was a battle at hand…not a battle with weapons, but a battle against resources and logic. All they could manage to gather was five barley loaves and two small fish. There was no way they could feed everyone with that amount of food. They were going about it in their own strength, rather than asking Jesus for direction. He recognized that they wanted to help, so He made them directly involved in the miracle He was about to perform. "Then Jesus said, 'Make the people sit down.' Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 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." (vs. 10-11) Then a strange thing happened…they were able to feed all those people and they still had food left over. That's not something that normally happens, and the disciples knew they had witnessed a miracle. They tried to find a way to feed everyone, but there was nothing they could do on their own.
Jesus is the ultimate caterer. He does not need weeks of planning, purchasing, cooking, and fretting over table decorations to pull off a big event. He just uses what He has, multiplies it, and is able to feed a huge crowd with few resources. Likewise, we do not need a list of good deeds for Jesus to use. He does not expect us to earn our way into Heaven. He just takes who we are and makes us His. It's His battle. Our part isn't to figure out all the details, but to surrender to His plan.
~ Kimberly Frantz
