"In the Act of Sharing"

Matthew 14.16, 19c-20a HCSB

“‘They don’t need to go away,’ Jesus told them. ‘You give them something to eat.’

He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. Everyone ate and was filled.”

Who fed the “five thousand men” plus their “women and children” (v. 21) with “only five loaves and two fish” (v. 17)? Be careful. It’s a trick question and the answer is not ‘Jesus.’

Jesus did not feed the crowd. His disciples did. The followers of Jesus fed the horde of hungry people! Jesus multiplied their efforts. He made it possible. He performed the miracle. But it was the followers of Christ who took the loaves of bread from Jesus and “gave them to the crowds.”

These guys wanted Jesus to “send the crowds away” (v.15). The disciples were hungry. The throng, they surmised, was ravenous. No one expected the Lord’s response...

“You give them something to eat.”

Not the grocer. Not the farmer. Not the local innkeeper. Not the government. Not even Jesus. You take care of the need. You feed thousands of hungry people. You take what little provisions you have and “bring them here to Me” (v. 18). He broke both loaves into at least 5,000 pieces and “gave them to the disciples.” Somehow in the act of sharing there was enough. “Everyone ate and was filled.” It was a miracle.

Have no regard for the size of the need or the inadequacy of your supply. Give what you have to Jesus and expect a miracle.

“You give them something to eat.”