5000, Yesterday, Today, Forever
The people who experienced this event talked about it the rest of their lives. Jesus fed more than 5,000 people at once with 5 loaves and 2 fish. It wasn’t just 5000-it was 5 loaves and two fish. In those days that was lunch for a boy. Why is this so memorable? Besides, it happened so long ago-what’s in it for us? Read the account first.
“When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Luke 9:10-17
The original plan was Jesus meeting the disciples after He had sent them out to proclaim God’s love to the people. The private debriefing turned into a public meeting. Jesus knew they would come. So, He taught them the message of God’s love and those who needed healing. Does that sound like all of the sick? It does to me.
He didn’t really feed 5,000. This wasn’t a men’s rally. Luke tells us there were about 5,000 men…you don’t believe they left their families, do you? Now add their families…there could have been 10,000-and wives and children get hungry too.
What does this account have to do with us?
This event happened more than 2000 years ago.
Can there possibly be application to you and me?
How about all of it? You see, nothing has changed. These are still true about Jesus:
+Jesus loves us-He always has compassion on us.
+Jesus is always near.
+He knows our needs-that we get hungry.
+Jesus always has time for us.
+Jesus taught the people, healed them, and fed them.
+ He has the power and infinite wisdom to do all of the above-then-now…& always.
Don’t miss this…When we doubt, when we have fear, when we feel gloomy, alone, even hopeless…remember 5,000 appetites, from a little boy’s lunch, with 12 baskets of leftovers.
Jesus is the same…yesterday, today, forever.