Reading: Luke 9:10-17
And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
The passage we share today is the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. In this text we can observe and learn a lot about Jesus….
We can see him listening attentively to the disciples, we can see him receiving the needy, we can see him sharing about the Kingdom with them, healing, and doing this miracle of feeding a multitude with a few loaves and fishes. There really is a lot we can learn from Jesus here. Let’s meditate on two aspects…
Jesus as servant: He sees the need, He experiences deep compassion and supplies. He listens, He receives people in spite of weariness, He heals, He feeds…
Jesus as the Messiah: To reach out to us and supply our inadequacy, He shows Himself (what else do we need?). By performing this miracle, by doing what for anyone, even for His disciples was impossible. Jesus shows us who He is.
Jesus is all we need, only in Him will our anguished souls have rest!
MEDITATE: Where do we lift our eyes in need? What do we think we need more than Jesus?
