Day 9 | The Crowd
Matthew 14:13-21
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Words: Ian Walton Read: 0 - 5 mins Published: 9 March 2024
A few small loaves and fish to feed thousands of people. A kid’s simple lunch used to fill a hungry crowd. Wow! The Lord uses whatever and whoever is fully placed in His hands… to bless the world he loves so much and to draw all people to Himself.
Lord, what did I give you today to bless and multiply? Help me to give you all that I have and all that I am.
This wasn’t just a beautiful act of compassion and an awesome miracle. It was a powerful sign pointing to everything that Easter is about. Jesus would Himself be broken about a year later to forever satisfy the eternal hunger in you, me and all who would believe. Jesus, The Bread of Life broken for you and me.
Lord, I receive your body again, broken for me and for the world.
Because of Easter, this gospel bread is now mine. His love and truth shared with me… and for me to share.
Lord, you are the Bread of Life – for me and for the world starving around me. You have nourished me today, and I pray that you help me to feed on you again tomorrow, in spirit and in truth. Give me more of your presence. Not just enough to feed me, but enough to share with my neighbours. Once again, bless and multiply what you have placed in my hands…