When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to  test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them.    

We find out more about the story of the feeding of the multitude through Matthew, Mark and Luke that fill in the details.  It’s the only miracle included in all four Gospels.  Mark tells us, after a full and active day, they set aside time to be by themselves. Jesus was teaching them when the large group came. Jesus had compassion on them.     

Now most of my teaching is from the internet on my computer. With today's technology I can also use the internet to teach, as I am doing now. Sometimes it is still behind a pulpit, lectern or on a chair with a circle of people. I read, preach, lecture, discuss and tell stories. Jesus did that as well. I realize worship is done differently when discipling individuals or groups of people, but in this age, we are told the least effective way to teach something is to have people listen to what is said.          

When Jesus was with the disciples, they saw Him in life experiences throughout the week.  It wasn’t just a class of 35-40 minutes once a week.  They lived with Him, followed Him, asked questions and watched what He did and how He talked with others as their days were spent with Christ.  He would then pull them aside, sit them down and teach, lecture, and explain the Scriptures. Small group Bible studies where people could ask questions was a common practice of Jesus. This method works also today.         

This day, however, Jesus had a quiz day. They were “tested” to see how they would answer the essay problem. How would you feed a multitude? Philip came up with the first answer, “impossible." His solution was to dig into their pocketbooks, come up with the cash, go to the market, buy the food and bring it back, but they didn't have the money, time and resources to do all that, so it was impossible.   Jesus wasn’t interested in finding where to buy food. He already knew what He was going to do.     

Andrew came up with the second answer. Let’s see who and how much food we have among them that might be shared, but what is this amount among so many people?

Jesus was involving His disciples, putting them into action. They looked for a solution to this problem, but even trying to find food was way too limited for the task. God takes what we have and He does the rest. The disciples came up with only two fish and five loaves of bread with compliments from a little boy. That was all God needed when it was given to Him.     

Involvement in ministry is a far better way to learn faith than taking notes in class. Obedience followed. The people were instructed to sit and were divided into groups, just as Jesus told them.     

What is the test God presents to you today? Where does He want you to get involved? I doubt that you have enough for God’s task, but that was true then also. They watched God at work! A miracle resulted!

Application:   What miracle or blessing or answer are you waiting and watching for?

Praying:   Lord, I believe You answer every prayer.   I believe Your Word which says, "Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it."  Mark 11:24

Dale