In this scene, the disciples have returned from being sent out on a mission to teach, preach, and heal. They are excited, re-energized and are beginning to tell Jesus all about their adventures. Jesus suggest they go to Bethsaida, where they might have a better opportunity to share and decompress. But the crowds heard about it, and followed them out there. It seemed that no matter where they went, there was no getting away from the people. And the text says Jesus "welcomed" them as he spoke to them about the Kingdom and healed them. Late in the afternoon, the disciples decide enough is enough, and wondering how they might get some time with Jesus all to themselves, they tell Jesus to send them away because they'll be hungry soon and there's nothing for them here. Jesus' response? "You give them something to eat." That was a shocker.
What were they to do? They wanted the crowds gone, but now Jesus doesn't just say, "oh it's okay... let them stay..." he not only says that, but now "feed them"? "Umm... Jesus..." they say, "we only have five loaves of bread and two fish... that will barely feed us..." Jesus instructs them to have them sit in groups of 50 (there were about 5000 men there). And then they witness the miracle they will never forget. After Jesus blesses it, they serve it and it feeds everyone and there are leftovers!
So often, we make excuses for why we can't do something. How often is our excuse tied to the fact that we don't think we have enough of what we need to do it? It's time to move from viewing our lives in a context of scarcity and see what we do have, thanking God for the abundance he's provided. Employ the resources of time, energy, and money that are in your care, and you'll be amazed at what God can do with them!
Readings: Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9
