Mark 6:35-44 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. 36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”
37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” 38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred. 41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.
When we see a need whether for others or ourselves, we will generally first go to the Lord for the request. Yet, we see Jesus answering and telling the disciples for them to feed the multitude. Why did Jesus respond this way? How did the disciples react?
Jesus was testing their hearts. HE is testing our hearts today. In these verses, we see a need for food. But in the spiritual realm, these verses can mean many things. We tend to always look at the natural realm. We tend to look at the physical. We tend to look at the negative. We tend to look at what we do not have rather than what we have. We tend to look at the impossible rather than that all things are possible with God. We tend to complain rather than to thank God.
The disciples responded, "With what!" They were complaining to God. They were with the Son of God. They are hearing HIM with great authority. They are seeing HIS other miracles and yet they had asked HIM with doubt. Many Christians today do the same thing. We can possess spiritual gifts that are supernatural. We may have witnessed and experienced miracles and wonders, yet, we could still doubt and complain. This is why many of us are still stuck because of our ungratefulness.
The disciples could not see what God could do but rather they saw the giant or mountain in front of them. They saw the multitudes and said to themselves, how can we feed them. They did not have enough food or money to provide for such a multitude.
Jesus then shows us how to multiple and overcome our fear, giants, or mountain. It does not matter how small we are in possession of something. God only needs a seed to produce a harvest. HE needs a person to humble himself. The breaking of bread can represent brokenness which is a sign of humility. Only pride looks at the negative. We must humble ourselves and just start to thank HIM. Only in Thanksgiving will there be multiplication. Many are struggling because many continue to complain rather than thanking HIM.
Psalm 50:23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”
This is not only about food or money. This is about everything else. If you want health, start thanking HIM that you were given life rather than complaining about your pain and why you were born. If you want more food, start thanking HIM for what you have rather than complaining about what you do not have. If you want to be able to get along with your family members, start thanking HIM for your husband and children rather than regretting you married your spouses or asking why your children are problem makers. If you want this country to go on the right path, start thanking God for such a blessed country HE has placed us in rather than complaining and grumbling about our secular leaders and policy. The problem is maybe the complainer and God is trying to get your attention.
If you desire peace, love, patience, and joy, start thanking HIM for what you already have whether you are in lack or abundance. Start thanking HIM for life and that your names are written in the book of Life. If your names are written in the book of Life, shouldn't that be enough if you do not receive anything else in life? Then you will truly experience abundant life. May your cups overflow with HIS Life and blessings.
Glory to HIM
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Amen!!!
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