When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples,
‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’
John 6:12
America, the land of the free. Also the land with plenty, so much that there really shouldn’t be so much hunger and poverty. We don’t have to cross oceans to see hunger and poverty, although the levels are definitely different. Not only is the world suffering from lack of food, there’s a lack of Jesus. And because God doesn’t want to see anyone perish, He gave each one of us a spirit hungry for more of Him. Before we go any further, I want you read John 6:1-15…a familiar story I know but we need to be reminded. So read on:
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed Him because they saw the signs He had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
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, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to 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 they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
You know, Jesus knew what these people needed before they did. The crowds had followed Him to hang on His every Word, and the disciples were trying to protect their Master and get Him away, but Jesus wanted to feed His sheep. His people were hungry, not only for food but for His wisdom. And today, there are multitudes who are hurting too, and can’t voice it…but we can. We must spread the Word of Salvation to the lost. We must teach His Word, because He entrusted it to us.
Over one billion people call themselves Christians, and not all are really born-again, God-fearing, Bible-reading and Bible-believing Christians. Just as God knows every hair on their heads, He also knows which ones actually call Jesus ‘Lord,’ and He has made them ambassadors of Christ Jesus, commanding them to offer to all people in all nations the Bread of Life. But how can a few reach so many?
In the story above, in verse 5, Jesus asked Philip, as they were faced with feeding so many people,”Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Of course Jesus knew the answer, He was testing him. “He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do” (verse 6). Doesn’t Jesus sometimes place a question in our minds to make us seek Him for the answer? Today our question is this: “How will you obey Me and reach out to my people?”
I know I am like Philip…I often feel ill-equipped, outnumbered, without confidence, and intimidated. Sometimes the task at hand seem so huge that you don’t even know where to start! And let’s be honest: sometimes we don’t even try. But aren’t we to do it the same way it was done in John 6? Miraculously…every time any one offers to anyone else the hope they have in Jesus, something miraculous happens. Even if you feel like you don’t have anything to give, if you give it all to Jesus, He can do wonders with what you do have to give.
The boy in the story only had five small loaves of bread and two small fish and look what Jesus did with it!! Because this little one was willing to give Jesus all he had, He multiplied it into all He needed. You are all He needs…you can reach His people and you can change someone’s life. Whether you share your Jesus or your food, God can and will use you. Surrender all that you have. The world is needy, in all kind of ways, and God created us to do His work.
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Do you know Him? I urge you to read more of John’s Gospel and learn Jesus’ heart. And pray this prayer with me:
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus is Your Son and He died for me. I want You to come into my heart and be my Lord. Walk with me. In Jesus name, amen.
