The closer I read the account, the more I saw that Jesus was telling me to do the same!
"......He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained." Matthew 14:19,20
If we are to look to the Word of God for instruction, for guidance and as an example of how we are to be, then we must study this verse as carefully as all and avoid the "what a miracle" approach.
First, let us consider what Jesus has said about Himself. He has called Himself the "Bread of Life". He has said that He only did what He saw the Father do and has commanded us to follow His example, to allow His Holy Spirit to live in and work through us. He has told us that "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" We see from the accounts of His life, the importance of breaking bread and sharing with others.
Remembering all these things and then recalling Jesus' discussion with Peter in John 21:15-18, God began to reveal His instructions to me.
"So, when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My Sheep.' He said to him the third, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'
Jesus also told us in His Word that if we had Faith in Him and acted in His abiding power we would do the things that He had done and even greater things.
Let's look at the original text we began with. Jesus took the bread and fishes, blessed them, gave them to the disciples and they, in turn gave them to the people who were filled to overflowing.
Every time that we sit down with the Word of God in prayer and meditation, we are breaking bread with Jesus. These are inspired words (blessed of God) which He gives to us. Not only are we to eat and be filled to overflowing, but I propose that this scripture calls us to then pass what has been given to us on to all that from each of us, thousands will be filled.
We are commissioned, at the end of Matthew, to go and make disciples and here we find the source of our power to do so. If we are given a blessed word from God, as is confirmed in many texts, the word then given to others will accomplish its purpose far beyond our capabilities.
"Feeding His Sheep" was a great priority of our Saviour and throughout scripture, we find that it should be the same with us. We cannot accomplish such an undertaking unless we are spending our time in prayer and meditation "breaking bread" with our Creator, our Saviour and our Sustainor, Jesus Christ.
1 comment:
If you read a little before this passage, you see that the Disciples had just returned from a "mission trip" and were tired, empty. They had retired, with Jesus, for a little R&R, but had been followed by this amazing crowd wanting . . . and wanting. When the Disciples came to Jesus and said, these people are hungry, Jesus said feed them. But the Disciples, being empty themselves, said they didn't have anything to give. So Jesus took what they did have, blessed it, and gave it to the Disciples to share, and to share abundantly, with those gathered. This passage speaks to me of feeding others from our overflow, yes, as it also speaks to me of taking the time to get fed, to retire from the crowds and receive all that we need and more from God through Christ. It reminds me of the Lord's Supper and how it heals and makes me whole and full to overflowing each and every time I partake.
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