READING: MARK 6:30-44

The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognised them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. ‘This is a remote place,’ they said, ‘and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.’

But he answered, ‘You give them something to eat.’

They said to him, ‘That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?’

‘How many loaves do you have?’ he asked. ‘Go and see.’

When they found out, they said, ‘Five – and two fish.’

Then Jesus told them to make all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

REFLECTION

Hello and welcome to today's Foundations podcast.

Today's story is Jesus feeding the 5000. It's a brilliant Bible story. A story that invites you into the drama instantly. A story that we don't have to work hard to understand - there is no hidden meaning behind the words that need teaching - the difficulty is in the practise.

The first 3 verses begin by describing Jesus and his disciples trying to withdraw to a lonely place, but they were followed by crowds. The disciples have been out in the surrounding towns and villages doing the stuff disciples do… and Jesus is inviting them to come away with him to debrief (that right there is a brilliant spiritual practise that I for one need to put into practise more!).

But as the crowds gather, the disciples see that look in Jesus’ eyes. (v34) “Jesus had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” It's that other kind of hunger… a spiritual hunger. The crowd wanted to be where Jesus was.

So Jesus gives the disciples a challenge… (v.37) “you give them something to eat… How many loaves do we have?” Andrew, one of the disciples, brings a young lad & his lunch. Now presumably Andrew and Phillip had their own supplies. I mean who goes hiking up a hill and doesn’t take a picnic with them? My guess is they probably had enough for each other! They probably had more than the young boy. But they knew it wasn't enough for everyone – we’re talking 5000 men. So when Jesus asks for the stocktake, they bring this young lad forward and say, “Jesus look, he’s got fives loaves and two fish.”

Why is Jesus asking the disciples to take stock? – it does seem a bit ridiculous.

He has seen the crowd. And had compassion on them. He knows the scale.

He probably knows what they’re carrying between them. He knows its definitely not enough – so why does he ask?

So here is the main question that will shape our thought for today: what is Jesus trying to teach us by asking a good question?

He has seen the crowd. It doesn't take a great leap of intuition to know what they are carrying won't feed 5000 men.

This question reveals how Jesus, & by extension the Kingdom of God, operates. It's given to help us recognise our full need of Jesus. Revealing a simple yet profound truth, that on our own we don't have enough. We don't have the answers. We can't do it. But God loves to use us. To partner with us. With generous hands, a willing heart & a bit of imagination. Jesus is discipling these young followers to see any and every situation and say, “I don't have much but how can I help?”.

Jesus taught the 12 disciples a vital lesson. It wasn't just a classroom exercise as he also fed 5000 people that day. And to God be the glory.

Here is a question for us to take into today: what is Jesus saying to me through this story & what can I put into practise?

PRAYER

God, I love this story. There is so many ways we could look at it and hear you speaking. I pray we would each hear an encouragement from you today through this story. God thank you for your saving grace... that ultimately leads us to pray "God I don't have much but how can I help." Would that sentence stay with me as I go through today.  Amen.

Want to get this podcast regularly? See http://stthomascrookes.org/podcast/