AN IMPOSSIBLE PROBLEM

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 buy themselves something to eat.’ But He answered them, ‘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?’ (Mark 6: 35-37).

Listen to this exchange between Jesus and His disciples.

He had a huge, hungry crowd on His hands. The people were becoming restless. It was getting late; they were far from home, and the disciples wanted to get rid of them. They had no way of providing for them so they told Jesus, “Send them away.” In other words “Get them out of our sight so that they are no longer our responsibility.” That was the only way they knew how to handle the situation. Their perspective was purely human and practical.

But the disciple’s solution was as impractical as it was impossible. Mark had already mentioned that this was a remote place – far from anywhere. Where on earth would a few thousand people find food at this time of the day? Families in far-off villages and towns had probably already eaten and the preparation of fresh food would take hours. There were no refrigerators from which they could take food to prepare on the spur of the moment.

On the other hand, Jesus had two opportunities – to feed a few thousand hungry people God’s way and to teach His disciples what happens when God is brought into the equation. Problems usually seem much bigger when God is left out. So He said to them, “Don’t send them away. You feed them.” That put them on the spot! In those three words, Jesus was saying to them, “You can’t just send needy people away to become someone else’s responsibility. As long as they are here, they are your responsibility. What are you going to do about it?”

They scratched their heads and came back with their best answer. ”Must we spend all our money to feed them?” they asked. The only solution they could think of involved money. If they had enough money, they could buy their way out of this one. Isn’t that just how we think?

‘How many loaves do you have?’ He asked. ‘Go and see.’ When they found out, they said, ‘Five – and two fish.’ Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. Taking the five loaves and 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 (Mark 6: 38-41).

Where did they find the five loaves and two fish? In their own picnic basket? Some thoughtful mother packed a picnic lunch for her son. He had eaten some of it but there was a little left over – just enough to satisfy his hunger until he got home. How did he get there anyway? Did he go with a relative or friend? No one knows. All we know is that he was willing to surrender his supper to Jesus.

Five barley loaves and two fish! Enough for a child’s supper. But that didn’t faze Jesus. He was not a magician who could turn stones into bread. He was a mathematician who could multiply what He had. He didn’t turn bread and fish into roast chicken and vegetables but He did keep breaking the bread and dividing the fish and passing it on. That’s how it is with God. He takes what He is given and makes it go a long way.

The disciples’ job was easy after that. All they had to do was to pass the food around. To their utter amazement there was always more . . . and more . . . and more.

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 (Mark 6: 42- 44).

Mopping up time was even more surprising. Five loaves and two fish fed five thousand men (of course the women and children didn’t count – or weren’t counted!), and there were twelve basketsful of leftovers to take home; “doggy bags” of food they could eat tomorrow! What did the disciples think of that?

Lessons learned – we hope. Number one: never turn needy people away. You may miss the opportunity to see a mighty miracle. Lesson two: don’t leave God out. He is the answer, not money. Give Him the little you have and see what He can do.

I love the third lesson, which was always so typical of Jesus. Look for every opportunity to put God’s glory on display. That’s what Jesus did, and the Father never failed Him.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (copyright 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com