29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”
33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
Jesus’ Provision
Jesus, your provision is bountiful and yet I am never filled. I am always hungry and often feel like I am starving spiritually. I want more strength, more joy, more confidence. Living in the west, my physical needs are taken care of, but my spiritual needs are more apparent. You have provided three meals a day, plenty to drink, and enough clothing. I take these things for granted and I frequently think that I have in some way provided these things for myself. Help me to see that I am dependent upon you for what I already have and that I must be dependent upon you for the things that I lack.
Questions
- How many people were fed at this time?
- How many basketfuls were left?
- What does the fact that Jesus did this kind of miracle twice say about is provision?
- What has Jesus provided for you?
- What do you need?
Plymothian 