Your insignificance can turn to Abundance with God (John 6:5-15)

Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him.  Turning to Philip, he asked, "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?'

He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was  going to do.

Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune to feed them!

Then, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish.  But what good is that with this huge crowd?"

"Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus ordered.  So all of them---the men alone numbered five thousand men--sat down on the grassy slopes.  Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people.  Afterward he did the same with the fish.  And all ate until they were full. " Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted."  There were only five loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces the people did not eat!

When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely he is a Prophet we have been expecting!"  Jesus saw that they were ready to take him king, so he went higher into the hills alone.

These people were hungry and following Jesus in the hope he could do something for them.  Imagine the strain on Jesus's body, he was healing the sick as well and according to Matthew 14, John the Baptist had just been beheaded.  Was he also mourning that loss?  Now people were following him.  So Jesus certainly didn't turn them away.  He never turned anybody away saying they were not good enough for him.  He took everybody in.  He would also have taken the religious people in but they didn't want to have anything to do with him.

Here he is ready to feed them, but he delegates the task to Philip.  Trying to see if Philip will take a leap of faith and feed them.  Five thousand men plus all the women and children.  Philip sees a big crowd at the front of him.  His legs must have shaken in fear and he thought "Hum, Jesus can we let them go instead?"(Matthew 14:15).  Then Andrew, not very much talked about in Scriptures.  Seemingly 'insignificant' disciple among the twelves open his mouth and say something totally and seemingly 'insignificant.'  Sometimes, you saying something 'insignificant' might initiate a miracle, you see.  He said to Jesus, There's a boy with a lunch here, but Jesus what's that for a big crowd like that?

Jesus said "Have everybody sit down"  Did Jesus hear right? Five loaves and two fish?

"Yes I understand, nothing is too hard for me" Oh I saw God say that in the Scriptures before.  Jesus had heard and seen enough for a miracle to happen.

'Through my compassion for them I will be able to feed all of them, no problem!'  Jesus must have thought

Well finally everyone was full.  They had a good appetite in those days and after a long walk.  But there were still leftovers, now I know humans usually think of leftovers as being less food than when we started to feed.  But since the apostle John who wrote the book in verse 13 mentions that they started with 5 loaves and 2 fish and now picked up 12 baskets full of pieces.  I just wonder if more was picked up than put out.  Just a thought for these mathematicians to ponder upon. 

The lesson to learn is if you give him your seemingly 'insignificant' gifts he will give you overflowing abundance in using them for his glory.  Just don't think how it might all add up!

I find it strange though that with all these miracles like that, that Jesus performed no more people were backing him up at the crucifixion.  Here in the desert they want make him the physical king of a physical kingdom Israel.  He had better things to do than that.

He came as servant-king. His teaching was that you will be first by being last.  Not out of duty ,but out of love.  God, the Father wanted God's son to be the King of the Universe not just the king of a small country on the face of the earth, Israel.  He wants to be your spiritual king of all of your life.  Will you let him today?

Have a great day!