Imagine what it was like to be with Jesus’ disciples at the feeding of the 5,000. They had seen some extraordinary miracles, heard the greatest sermon ever, saw Jesus put a smackdown on Satan by casting out the Gerasene demons, and witnessed Jairus’ daughter being raised from the dead, and then…they were sent out two by two to do the same in Jesus’ name! When they returned all excited to tell Jesus about it, they learned of John’s murder at the hands of Herod. And when Jesus pulled away to pray and mourn his cousin’s brutal death, the crowds followed. As weary as he must have been, the gospels tell us that he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
So he began to heal the sick, and teach the people about the Kingdom of God throughout the day. And as the day wore on, the disciples became increasingly concerned and encouraged Jesus to send the people away to the surrounding villages to get food for themselves. Jesus’ reply must have been stunning: “You give them something to eat.”
Despite everything they had witnessed up to that point, they still didn’t get it. I don’t blame them; it must have sounded preposterous. You can imagine Matthew calculating the costs in his head, (How many loaves of bread times 5,000 men, plus women and children?) and then saying, “Lord, that seems somewhat impractical.” And Judas right beside him would have argued that the purse didn’t contain anything close to two hundred denarii, and besides, “Shouldn’t the money be used for a better purpose?” Thomas maybe doubted they could ever pull off something of that magnitude. James and John could have been angling for recognition and a solution, and might have joined Peter and Andrew in planning a strategy to cast their nets for another great catch of fish. Jesus stopped them in their tracks by asking what they did have. They acknowledged the meager 5 loaves and 2 fish, which wouldn’t have satisfied the disciples’ hunger, let alone that of the crowds. It seemed like an impossible demand.
And then the miracle happened. Organizing the crowd into groups of 50, they obeyed Jesus and just started distributing the food, in faith that he would provide. Not only did the food not run out, but there were 12 baskets full of leftovers. Despite the overwhelming demand, there was no question of origin or heritage or why the people were there, nobody had to earn the right to be fed; whoever was hungry was given food. Jesus was asking his disciples to trust him in their obedience, to have faith in him to take care of all of them, and provide for the immediate need.
I’ve been contemplating that miraculous feeding and Jesus’ command to his disciples, as we’ve watched our city descend into turmoil, and as more people become harassed and helpless, living in fear of even stepping out of their homes. It can seem impossible to try to overcome the challenges we are facing together, and yet as we see the growing needs of those around us, there remains this simple command, “You give them something to eat.” Even though it appears to exceed our resources, and the logistics seem daunting, he is the God of the impossible. He asks us to step out in faith and obedience, and trust him.
I’ve had the privilege of coming alongside those who are doing exactly that at Jericho Road, a ministry that offers help and hope to people in crisis. Whether organizing food and essentials for the needy, handing out food to those who are brave enough to come to the distribution center, loading grocery bags for delivery, or getting out into the neighborhood to deliver to those who can’t risk being out on the streets, these are some practical ways I can love the people of our city, trusting God to oversee and empower my small efforts for lasting eternal impact for the Kingdom of God. I’m praying it will lead to opportunities for more conversations, where I can share the reason for the hope that I have in Jesus to meet my every need, both physical and spiritual, and how I look forward to spending eternity with him. Ultimately, I want to share with them the Bread of Life, so that they can be deeply satisfied in Jesus himself.
I’ve longed to see Jesus in person for much of my life, and I can’t wait to see him face to face for the first time. But I am seeing glimpses of him now, lived out through the volunteers who are eager to serve those who are in need. Working shoulder to shoulder with some who look and sound very different from me, and overcoming our language barriers with smiles and mutual encouragement (and Google Translate), it is so gratifying to be a part of the hands and feet of Jesus, meeting the needs of many who have no other way of providing for their families. I admire their fearlessness in defying those who might target them based on appearance or accents. I am grateful for those having the privilege of anonymity, extending wings of protection over the more vulnerable. It is truly astonishing to see how God is providing people, resources, and stamina for the overwhelming task, and to be working in faith to see him meet the needs.
But topping it all is seeing Jesus in the faces of those humble enough to admit they need help, and to so gratefully accept the gifts we offer, and to patiently tolerate the chaos and confusion that is inherent in the process, and to bravely take the risk hoping that there may be some reward in tangible relief of their suffering. It is a reminder that we are all beautifully human, made equally in the image of God, and his love for us is unconditional. And I see hope in the middle of the suffering as people come alongside each other to help. “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matt 25:40) So there is Jesus, asking us to step out in faith, be true followers as we imitate him and serve with compassion, and trust him to pull off the miracle that we cannot accomplish by ourselves.
And today he still says,
“You give them something to eat.”
Jon Morgan
Database Administrator