Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:14-21, Luke 5:4-11, John 21:1-11, John 2:1-11
Food is an unmistakable theme in the miracles of Jesus. There is no aspect of humanity that Jesus ignored, including our need for food.
Jesus ate. He drank. He attended dinner parties—lots of them. The beginning of His earthly ministry included the miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding reception (John 2:1-11). And before He ascended back into heaven, He cooked His disciples breakfast with fish He’d miraculously jammed into their nets (John 21:1-14). In today’s reading, we see that He also supernaturally fed tens of thousands of followers.
This helps me to see the practical side of Jesus more clearly. Sure, His supernatural nature is awesome, and we’re keenly aware of our need to see His hand in the “big stuff.” But we tend to whizz right past the fact that He sees and responds to both our extraordinary and our ordinary needs.
In Matthew 14, we find one of Christ’s most famous miracles, what’s known as the “Feeding of the Five Thousand.” But this was actually a miracle on a much grander scale. Scripture says five thousand men were present “besides women and children” (v.21), meaning there were likely closer to 15,000 people gathered around Jesus—and He fed every single one of them until they were full (v.20).
These were people shot through with grief and sorrow. John the Baptist, one of their spiritual heroes, had just been brutally beheaded (Matthew 14:1-12). At the news of His dear cousin’s murder, Jesus retreated to a desolate place to mourn, but the grieving crowds followed Him, desperate for hope in the midst of hurt, for light in the darkness.
As their Maker, Jesus knew the crowd’s deepest needs were spiritual, yet He did not race past their immediate physical needs. In verse 14 we catch a glimpse of a thread that weaves throughout the miracles of Jesus: “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them.”
Compassion motivated Jesus to feed the crowds. He satisfied their physical hunger so they could see that He alone is capable of satisfying their spiritual hunger.
In Mark 8:1-10 we see that another crowd tracked Jesus down and remained with Him to hear Him teach for three days—without food. If He sent them home, some would faint on the way (v.3). Again, He responded with compassion, meeting their physical needs so they could digest the spiritual truths He desired to teach them. He gave them bread and fish so that they could “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8).
Perhaps food is just a tether keeping us close to the truth that we are not our own sustainers. Is it possible that God hard-wired our physical needs into our DNA to teach us of our bigger, constant need for Him? What if every meal were a parable teaching us that Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), the True Bread from Heaven (John 6:32), the Grain of Wheat (John 12:24), and the Living Water (John 4:10-11).
Jesus’ miracles are never about the miracle itself. They’re about Jesus. He doesn’t intervene in our lives primarily for our comfort, but for His glory, that we would turn to Him. Every last one of our needs points to and is met in Him.
Erin Davis is an author, blogger, and speaker who loves to see women of all ages run to the deep well of God’s Word. When she’s not writing, you can find Erin chasing chickens and children on her small farm in the Midwest.
This devotion is so timely for me today. Our family has been going through some difficult circumstances, and our church set up a Meal Train for us. Last time people brought us meals, I had a brand new baby to show for it. This time, there is nothing to ‘show’ for their kindness. It has been a incredibly humbling experience- allowing people to take care of our immediate need for food even when there is nothing I can offer in return.
“What if every meal were a parable teaching us Jesus is the bread of life?…”
That was so freeing for me. Even now, through the kindness of others he is proving to my family that he cares about our TODAY and our physical needs, that he is the ultimate and true provider. He is, physically and spiritually the bread of life who provides even when it’s all out of our hands. Thankful today for His promises.
Beautiful reflection! Thank you for sharing!
I find it interesting that Jesus first tells his disciples to feed the crowd, knowing full well that they don’t have the capability to do so. I think that was another way of showing them that He is the ultimate provider and sustainer.
Hunger is a perfect example of relying on Christ. How many times we’ve felt broken and lost when we are starving. And how restored we fill when we finally eat something. This is a great reminder of how much we need Jesus
I love the practical message here. We so often think that we need “big signs” from Him. Today’s reflection reminds me that Christ shows up in the small things as well. And sometimes we are so focused on looking at the big things that we totally miss the small, seemingly insignificant moments where we can see Him most. This convicts me to be more intentional and to look for Him in every moment, every small thing in my day.
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Yes! We know He’s always with us, and then we forget because nothing “big” is going on. Thank you for your reminder today!
This morning I was thinking about Elijah in the cave. He was exhausted, depressed and ready to give up. God woke him up and fed him. He knew that Elijah needed food and sleep before He could talk to him about his spiritual needs. God created us to need food. I never thought about that as being a tether to God, our sustainer. What a beautiful thought. I love that God is concerned about our physical needs as well as our spiritual ones. To God be the Glory!
What a great connection! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)
And maybe that is why to fast is to deprive ourselves of things we want and like as a sacrifice to Him. Fasting does not make us more holy or spiritual, but is a way of putting our wants and needs on hold to focus more on Him for a little while, tether us and draw us closer.
I know we are wowed by the “Lazarus come forth” miracles but I like to see my running water and me full fridge as miracles.. it’s kinda crazy to think about how amazing His provision is.. so many miracles occur daily that I think we may miss.. but the reality that He continually provides for our daily needs is just beautiful.. I’m always pricked in the heart when I read how He was moved with compassion.. part of me wonders if we are becoming more desensitized the more we know, we are inundated through the media with the global tragedies.. we’re we meant to know all that we know? Can our brains even assimilate and can our hearts grieve all the calamities we are shown every single day? I don’t think we were wired to be able to carry all that.. in turn I feel like my compassion is a bit quenched and I don’t like that.. Lord for myself and any of my sisters who are seeing a loss of genuine heart felt compassion.. give us hearts like yours, moved to action because of real compassion.. we can’t meet the need of every suffering person, but we can reach out and touch those within our reach.. show us who need our compassion in action today I pray..
Wow. What a thoughtful post. I agree with you that our human inventions (mass media via internet) sometimes take us far away from God’s heart. I can also think of times that the internet has raised awareness for issues like human trafficking etc. Just a few weeks ago our church sent 1500 teenagers to Mexico and they built 11 houses! So cool! But, I’m with you that the news can also make us feel paralyzed, frightened and discouraged about showing compassion to others.
So true! Media does have its positive side!! Probably would have never know how nation widespread sex trafficking is without it! And that’s so awesome about the teens in Mexico!! So amazing!!
Diane, I was discussing the very same thing with my family on Easter. So, so true!
So challenging to think about, especially as I sit here inhaling a bagel. What a mind change: to think about our need for Him every time we try to meet our own needs, even when eating! He is the only one who can meet all my needs, always.
As a southern woman I certainly see how God has wired us to food. We use it for every occasion: birth, death, weddings, dinners with friends and family. I need to remember the miracles of Jesus with each meal or dish not just the thankfulness of provisions. He obviously tied them together for a reason.