Miracles are windows into God’s Kingdom, where things are made the way they should be. They show us the extravagance of God’s grace.
The last part of Mark 6 tells about the feeding of 5,000, a number which could be triple that if women and children were included. The disciples and Jesus went out by boat to remote place to rest, since they’d been ministering on their feet without the opportunity to get a bite to eat. People from surrounding villages spotted them and beat them there. Jesus compassionately taught them, but when it grew late, the disciples urged him to disperse the meeting so the crowds could travel back to the surrounding villages and buy something to eat.
37 But he answered, “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?”
Note: An obstacle to seeing God work miraculously is emphasizing what we don’t have.
38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the 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. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
What does this teach us about growing in faith for the impossible?
Expect to participate. The disciples do a remarkable amount of legwork, distributing the multiplying fish to the thousands. Our resources may not look up to the task, but that’s when the time is ripe for God to show His grace. The disciples end up holding their own basket of the leftovers!
Take the simple steps Jesus shows you. Jesus does the miracle, but it involved the disciples’ obedience. Is your prayer life open enough for God to speak to you? Take every opportunity to obey God and to take His direction.
Be prepared to learn from each other. Jesus had the disciples work together. We live out our faith in community, never alone. Share your God stories and be encouraged to try radical obedience to God as we announce His Kingdom.
