Mark 6:34-44
34 When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
35 By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, "This is a deserted place and it is already very late.
36 Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
37 He said to them in reply, "Give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, "Are we to buy two hundred days' wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?"
38 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they had found out they said, "Five loaves and two fish."
39 So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties.
41 Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to (his) disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all.
42 They all ate and were satisfied.
43 And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments and what was left of the fish.
44 Those who ate (of the loaves) were five thousand men.
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There is a great "wow" factor to this miracle that was performed in front of 5,000 people. For me, on the "cool" scale, this is only surpassed by raising Lazarus and walking on water.
Beyond the spectacle, I'm struck by the message of faith. Christ knew what the peope needed, and he provided it. They all ate, and were satisfied. Not only that, but he provided them with MORE than they needed.
I need to move this out of the clutter of my memory and to the forefront of my mind. Have faith. Christ will provide. I will eat and be satisfied. Keep my eyes on Him and rely on Him completely, and He will give me everything I need, and more.
