Take a Closer Look at That Bread!

Today’s Bible passage is Mark 6:32 – 52.

Key verses are Mark 6:52, Ezekiel 36:26, James 1:17. (In King James Version.)

Have you ever accidently gone through a red light or stop sign? It was right in front of you, but somehow you absent-mindedly bypassed it without taking notice.

Maybe this hasn’t happened to you, but I admit that I’ve done it before. Thank GOD for His protective measures at that time. I imagine that I’m a real challenge for Him at times. Haha!

Stop lights and stop signs are critical warning signs. Yet, it’s so easy for us to miss important factors in life. Today, I’m sharing an amazing event that drifted by the disciples without much consideration.

Jesus and his disciples left on a ship to go into a desert place. The Bible shares that people from all the surrounding cities saw them passing and ran by foot to follow Jesus. (Verses 32 and 33.)

Question: How willing are you to follow Jesus? These people left all that they were doing and simply followed, despite the trek by foot. Yet, sometimes we find it hard to set aside time daily to read our Bible and pray.

I love the fact that Jesus felt compassion towards these people and spent time teaching them many things. (Verse 34.) Wonder what things he taught them? Wouldn’t you have loved being there that day?

You can rest assured that our Lord God also has compassion on you, whatever your circumstances may be, my friend! There’s so much we can learn directly from God’s Word.

Now back to our story, toward the end of the day, there in the desert place, the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the people away because they had nothing to eat. They suggested that the people could go into the nearby villages to buy bread. (Verses 35 and 36.)

But, Jesus’ compassionate heart would not callously send the people away  in their weary and hungry state. He directed the disciples to give the famished crowd something to eat.

I suspect the disciples were a bit overwhelmed by this request. They questioned Jesus if they should go buy 200 pennyworths of bread to offer to them. (Verse 37.)

Now, I can tell you, the disciples were a bit shortsighted and not expecting any miracles. Referencing from John 6:7, Phillip had stated that “two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient” to feed such a large crowd as this.

Question: Are you and I shortsighted of what GOD can do?

Next, Jesus inquired about how much bread they had on hand. Five loaves and two fishes was their short response. (Verse 38.)

This didn’t shock or delay Jesus’ actions. He instructed them to sit down on the green grass in groups of fifties and one hundreds.  (Verses 39 and 40.)

Sidenote: You and I can learn a little mini lesson here on organizing. Do spend time putting thought into how to best organize your tasks and projects.

Jesus took what little they had, looked up toward Heaven and blessed it. Then, he broke the bread and fishes, handing the small portions to the disciples to disburse among the crowd. (Verse 41.)

Sidenote: God can use what little you have.He can meet your EVERY need!

The MIRACLE that happened this day is a wondrous one…

Mark 6:42 – 44 says,

“And they did all eat, and were filled.”

“And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.”

“And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.”

These five loaves and two fishes fed 5,000 men. Wow! And referencing Matthew 5:21, there were also women and children above that number!

The Bible says that they were all filled. Their bellies were full and satisfied. GOD doesn’t do anything halfway! Amen!

This miracle event is even more the exciting when I read about the leftovers that were gathered. Twelve baskets full!

I heard someone once say that perhaps Jesus performed this extra measure of the miracle to make a tangible point to each one of the disciples.

But wait… The disciples totally missed this faith-boosting miracle. And I’ll tell you why in just a moment.

Following this event, the disciples faced some boisterous winds while traveling in their ship.

Mark 6:51 – 52 says,

“And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.”

“For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”

Did you read that? Their hearts were hardened!

How much you and I can miss of God’s everyday miracles and events in our own lives because we let our hearts get hardened by the things of this world.

May I encourage you to let GOD soften your heart?

Ezekiel 36:26 shows us how God can soften our stony hearts…

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

My friend, take a closer look at what God is doing in your life today. Consider the everyday small miracles as well as the big ones.

James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Aren’t you grateful that we serve such an amazing God?

Keep walking in faith my friend,

by Rhonda White