Feeding Family, Feeding Neighbors

Stomachs growl.
Shadows lengthen.

The sick are healed.
People are amazed.
No one leaves.


The disciples are getting nervous. Evening is approaching and there are 5000 men and their families who need to eat. They had an idea.  They asked Jesus to send the crowd away so that they could go to the nearby villages to get something to eat, Jesus had a better, seemingly impossible, idea."You feed them." Was there a bit of sarcasm in their tone when they told him they only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish? It was a kid's meal. Literally.  A small boy's lunch.  Did the boy watch in amazement as Jesus blessed the food and broke piece after piece off the bread until the entire crowd has been fed? Did his eyes widen as the disciples gathered up 12 baskets of food after everyone had had their fill?

Once again the crowd gathers. 4000 men and their families this time. It has been 3 days of miraculous healing.  The people are praising the God of Israel. This time, Jesus approaches the disciples. The people are out of food. He has compassion on them. They need to eat or they may collapse on their way home.  The disciples look around. The place is remote. No nearby villages, No farmer's market. No corner convenience store. Where could they possibly get enough food? Jesus asks them to take stock.  What do they have? Seven loaves and a few fish will feed this crowd. After the crowd had their fill, there were 7 baskets of food left over.

Two similar miracles.
Two different groups.

When Jesus fed the 5000, he was feeding mostly Jews. He was feeding his family. They would have understood the significance 12 baskets of food left over. The 12 sons of Jacob were their patriarchs whose descendants became the 12 tribes of Israel. Each of the 12 disciples picked up a basketful of leftovers.

When Jesus fed the 4000, he was feeding mostly Gentiles. He was feeding his neighbors.They had heard of his miracles.  They came bringing their lame, blind, crippled, and mute to be healed by this Jewish man. It was a long shot but he didn't turn them away.  He had compassion on them and healed them. In return, they praised the God of Israel. Jesus' Kingdom was big enough for everyone. When the disciples asked where they could get enough food, maybe they assumed the miracle of feeding such a large crowd would never be extended to Gentiles. But it was and as a result 7 baskets of food were collected after everyone had their fill. As the disciples gathered these baskets, did they think about Jesus including the Gentiles in his miracles, in his mission? Did they see the 7 baskets and gasp as they counted realizing 7 is the number of completion?

Feeding Family.
Feeding Friends.
Feeding Family.

Matthew 14:13-21
John 6:1-13
Matthew 15:29-38