Matthew 14:15-18 (NIV): As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said.
God’s people are so much more powerful in relationship with God than they can ever imagine. A lot of people know about the feeding of the 5000: how, with the lunch of a young boy (John 6:9), five loaves of bread and two small fish, Jesus fed 5000 men, plus additional women and children. It is always looked upon as a signature moment in Jesus’ ministry.
What is often overlooked, though, is Jesus’ initial command to His disciples when they wanted to send the people away to get something to eat: “YOU give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16, Mark 6:37, Luke 9:13, emphasis added) When He said this, His followers simply looked at Him in disbelief. They assessed their resources, and then announced to Jesus that, considering what they had to work with, His command was impossible, ridiculous even! Keep in mind that these same disciples had only recently returned from being sent out on a mission trip, and had been given authority to heal the sick, and to cast out demons. And they were very successful. But when faced by a crowd of hungry people, they put this situation in an entirely different category. They forgot all about the supernatural power and authority they had only recently exercised, and began to merely look at the PHYSICAL resources they had available.
What Jesus did next was not merely a sign of His divinity, it was also a lesson to the disciples of what is possible for one who lives in intimate communion with God. Jesus lifted the bread and the fish, gave thanks , and then had the disciples distribute it to everyone. God multiplied the bread and the fish, and all ate and were satisfied. There was even some left over.
The fact is, any one of the disciples could have done the same thing! (Elijah did something very similar – See 2 Kings 4:42-44) Jesus’ command to them to give the people something to eat was not a cruel joke or a taunting. It was no more difficult for them to connect to God to multiply this food than it was to connect to God to cast out demons or to heal sickness. It was exactly the same connection to God that makes ALL miracles, no matter how big, possible.
The problem was that the disciples took their eyes off of what is possible in relationship with God, and focused instead on the problem. Just a few hours later, Peter experienced exactly the same problem when Jesus called him to walk to Him on the water. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30 NIV) Jesus was demonstrating what was possible for those who are intimately connected to God, but Peter took his eyes off of what Jesus was clearly showing was possible, and focused instead on the problems.
After Pentecost, the disciples finally did begin to operate in the possibilities that exist in intimate relationship with God. They healed the sick (even the “impossible” cases), cast out demons, even raised the dead! Whenever they faced something that seemed to be an impossible situation, they focused their eyes on God instead of looking at the problem. (For example, Peter and Dorcas – Acts 9:36-42), and the impossible happened.
Even today, God’s people tend to focus way too much on what is possible in their own strength. They forget that Jesus told them that if they have faith and don’t doubt, don’t focus on the physical impossibilities of what needs to be done, that they can even relocate mountains. (Matthew 21:21-22) They forget that Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14 NIV) That is a powerful promise, and was not lightly made. Anyone acting in Jesus’ name (as His representative, needing to do what He would do in the same situation) may depend upon Him for power and authority to do anything, regardless of physical impossibilities, regardless of lack of resources, even regardless of physical “laws.” ALL things are possible for those who believe. (Mark 9:23)
Father, You are right, as always. Forgive us, Lord, for our small faith that can only believe You for what WE think is possible. Forgive us for limiting You to those things that we have the resources at hand to accomplish in our own strength. As the man said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9;24 NIV) Stretch out Your hand through Your people, and help us to do mighty miracles in Your name as a testimony to all who see. Help us to do all that You want to do through us, starting today. Amen.