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FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Mark 6:35-46; Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17

Exodus 16:1-15

 

Labour not
for meat

which perishes.

 

FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND
 
We have here a striking example of our Lord’s divine power. He feeds an assembly of five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes. He makes a scanty supply of food, scarcely sufficient for the daily wants of Him and His disciples, satisfy the hunger of a company as large as a Roman legion. There could be no mistake about the reality and greatness of this miracle. It was done publicly and before many witnesses. The same power which at the beginning made the world out of nothing caused food to exist which before had not existed. The circumstances of the whole event made deception impossible. Five thousand hungry men would not have agreed that they were all filled if they had not received real food. Twelve baskets would not have been taken up if real material loaves and fishes had not been miraculously multiplied. Nothing, in short, can explain the whole transaction save the finger of God (Exod 8:19). The same Hand which sent manna from heaven in the wilderness to feed Israel was the Hand which made five loaves and two fishes supply the needs of five thousand men.
 
The miracle before us is one of many proofs that with Christ nothing is impossible. The Saviour of sinners is almighty. He calls the non-existent into being (Rom 4:17). When He wills a thing, it shall be done. When He commands a thing, it shall come to pass. He can create light out of darkness, order out of disorder, strength out of weakness, joy out of sorrow and food out of nothing at all! Forever let us bless God that it is so! We might well despair when we see the corruption of human nature and the desperate hardness and unbelief of man’s heart, if we did not know the power of Christ. Can any man or woman be saved? Can any child or friend ever become a true Christian? Can we ourselves win our way through to heaven? Questions like these could never be answered apart from the almighty power of Jesus. Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth. He lives in heaven for us, able to save to the uttermost, and therefore we may hope.
 
THOUGHT: Does my life reflect faith’s confidence in Christ’s power?

PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for Jesus is the all-powerful Son of God.

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