Monday, March 16, 2009

MITN XIV, Verses 15 - 21

15. And this impromptu healing service went on for so long that it turned into an all-day meeting. So as evening set in, the disciples came to Jesus and said, "This place is desolate, and it is already late. We really need to end this unplanned assembly and let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food."

16. But Jesus replied, "No, don’t make them leave. Why don't you give them all something to eat?"

17. But they said to Him, "Look, the only food that we have here is five small loaves of bread and two fish!"

18. Jesus calmly asked His disciples to bring the little bit of food to him,

19. and then He told the crowd to just sit down on the green grass (Psalms 23:2). Once they were all seated, Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up toward heaven, and simply blessed what He had to work with. Then He broke the bread and handed it to His disciples, and somehow, within the transition of the bread going from His hands to theirs, there was enough for them to give to all the people!

20. Not only did everyone eat, but they ate all that they wanted…the food wasn’t rationed, and no one was told to eat sparingly. So after everyone had eaten until they were full, Jesus' disciples moved through the enormous crowd and picked up twelve large baskets of leftover food that hadn’t even been touched.

21. So, at the end of the day, all had been healed, and all had been fed. But when the disciples tried to estimate the number of people involved in this miracle, there were so many that they just counted the men, which were about five thousand strong, and didn’t even attempt to count the women and children.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I may have more to say later, but this made the "oh ye of little faith".........come to mind. If they only beleived / knew what they had in front of them, but at the time, they believed that amount of food could NEVER feed all those people.

How often do we just not believe something "can."

Peace,
Northern Light

River said...

God Is So Good

have to agree with NL

Donald said...

I just have to believe that Jesus got a pretty good kick out of doing this miracle.

wordver: foodygo

Go figure.

Lise said...

VICTORY!!!!!
(Applies to your post, too!)
Something to be said for perseverance ;}

Amalia said...

Miracles are sweet, sweet, sweet...and ever possible ......with fine-tuned senses, you really can smell a drought-breaking rain in the wind long before the first drop.

Bishop,
Miss you, love you and all the family,
endeavoring to be ITB soon.

Larry Usher said...

This whole encounter reminds me of CITN yesterday:

21. So, at the end of the day, all had been healed, and all had been fed. But when the disciples tried to estimate the number of people involved in this miracle, there were so many that they just counted the men, which were about five thousand strong, and didn’t even attempt to count the women and children.

To me, our body just seemed whole, seemed right, embodied love, a joyous sight.

Anonymous said...

Elle,

I like your blog.....I left you a comment there. Couldn't get your playlist to work....I'll visit again.

Peace,
Northern Light

Unknown said...

Estimate the number of people "involved" in the miracle...
That's deep.

Anonymous said...

"Impromptu" healing service. What if Jesus had to get away to recharge Himself on the Sea of Galilee?

Remember back in the beginning? In the days of creation, when God's Spirit hovered over the face of the waters? Maybe he was "brooding" over the face of his friend. Maybe it was imperative to go there - see through the glass darkly - the tohu va bohu of himself.

And, what if, on the harp-shaped Sea of Galilee, Jesus sang his songs of degrees (impromptu, as an improvised musical composition)?

A medley of captivity, of turmoil, deliverance and exodus. Dirges and ballads forgotten and remembered. Of awakening and salvation. Vineyard songs for jubilation. New
ones - silent, victorious and holy.

And, what if they began, "Cover me, cover me, cover me, cover me, under Your holy wings. Let me hear Your heavenly choir, let all creation sing. For You left the 99, searching for the one. I'm the one. I'm the one. I'm the one."

What if his voice amplified and carried and echoed, because of location; became like silent thunder to wild beasts of the field and fowl of the air and water creatures?

What if they heard him encourage himself, with, "High! Oh, high! Higher my Abba reigns on high. My Abba reigns on high. High! Oh, high! Higher than a baby's cry in the night. My Abba reigns on high. My Abba reigns on high."

And then, "Draw Me, I will run after You. The King has called Me into this chamber. I will rejoice and be glad in Him. The upright love Him. Draw Me."

When both He and the day were well spent in communion, what if He offered, "Return to Your rest, oh, My soul. For the Lord has dealt bountifully with You. Delivered You from death, Your eyes from tears and feet from falling, now let's walk before Him. The land is alive."

15. So as evening set in, the disciples came to Jesus and said, "This place is desolate, and it is already late. We really need to end this unplanned assembly and let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food."

16. But Jesus replied, "No, don’t make them leave. Why don't you give them all something to eat?"

17. But they said to Him, "Look, the only food that we have here is five small loaves of bread and two fish!"

Wouldn't it be Wonderful, if He laughed to Himself, "Wait'll they get a load of this!"

An on-line site suggests that 5 is the number of grace, cross, atonement, life. Number 2 is symbolic of witness and separation.

18-20- Because He was charged, everything He touched received life. Twelve is the number of divine government and apostolic fullness. Baskets can symbolize abundant provision, as well as protection.

It's fun savoring the leftover food that hadn't been touched - still fresh and delicious today.

21. Was the day's benediction, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul. Let ALL that is within me, bless His holy name!"