Taste & SeeSample

A Feast for 20,000

The waning rays of daylight glittered across the Sea of Galilee. People were scattered as far as the eye could see along the grass that hugged the shoreline. But the pleasantness of the afternoon began to fade with the sun, as the crowd grew restless and hungry. Tummies rumbling, children crying, and a mass of humanity with more needs than the disciples had denarii to feed. The only logical solution was to send the crowds away hungry.

Or so the disciples thought…

Before Jesus and his disciples had found themselves surrounded by thousands of hungry people, they had come away from one of the busiest seasons in their ministry. A few days earlier, the twelve had returned from their first missionary journeys when they received the news of John the Baptist’s murder. At the height of their success, Jesus called a time-out.

“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31

Jesus’ invitation to step away was welcomed, but it would be short-lived. Their pace was unsustainable, and the desolate place that promised reprieve was interrupted by the crowds who were hot on their trail. Now the crowd was hungry, and Jesus gave the disciples the impossible command, “You feed them.”

How could they possibly feed this massive crowd? If there were about 5,000 men, there were about 20,000 people in total, including women and children. There was no human solution to this divine problem, but Jesus set them to work to take inventory in the crowd of what supplies they could use.

One boy offered his lunch of five flatbread crackers and two sardines. It was a snack for one when they needed meals for 20,000. But whatever is given to the Lord is more than enough supply to meet the demand. Jesus blessed the snack, and the disciples began to distribute the food.

Inexplicably, Peter broke the bread, gave it away, and had another whole piece left. He gave a whole fish to a man and had another whole fish left. Twenty thousand times over they all ate, even the hungry and doubting disciples, and they were all satisfied.

The disciples arrived at their seaside retreat hungry. Hungry for food and rest. They must’ve known that with Jesus, all their needs would eventually get met, but as the events of the day unfolded, their faith had been tested. When the feast was over, the disciples took up 12 baskets of leftovers. One basket for each to hold as a divine reminder of God's provision, even in their doubt.

Are you in a season where you’re tired, and without leisure to rest and eat? Consider the twelve baskets of leftovers as a reminder that God sees you and your needs. Come away by yourself to a quiet place, and spend time with the Lord of Hosts. His provisions are bountiful, and you’ll discover that partaking of him is a feast for your soul. You’ll come away full, and chances are, with leftovers to spare.

Food for Thought

1. This miraculous story is the only one (besides the resurrection) that shows up in all four gospel accounts. Why do you think all the gospel writers include it?
2. The disciples and Jesus were seeking rest and a time to get away from the crowds before this miracle took place. How do you think the disciples might’ve been feeling about serving the needs of the crowd before and after this miracle?
3. If you had been one of the disciples that day and Jesus said to you, “You feed them,” how would you have responded?
4. When the day was over and you held your own basket full of leftovers, how might that have felt then?