BE READY FOR THE MULTIPLICATION!

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.  Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”  Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”  Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.  When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. —John 6:5-13

             When Jesus wanted to feed 5,000 men, He asked Philip to test him, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”  Jesus already knew what He was going to do.  Philip knew and responded that “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”  But Andrew said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”  Andrew brought what he found among the people and Jesus took what he brought, “gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.  When they had all had enough to eat.”  Then he told the disciples to “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”  They did so “and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”

             The 5,000 men did nothing to be fed.  They were just sitting as they had been instructed.  Jesus gave them food freely and they were satisfied.  For other passages we know that Jesus did not distribute the bread Himself, but the disciples did (Mark 14:19).  Jesus gave the bread and fish to his disciples after He multiplied it and they gave it to the 5,000 people.  After everyone had their fill, the disciples then gathered “twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”

             Here’s an application— when Jesus gets ready to multiply something, His disciples need to be ready to distribute what He has multiplied.  Are you ready for what He wants to multiply in/through your life?  May it be so, Dear Father, by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Precious Son Jesus.  When You do so, may we give You all the glory.  So be it!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8uA8jfejbE&list=RDq8uA8jfejbE&start_radio=1