Key Passage: Matthew 14:13-21

Topic: Jesus; Obedience/Discipleship

But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."(Matthew 14:16, ESV)

Can't you hear the disciples? "What? Us, feed a couple thousand people? No way!"

Jesus is teaching a huge crowd gathered in an isolated area. It's getting late, and everyone is hungry. So the disciples suggest to Jesus that He send the group away so they can go home or to a nearby village and get some food.

And Jesus' matter-of-fact response surprises them: "You feed them."

Now one of His disciples must have anticipated He'd suggest something like that because they'd already scouted around and found a small boy who'd brought a lunch of two fish and five loaves of bread. They knew it wouldn't feed so many and said so, "We have only five loaves of bread and two measly fish!"

Have you ever responded that same way when Jesus has asked you to do something?

"What! You want me to teach a Sunday school class full of lively 6th graders? I have only so much patience."

"What! You want the small group to meet at my place? My house is too small and the furniture is old."

"What! You want me to go to seminary! I don't have the money to pay for it."

Read the next verses in the passage. The disciples learned that day--and we learn from experience too--that if Jesus asks us to do something He will provide all that we need to do His will.

With the available bread and fish, Jesus more than fed 5,000: the disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftovers!