"Free Food"

With one out of every seven people in this country receiving food stamps as well as hundreds of food banks and churches who give away food for those who show up to take home a sack, the following story seems to fit into life today. And yet nothing can compare with this “free food.” Jesus had been teaching his disciples, preparing them for service. He was their rabbi and teacher. According to tradition, the disciples would follow their rabbi for a period of three years, leaving families and work and devoting time to study with him.

On this particular occasion, the Lord and his disciples needed a time of rest, taking a boat to Lake Galilee. But the crowds heard about their trip and followed on shore. (cf. Matthew 14; Mark 6; John 6). Jesus had been healing and teaching, and the crowds wanted more. I often wonder if they followed Him for the show, to hear His teaching or see miracles of healing….probably all of the above. In any case, the Lord loved this motley group of people. He did heal them; he preached to them of the kingdom, and spoke as no man had spoken before. He spoke with "authority" (Matthew 7:28-29; cf. John 7:46). He healed with "compassion" (Matthew 14:14). He loved them as only God could love. And what a show they were about to see!

So this great crowd of 5,000 men….not to mention the wives and kids had followed Him. It was late in the day. Everyone was tired and hungry. The disciples told the Lord to send the people home or go to the local 7/11 and buy food. Did they have any food among them? Well, there were five loaves of bread and a couple of salted fish….that certainly would not handle this crowd. Fortunately, the disciples had obtained their “food handlers” license and the fish were declared free of antibiotics and not farm raised. There was a warning label as to the sodium content, but after having spent hours in the sun, a little salt would benefit these people. There were no additives in the bread and although it contained saturated fat a small slice would pass. The calories consumed were within guidelines of the hungry multitudes.

He gave the traditional Hebrew blessing and those fish and loaves multiplied enough to feed that crowd, plus they had extra baskets left over. What a miracle! Why didn’t this crowd prepare for themselves? Couldn’t they have brought their own bread and fish? How does this story apply to us? I often think how we too don’t prepare for the “end of the day.” Here we see God’s love and care for his people, but there is warning also. There will be a time when the fish and bread might run out. The “end of the day” might be fast approaching (John 9:4). Think loaves and fishes…..then "prepare" (Matthew 24:36-44; Matthew 25:1-13). —Barbara Hyland, guest writer

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets