On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.
The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Luke 9:10-17
The feeding of the 5,000 is scripture that we’ve all heard. As young children in Sunday School we learn that there were only two fish and five loaves of bread to feed the 5,000 people that had come to hear Jesus preach. This miracle is one that is continuously taught about in Sunday School. I have probably read this passage more times than I can count.
But just recently, Pastor Adam preached a sermon focused on this passage. We looked at this story in a new light.
The disciples had just returned from spreading the news around the Galilee and with Jesus they retreated to Bethsaida for time alone. The crowds followed. Jesus preached. And he healed. And as the night was creeping in, the disciples began to worry about how the people would eat.
“Send them away…”
the disciples begged. And Jesus turned to them and said,
“You give them something to eat.”
Wait what? How had I missed this part before?
“You give them something to eat.”
I can’t read this story now without hearing an emphasis on the you. You give them something to eat.
Jesus is calling his disciples to care for these people, to feed them, to look after them.
God so desperately longs to work in our lives, to work through us, to connect with us.
Who is God calling you to give something to eat? Who is God calling you to bless? Who is God calling you to support and encourage?
God is calling us to provide to those around us. What can you give? Do? Say? Pray?
Lord, let us feed Your people. May we offer support, love, encouragement, prayers, food, and much more to those around us. Amen.
We are halfway through Lent, and I am spending the next 24 days praying for you! I’d love to connect with you and pray for you throughout the coming weeks! If there is something specific I can pray for, please check out my Let’s Connect page and send me a message!
Abbey Jo
Adventures with Abbey Jo 
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