CHRIST PROVIDES, WE DELIVER.

February 18, 2016

CHRIST PROVIDES, WE DELIVER.

Matthew 14:13–21

Don Campbell

Central Truth

Christ can miraculously provide the resources, but He expects us, as His disciples, to deliver the goods.

Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ". . . [S]end the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus said, "They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat." . . . [T]aking the five loaves . . . he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. (Matthew 14:15-19)

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

This passage begins with personal sorrow for Jesus. He had just received word that King Herod had beheaded John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12). John and Jesus were related through their mothers (Luke 1:35-80), and John had personally baptized Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17). So Jesus wanted to withdraw in private to mourn. Crowds, however, followed His boat. Instead of being offended, Jesus "had compassion on them and healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14). He also began teaching them many things about the Kingdom. (Mark 6:34; Luke 9:11)

When dinnertime came, the disciples suggested sending the crowd into villages to buy food. Jesus replied, "You feed them." The disciples complained that it would cost them eight months' wages to buy enough food (John 6:7; Mark 6:37). Instead, Jesus took their five loaves and two fish, thanked God, and miraculously multiplied them into more than enough food for all of the people, delivering the augmented food to the disciples, who then distributed it to the crowd. Jesus could have made this food appear instantaneously in the laps of every person, but He chose not to, instead using the disciples to dispense it. God sometimes limits Himself to act through us humans on earth; examples are the Old Testament prophets who transmitted God's word (Jeremiah 1:4-10; Isaiah 6:1-13) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), where Jesus commands His disciples to go to all nations. In such situations, Jesus takes limited human resources and enhances them miraculously to serve others.

In my early legal career, my family and I and a few other young Christian attorneys undertook several high-profile, contentious cases involving God's standards (represented by laudable state statutes) and attacking morally offensive conduct by high-ranking politicians. From very meager resources, God multiplied our efforts and provided great legal victories of statewide and nationwide import. But we first had to do the hard work of vigorous litigation, taking tolls on our families and businesses. God provided, but we had to deliver.

As Jesus' disciples, you can accomplish the same things in your spheres of influence by modeling Jesus and becoming servant leaders. So get moving and deliver the goods!

1. Have we spread around to others this week God's provisions to us (e.g., biblical truth, love, understanding, time, effort, and actual food and clothing)? Jesus instructs us that when we impart food, clothing, and solace to the lowest members of society, we do so for Jesus Himself. (Matthew 25:34-45)

2. Could we overcome a time of great personal sorrow (e.g., the death of a loved one) to dispense God's blessings (love, mercy, compassion) on other needy people? God orders us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8), and Jesus commanded us to "feed my sheep" (John 21:17).

3. How will we be evaluated by God when He assesses whether we have utilized His gifts to us (our time, talents, and treasure) in providing for those "crowds" interested in exploring Christ? Read Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10.