Jesus Feeds the 5000 | Matthew 14:13- 21

Feeding the Five Thousand

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted 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 for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

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Ah, the miracle of the feeding of the 5000.  It’s a piece of scripture, I’d venture to guess, that most of us have heard more than a few times.  There’s probably a good reason for that as well, as it’s written about six times in our four Gospels alone! Seems like it was pretty important to our early Christian leaders, so maybe it’s something we should take a good look at.

Now, you might have heard all sorts of theories on how this miraculous meal happened - but no matter if you think it possible because some initial generous sharing inspired others to share what they had as well or if you imagine bread and fish just continuing to pop-up as if out of some space age replicator - I think we can all agree that a true miracle did happen that day. Out of scarcity, there became abundance!

In the scene laid out before us, the disciples try to convince Jesus to send this gathered crowd away, they just want some rest and want to provide him with some too, so they tell him that there is no way they have enough food to feed this crowd- just dismiss them all so they can go into their nearby towns and feed themselves.  Jesus, the always compassionate host and demonstrative teacher, challenges them to find food to feed this crowd themselves.  Gathering together all that they can, they return with only two fish and five loaves of bread.  Knowing that this isn’t even enough to feed themselves, let alone this whole crowd, they offer it to Jesus.  And instead of doing the logical thing and dismissing this crowd, Jesus tells them to have everyone sit down and they will distribute this food out.  And that’s when it happens: suddenly this shared bread and fish becomes enough to feed everyone.  But it’s more than that, too; they also gather up the leftovers and find that now there are twelve overflowing baskets of crumbs and pieces!

This scarcity became an amazing abundance!  So much leftover bread showing that shared bread has the power to transform, has the power to multiply!

It’s that shared bread, which can give us a glimpse into what God is calling for us to do – it’s that shared bread that gives us insight into what God is doing in our midst.  We are called to share what we have – and not just in a money sense, or in a physical sense – we are called to share ourselves, our time, our talents, gifts, abilities, stories – everything.  And when we do share them, when we do share them – God can multiply them – God can make an abundance out of what we have.  So although you may think you don’t have much to share – although you might think it’s just a few loaves of bread – when you share it – it can change everything – when you share your stories – when you share how God’s love changed you – when you share your time in helping someone else or listening to someone else – when you share your talents teaching someone else, that is multiplied – that is transformed and miraculously – that goes on and on and on to reach so many more people, to fill so many other empty bellies and hearts!  

And maybe you think you’ve shared all you can – maybe you are feeling the emptiness of only having pieces left – maybe you are feeling the loneliness of losing a loved one, or maybe you are feeling the hollowness of stretching yourself thin, or just feel vacuum of despair and depression – if you feel like you’ve only got pieces – if you’ve got nothing valuable to God.  Think again – because Jesus collected those pieces.  Picked up all those little fragments of shared bread broken and tossed aside – Jesus picked up all of them, collected them with care – and there was an abundance of brokenness – but instead of it being lonely – instead of it being a crummy mess – there were twelve full baskets!  Full of abundance, full of shared bread that still had so much potential – full baskets of fragments that stood as a witness to the power of God – that stood as a testament to the love of Christ!  

So maybe you feel like just a little piece that isn’t worth keeping – but I’m here to tell you – you are shared bread, baby.  You are shared bread – bread which makes a difference – shared bread which feeds people in so many ways – shared bread which is monumental – shared bread which shows that God is indeed here, shared bread that keeps the community fed.  Shared bread, which is marked and blessed and offered out to the world and then also lovingly gathered in by Jesus – even after it’s been used and left broken –shared bread which continues to show that God loves this world – every little piece of it.  So go on and be that shared bread, baby!  For whether you feel whole or broken, you are a beautiful testament to God’s love in this world!

Prayer: Equipping God, on a hillside, you looked at your disciples and said, “You give them something to eat.” We read these words and realize that from the very beginning, you have seen good in us. From the very beginning, you have known that we are capable of great love. From the very beginning, you have believed that we could make a difference and that we could share ourselves with others.

Calling God, help us to see that truth in ourselves. Help us to see your fingerprints in our lives.

Help us to see the ways you have equipped us to serve. Help us to see the ways that we are capable, that we are enough, that we can share you and your love with the world.  Help remind us that we are your beautiful shared bread.  In your hands we can help make the impossible possible. Amen. 

Rev. Dana Smith (They/Them)

Syracuse, NY - Atonement Lutheran Church

Camper 2000-2005

Faculty 2022-2023