“And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them,
Give ye them to eat.
And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples,
Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets. And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying,
Whom say the people that I am?
They answering said, John the Baptists; but some say Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them,
But whom say ye that I am?
Peter answering said, The Christ of God. And he straightly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; Saying,
The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” Luke 9 v10-22 AKJV
To be like Jesus. What Jesus did here in feeding thousands seems like a task that would be impossible to us, and it is, but…
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phillipians 4 v13
So we continue to do our very best at what we know to do, and then, as Jesus directed the disciples to do-bring our biggest problems to him and then trust him. Jesus gave specific directions and fed the thousands. He showed great compassion and a large display of strength in feeding the thousands. One thing to consider is the people had a desire to follow him.
He also knew to look forward to the events he knew were to come that others did not know of and gave another specific direction-“tell no man that thing.” The reason is, he knew going to the cross was coming for him. He was not trying to avoid it, but knew that men would involved in trying to manipulate circumstances so they did not need to know his every move, until the timing was right for it. Many times, depending on what we know our own future looks like, it is better not to tell all of our business. There is no reason for us to give our adversary an unnecessary advantage.
Looking forward, today is a good day. Lord, we thank you for this day. Amen
Thursday 1/10/2019
Threecrosses 