Miraculous Multiplication

Jesus Fed Thousands on Two Separate Occasions

Loaves and Fish Every Month

I cannot count how many times I didn’t have enough money to make it to the end of the month.

Let me tell you, there have even been times when I didn’t think I’d make it to the middle of the month.

Then I remind myself that Jesus had only a few fish and loaves of bread when he filled the bellies of thousands of hungry men, women, and children. He did it twice.

He did it for them. He can do it for me.

He still provides loaves and fishes. I am living proof.

Best Laid Plans

Stash away as much as you can in your savings account because money-sucking emergencies will pop up:

• The transmission on the car konked out. (Thank God for the ‘spare’ vehicle.)
• The back of the fridge started smoking and died. Now you’re buying bags of ice to keep the milk and yogurt cold.
• Suddenly stinky septic tank issues appeared in the back yard.
• The engine block on the truck locked up. And now the truck is DOA. (So much for the spare vehicle.)
• The daycare price increase just kicked in and it is a doozey.
• Grocery store prices skyrocketed overnight.
• The dentist doesn’t accept your insurance and that tooth is throbbing like a disco beat.

Any one of those inconvenient events will put a hefty dent in your reserves. And don’t let two or three of them happen at the same time…

Many a day I have poured over the calendar and tried to figure out how I was going to make it through the month.

And yet, I did make it. Jesus said the following about the necessities of life:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith?” Matthew 6:25–30 New International Version

He already knows what I need. He already knows what you need. Let that sink in.

Time and time again He’s made a way for me and mine. The Lord provided provision when it seemed hopeless…when the days were rolling by and the bills were coming due.

It reminds me of those two times Jesus miraculously fed thousands with only enough fish and bread to satisfy a couple of people. The crowds following him were running on empty.

But Jesus provided for every single one of them.

Miracle #1: Jesus Feeds Over 5,000 People

Multitudes of people followed Jesus because he performed miracles and healed the sick. Once an immense crowd followed him to a remote area. So Jesus began teaching them as well as healing the sick.

When evening rolled around, the disciples implored Jesus to send the people away. After all, it was getting late. The crowd needed to get to nearest towns to find food and places to bed down for the night.

Jesus turned to Phillip and asked about the possibility of buying enough food to feed the crowd. There were 5,000 hungry men as well as numerous women and children milling about.

I like to think that Philip was standing beside Jesus with an ‘Are you kidding me?’ look on his face because his answer to Jesus was:

“It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a single bite!” — John 6:7 New International Version

But Jesus already knew that he was going to perform a miracle. He was just testing Philip.

Just then Andrew, another disciple, piped up and reported that in their midst was young boy who had two fish and five barley loaves. But he was at a loss, too. There were just too many people to be fed. What good was a few fish and loaves going to do?

Jesus ordered the people to sit in groups on the grass. He then took the food and blessed it. Then the food was distributed among the people.

And get this — twelve baskets of leftovers were collected after all of the people finished eating.

Miracle #2: Jesus Feeds Over 4,000 People

This Looks Familiar

Once again, Jesus was ministering to a large group of people who’d been following him around for the last three days. Now it was time to send them back to their homes.

Except there was no food for the trip back. And some of them had traveled a long distance to find Jesus. He was concerned that they’d collapse from hunger on the way back.

The disciples wondered out loud about where would they ever find enough food to feed everyone. So Jesus asked how much food they had.

They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.” Matthew 15:34 New Living Translation

Jesus told the people in the crowd to sit down on the ground. He then took the food, blessed it and distributed it among the people.

Everyone ate until they were satisfied. And this time seven baskets of leftovers were collected. Four thousand men plus women and children ate that day.

Jesus provided back then. He still provides today. Amen!

If you enjoyed this article, then check out ‘Bible Study vs Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll’ here or ‘Is it Possible to Sell Your Soul?’ here. You can also try ‘Three Women Who Were Sexually Assaulted in the Old Testament’ here. Thanks for your time. Thanks for reading.