Matthew 14:13-21 - August 6, 2023

The story of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle story recorded in all four Gospels. And because it is the only miracle story recorded in all four Gospels, there must be something pretty important about it. There must be something to this story that spoke to those writers, something that made them say, “Yes! THIS is something I want to confess about Jesus and God and us!”

So, what is that confession? What do the writers want to convey to us? 

The first and obvious answer is they wanted to share about Jesus’ power and ability. And while I think that is true, there are lots of stories that can be told of Jesus’ power. Yet, all four told this one particular story with only minor differences. 

Maybe it had to do with the sheer number of people that were following Jesus at that time. “Five thousand men, besides the women and children” is kind of a lot. But again, any time Jesus is teaching there are “crowds.” Surely, this wasn’t the only time he had a following this huge. 

Maybe it had to do with food. While most of us take food for granted, that wasn’t the case in the First Century, where there weren’t any Food Lions. It was hard to get enough, let alone enough to be full, and even harder to have leftovers. 

Or maybe it shows that Jesus can do a lot with a little. A good lesson to remember.

Or maybe they are trying to show Jesus’ compassion for those who did not have. 

And just for the record, I think it has something to do with all those things. 

This story comes right after the death of John the Baptist. The beheading of his cousin is the news that makes Jesus draw away to a deserted place. This execution was ordered by King Herod to show off for a lady friend while he was hosting a feast. That meal is full of indulgence, exclusion, immorality, and death. Our lesson today, though, is a very different type of feast and is hosted by Jesus, a very different type of King. 

Despite this being a miracle, this isn’t a feast where Jesus is showing off, trying to impress people. Jesus isn’t feeding people simply because he can. He is feeding people for the straightforward reason that they are hungry. There isn’t pomp to the practice, nor is there boasting behind the breaking of the bread. This is about a gracious King who gives to those in need, who provides for those who do not have. This meal is hosted by the Messiah, who does the same for his people as God did for the Israelites when they were in the wilderness: provide them with food to eat. 

This is a miracle story, no doubt, but it is also an example of who Jesus is, what God is about. God is about care for people. Sure, it shows Jesus’ power, but more so, it shows his love for his people. While Herod was having a party to flaunt his power and influence, Jesus used who he was to provide - to do beyond what is right for the people to meet their deepest needs. 

But, as we’ve heard, there is a little more to the story than that. While it shows us who our King is and the power and generosity of God, Jesus doesn’t do it by himself. The multiplying stuff, yeah, that he does, but to do it, Jesus looks to the disciples. 

“You give them something to eat.” 

Probably a little flabbergasted, the disciples examine their inventory and find they only have 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed over 5,000 people. “We have nothing here but…” Nothing but. Only. 

That argument holds no water with Jesus. Because Jesus can do so much with just a little bit. Just a little bit of bread. Just a little bit of willingness. Just a little bit of compassion. Jesus can turn that little into a whole lot. 

We at St. Philip over the years have used our little to do a lot. And over the next couple of years, our little will do a lot. 

Our meals for the homeless started out as sandwiches in the park, and now we prepare at least 60 homecooked meals with guests who come here for food and hospitality. A little bit has grown tremendously. 

Christmas in July used to be a few names on a tree and now has been multiplied to donating thousands of dollars to foster families and other families in need. A little bit turned grand. 

A small congregation, while not transformed into anything resembling a mega church in any way, does a whole lot. And I think that’s because we take what we have, and we trust Jesus to do some pretty great things with it. 

Even when we feel like we don’t have much to give, much to offer - Jesus gladly takes our little bit and does something miraculous. But just because Jesus can do a lot with a little doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do more. Jesus doesn’t mean for us to only offer up five loaves when we really have 10; instead, Jesus wants us to get beyond the “but only” mentality - “but we only have this.” “I can only supply that.” It’s often our “it’s up to me” attitude that blinds us to what God can do and does do in our world. 

When things seem too big and we aren’t enough, hand it over to Jesus. 

This miracle story reminds us… it’s not my effort, it’s not my gift, but it is in whose hands that gift goes. Our gifts, given over to Jesus’ hands, work some pretty amazing things. A little bit goes a long way. A little bit of effort. A little bit of faith. A little bit of action. A little bit of giving. It goes a long way because we aren’t doing this ourselves. 

And while we give to Jesus, Jesus gives back to us; Jesus makes sure we are fed. The Messiah hosts a meal for us. As Jesus took the bread from the disciples, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, Jesus does the same for us. He gives us himself in bread and wine. Jesus hosted thousands in this miracle meal, hosted twelve disciples at the Last Supper, and Jesus hosts us at his table today, feeding us forgiveness and grace. In lowly gifts of bread and wine, Christ comes to us to help us live as his disciples, to live out his call - “you give them something to eat.” 

While this story shows us many things about Jesus - his power, his compassion, his ability to do a lot with a little - it is also about how Jesus includes us, how he uses what we offer - large or small - to do miraculous things. 

Jesus wants to use what we have - including just us - to show the abundant love of God. And part of our lives, both here at church and out in the world, is to trust that Jesus is who we claim him to be, to trust that he will do what he says. He is powerful enough to do something amazing with what we give over to him, even if all we have is ourselves. 

And that is the promise of this story: Jesus takes who we are and assures us that we are more than enough. No buts, no onlys. And we are now part of living out that love. 

That’s the miracle here: not what Jesus does with some bread and fish, but what Jesus does with us. He feeds us and calls us to feed. He loves us and calls us to love. He takes you in his hands and tells you that you are more than enough. 

That is the miracle that truly shows God’s intentions, God’s abundance, God’s love.