Following Jesus Even When It Doesn't Add UpSample

5 Loaves of Bread + 2 Fish = 5,000 Fish Sandwiches 

Jesus and his disciples found themselves out in the boondocks where restaurants were sparse. There wasn’t even a McDonald’s (yikes!). This wouldn’t have seemed like a big deal if it were merely Jesus and his twelve closest friends but there was also a “vast crowd” among them. 

There may well have been over 15,000 men, women and children out there since 5,000 men were officially counted. Where’s a food court when you need one? 

Speaking of food, a few disciples came to Jesus that evening and said, “This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Seems like some wise, prudent advice, doesn’t it? What they heard next must have been jaw-dropping…

“That isn’t necessary--you feed them”, Jesus replied.

The shocked disciples did a quick food inventory and gave Jesus the painful truth…

“Impossible! We have only five loaves of bread and two fish!”

You can just see the mathematical wheels turning inside these guys’ heads as they hold their meager supply while gazing upon this horde of hungry people. What Jesus proceeded to do next is teach these young grasshoppers another divine math lesson. Class is in session.

The food critic reviews started steadily streaming in…

“Compliments to the Chef!”

“Best fish sandwich of 31 A.D.!”

“A refreshing lesson in multiplication!”

“The best in Divine dining.”

“No better deal for the money.”

When all the dust settled and belly groans were exchanged for belches of contentment,

"They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves, in addition to all the women and children!" (Matthew 14:20-21)

Reflection:

Have you ever been the recipient of the multiplication of Jesus? Perhaps a car having its miles multiplied? Maybe the fuel tank in that car being multiplied in order to get you to the next gas station? How about appliances that last much longer than they should? And that bank account that stayed in the positive longer than you thought it would?