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DAY 2: MIRACLE MATH

Besides Jesus’ resurrection, the only miracle all four gospels record is the one they almost missed.

It had been a long day. Everyone wanted alone time, including Jesus, so they tried to sneak away… only to be followed by a crowd of people. It would be like putting your phone on “Do Not Disturb” so you could take a nap, only to hear a knock at your front door.

The disciples probably cursed under their breath at the sight of the crowd. But not Jesus. He was moved with compassion for the people, so He began to heal and teach them.

As the line to see Jesus grew, the disciples couldn’t take it anymore. They’d been so busy they hadn’t even had time to eat, and their stomachs were telling them it was time to shut this party down. So they pulled Jesus aside and said, “It’s late and these people have to get home for dinner. Why don’t we call it a day?”

But Jesus looked at His friends and said, “You give them something to eat.”

Hangry and confused, the disciples tried to explain they were surrounded by thousands of people. A year’s salary wouldn’t be enough to feed them! And even if they had the resources, they didn’t have access to food.

Jesus simply said, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Go look.”

Some of the disciples probably sat down and simply put their faces in their hands. But one of them, Andrew, began to scan the crowd — that’s when he discovered a boy with a little lunch. He brought the boy to Jesus and said, “He has five loaves and two fish, but I’m not sure what we can do with that.”

It’s easy to imagine Jesus smiling as He took the food and blessed it, knowing He was about to meet the needs of thousands — and have plenty left over! Maybe that’s why this miracle impacted all four gospel writers. Perhaps it was the moment they realized Jesus cared about their souls and their stomachs.

And by the way, Jesus only asked about the loaves, not the two fish (Mark 6:38). It was only when they were looking for the loaves that they discovered the fish they didn’t even know they had.

If you’re reading this from a place where you don’t feel like you have enough, look for what you do have. What gifts have you been given? When you're generous with your gift, no matter how small it may seem, it always becomes greater. Do something today to share your gift.