After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. JOHN 6:1-13 NLT
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. JOHN 3:16 NLT
O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! 1 CHRONICLES 29:13-14 NLT
We cannot worship a giving God and not be a giving people
…use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. EPHESIANS 4:28 NLT
The LORD said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. EXODUS 25:1-2 NLT
He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations…’” MARK 11:17 NLT
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. LUKE 6:38 NLT
Read through John 6:1-13 three times. First, imagine yourself as the boy. What do you experience as you hear Jesus’ words and look at your small lunch (e.g. pride, self-denial, joy, etc)? What do you expect him to do? Next, imagine you are Philip: what do you feel as Jesus asks you to do the impossible (e.g. anger, helplessness, fear, etc)? Which of these feelings resonate the most for you? Now read through the story, focusing your attention on Jesus, as he is moved by the needs of the people, as he invites his disciples to help and as he takes what is offered and performs a miracle. As you look at your own life and what you have and what you offer, focus again on Jesus and know that you serve a God who has compassion on you, who is moved by your need and who invites you into the miraculous. As you go throughout your week, return to this moment and remember God’s compassion for you.