IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Jesus Feeds Four Thousand

Date: May. 30, 2021

Passage

Matthew 15:29-39

Jesus Heals Many

29 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Matthew 15:36

he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

1. Jesus decides to feed the crowd (29-33)

Jesus moved from Tyre and Sidon back to the Sea of Galilee. Huge, needy crowds gathered. Jesus continued his healing ministry to what is believed to be a mostly Gentile crowd (who praise the God of Israel). Jesus expressed the same compassion to Gentiles as he did with Jewish crowds in chapter 14 by deciding to feed them. The disciples were at a loss at how to do that. They seemed to have forgotten what Jesus could do. How will you respond when God prompts you to participate in what he wants to do?

2. 'How many loaves do you have?' (34-39)

Jesus asked the disciples what they had. It was only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. But Jesus took it, thanked his Father, broke it, and gave it to his disciples to distribute to the four thousand men besides woman and children. Everyone ate well, and there were even basketfuls of food left over. Let us not underestimate how God can bless others when we give him what we have.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your tender care for all kinds of people. Help us to remember what you've done and offer what we have to you in faith.

One Word: What can you offer to Jesus?

Daily Bread

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

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