Jesus feed�s the four thousand

Surely one of the top 5 Sunday school bible stories, the feeding of the 5 thousand. So what�s this feeding of the four thousand about? A typo? Someone getting a few numbers and dates wrong? I found it interesting the other day when reading it in Mark 8, why it was there at all. Well firstly to clear up it apparently definitely happened, the two mass feeding frenzies are mentioned in more than one of the gospels with clear differences between the 5 and 4 thousand session.

I think it�s in there to show how dull the disciples of Jesus could be. Let�s first go back to the story we all know, feeding the 5 thousand. Imagine for a second that you or I were following Jesus around. We have a large crowd and we missed breakfast. Everyone is getting hungry. We have 5 thousand men plus their ladies and kids. If it was a 2.4 family (which it probably wasn�t, much more I expect) then you are looking at enough people to fill half of Fratton Park. Feeding that lot is a fairly large task with a catering team and plenty of food. Try and do it with a few fish and babs. An interesting miracle for Jesus, as he demonstrates that he is the boss of the physical world. Some how he produces enough food to feed everyone and have left overs. Now imagine again that you have just witnessed that with your own eyes and even been involved with handing the food out and collecting the leftovers. Not sure about you but that would stick in my mind.

So, sometime later, lets call it a year or so. You stumble upon a large hungry crowd again. You might think that you would be fairly relaxed. ââ?¬Å?Jesus, do that food thing again.ââ?¬Â But actually the disciples questioned Jesus. Verse 4: ââ?¬Å?But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?ââ?¬Â

Now, hereââ?¬â?¢s where I got challenged. Itââ?¬â?¢s easy to think I would have handled that situation differently; but in truth I do exactly the same thing every day. Jesus has sorted me out, pulled me through things and has never let me down. Yet when I have a situation that seems impossible, I question Him, all I can see is the problem. Even now I can hear my self asking God ââ?¬Å?But where can I get enough bread, how will I sort this out?ââ?¬Â I think Jesus wants me to look at these challenges through his eyes not ours. We can only see the mountain but Jesus has a much better view and looks at the bigger picture. He has come through for us before and He will do it again. Amazing how many times I need a reminder to trust Him.