“Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. –Matthew 15:34-37
The disciples had the great privilege of witnessing Jesus teach, and perform miracles. They saw him heal the sick and make the blind see. One would think that the disciples would have the utmost faith in Jesus’ ability to overcome the smallest obstacles. Yet, over and over again, we read that the disciples fail to believe that, “All things are possible with God.” (Matthew 19:26)
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is with his disciples along the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him has he healed and taught. The crowd was far from home and the disciples knew they would need food to feed the several thousand people who had gathered. The disciples only response to the situation was to send the crowd home. They believed it was far beyond their capability to care for the crowd. They did not believe they had the resources necessary. Jesus showed them that they had all that they needed.
We are often like the disciples. Our eyes focus on the problem in front of us instead of the one in our midst who is capable of overcoming any difficulty we may be facing. That day, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were reminded that no obstacle is too great for God. With God, we have all that we need.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
