What Good Is That?
Scripture: John 6:8-15 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)
8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” 10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 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. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. 14 When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. (John 6:8–15 NLT)
This miracle, the feeding of five thousand men, plus women and children, is included in all four gospels. It is a remarkable thing Jesus did here!
When he saw the hungry crowd and felt compassion for them, he challenged his closest followers, his disciples, to be part of a miracle. He challenged Philip to consider the impossibility of a natural solution. Andrew discovered the extent of the meager resources at hand, a young boy’s lunch of sardines and biscuits.
Andrew spoke what is often on the mind of well-meaning Christ followers when faced with great challenges and limited resources, “Here’s what we’ve got, but what good is that?”
These meager, apparently inadequate resources were (hesitantly, skeptically, willingly, hopefully, wonderingly, expectantly, desperately?) placed in Jesus’ hands. The rest is history!
Prayer:
Father, I confess that I often think the way Andrew did on that day – “The needs are so great and our abilities so small!” “The future looks scary and this is all I have!” Thanks for your patience with my “What good is that?” thinking. I place all that I am and all that I have in your hands. I believe it is good enough and that with the miracle touch of Jesus it will be more than enough. Amen.