Something From Nothing
“When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.”
John 6:12 (KJV)
It happened many years ago but I remember it well. The Rumford’s had a family reunion with about 100 family members in attendance. We held it on a farm that had been deserted long ago. The barn was falling down and the house needed repair.
All the cousins played together while the meal was prepared. When it was ready, I recall being amazed at how much food there was—everything a child could hope for. Every family had brought a basket of food and there was more than enough.
The story around our verse for today tells us of a similar situation, but with a twist. There were many people gathered together but no one (except for a little boy) had brought any food with them. The only food was the boy’s meager lunch of a few barley loaves and two small fish. The crowd numbered about 5,000 people. What could be done when all they had was enough for a child?
Jesus told the disciples to have the people to sit down and to organize them into groups. He gave thanks for the food they had, started breaking the loaves and fish into pieces, and gave them to the disciples to distribute. From the boy’s small lunch Jesus produced enough food (and more) for the large crowd.
Everyone knew that He was performing a miracle of creation, and that He made the meal for everyone from nothing. An ordinary person couldn’t do this. These normal, intelligent people soon realized that this Jesus was indeed someone very special. They wanted to make Him their leader so He could defeat the Roman army and make Israel free again. They tried to force Jesus to become their king.
When He saw that they only wanted Him to solve their political problems, He quietly walked away to a nearby mountain. Although He wanted them to know He was the Creator God, at the same time He wanted them to know that He alone would decide His path. They would have no say in it.
It’s the same with us. Jesus wants us to know (and accept) Him as the One who created everything. (Colossians 1:15-17). He’ll use His powers to assist us, but we mustn’t try to force Him into doing things our way.
Jesus will help and assist us through the problems that are common to everyone. Ask Him for the help you need. If it’s something that requires a specific solution, go ahead. But if He decides to walk with you through the problem (rather than make it disappear), submit to His will and He’ll supply all the help you need to get through. He will never leave or forsake you.
“Of all our Lord Jesus Christ’s miracles, none is so frequently described in the Gospels, as that which we have now read. Each of the four Evangelists was inspired to record it. It is evident that it demands a more than ordinary attention from every reader of God’s word.“ J.C. Ryle