Read Luke 9:11-17

JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND
The kingdom of God was a focal point of Jesus’ teaching. He explained that it was not just a future kingdom; it was among them, embodied in Him, the Messiah. Even though the kingdom will not be complete until He returns again in glory, you do not have to wait to taste it. The kingdom of God begins in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus. It is as present with us today as it was with the disciples almost 2,000 years ago.
Jesus had quietly tried to slip away from the crowds, but they found out where He was going and followed Him. Instead of showing impatience at this interruption, Jesus welcomed the people and ministered to their needs. How do you see people who interrupt your schedule – as nuisances or as opportunities to minister?
When the disciples expressed concern about where the crowd of thousands would eat, Jesus offered a surprising statement: “You feed them.” The disciples protested, focusing their attention on what they didn’t have, food or money. Do you think that God would ask you to do something that you and He together couldn’t handle? Don’t let your lack of resources blind you to God’s power.
Why did Jesus bother to feed these people? He could have easily just sent them on their way. But Jesus does not ignore needs. He is concerned with every aspect of our lives. As you work to bring wholeness to people’s lives, you must never ignore the fact that all of us have both spiritual and physical needs. It is impossible to minister effectively to one type of need without considering the other.