Faith-Boost – Matthew 15:29-39

What’s wrong with me? I see God do mighty things, like rid someone of a demon or solve a difficult life issue, but the very next time I am faced with the same situation, I feel nervous about whether God can or will come through again. I need a faith-boost. And so did Jesus’ disciples.

Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. (Matthew 15:29-39 ESV)

Jesus returns to Galilee and the people there are glad for his return and bring their ill, all of whom he heals.  His compassion for them is further evidenced by his desire to feed them before they return home.  This has been a three-day “revival” and whatever food they brought with them is minimal now, in fact, only seven loaves of bread and a few small fish.

It is fascinating that the disciples give the same sort of response to Jesus’ intention to feed the crowd as they did when he fed the 5,000.  Are they wondering if he wants to do another miracle?  In this case Jesus does not tell them to feed the crowd but simply raises the concern, which they raised the first time, that the people are hungry and there is no place to get food.  But once again Jesus multiplies the bread and the fish and once again there are leftovers.

There has been opposition to Jesus from Jewish leadership but the crowds still want him and need him.  And he still loves the people. And he is still teaching his disciples. Are we not prone to see God do miraculous things and demonstrate His power and ability to accomplish ministry, only to wonder if He can do it again the next time we are challenged? Jesus gives his disciples a faith-boost with this miracle and by doing so gives us a faith-boost also.