Who is Jesus? Part 17 (A2) Jesus the Creator Feeds a Multitude

Disciples distributing to the Multitude sitting in groups of 100 and groups of 50

Who is Jesus? Part 17 (A2) Jesus the Creator Feeds a Multitude

Now the King had put John the Baptist in prison because John told the king it was wrong to take his brother's wife for himself. As things happened, the wife and her daughter schemed to have John the Baptist executed, and when it was accomplished the sad message came to Jesus about the death of his cousin. This was terrible news, and Jesus needed to get away from the enveloping crowds, so he said to his disciples, let us take a boat and go to the other side of the lake to a desert place and rest.

The people were quick to see Jesus shipping out, so they decided to go on foot and perhaps get there soon after Jesus arrived. Sure enough they found Jesus, and he had compassion on them and began to teach them many things until it was getting late. His disciples came to him saying, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now quite late.  Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  But Jesus answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy four thousand dollars worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “Go and see how many loaves do you have?” And when they had found out, they said, “Five small loaves, and two tiny fish.”

Then Jesus commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.  And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and the fish giving them to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied.  And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces of bread and fish.  And those who ate the loaves and fish were five thousand men. Notice the five thousand did not include women and children. Also notice there were 12 large fishing baskets full of left over food.

Where did all of this food come from? Again we are reminded that Jesus is the creator, and as he broke the bread and fish into pieces, it was multiplied and was enough to feed a large multitude of people.

 Immediately Jesus commanded his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.  And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.  And when darkness fully came, the boat was out on the sea, and Jesus was alone on the land.  Jesus could see that they were painfully making little headway, for the wind was against them.

And about three o'clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.  He acted like he meant to pass by them,  but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out,  for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Fear not; it is I; Do not be afraid.”

Matthew's gospel includes about Peter calling to Jesus, “Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

 
“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

Jesus reaches out and rescues Peter

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. And they were utterly shocked and amazed, because they were still puzzled about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened. Then the disciples worshiped him saying; “You really are the Son of God!” 

You might say; "How could Jesus walk on water?" Using my vivid imagination, I wonder if since he is the creator, could have Jesus make a firm pathway over the water so he could reach their boat? And if so, why did Peter sink as his pathway seemed to collapse. Perhaps it was because he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the circumstances of life instead. These and many other questions will need to wait until we see Jesus in heaven.

In the meantime, I chose to believe as John told us that Jesus is God and He is the creator of all things.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is able to make the sinner clean and create in him or her a clean heart for those who will come to him. If this is you, and you have not yet received Jesus into your life, now is a good time to speak to him and tell him you want to have a part in his kingdom and that you will follow him all the days of your life.