Slices
Prepare
When have you been amazed at something the Lord has done? How did you respond? Ask the Lord to amaze you again today.
Bible passage
Jesus feeds the four thousand
29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’
33 His disciples answered, ‘Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?’
34 ‘How many loaves do you have?’ Jesus asked.
‘Seven,’ they replied, ‘and a few small fish.’
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterwards the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.
Explore
Jesus left the lake and went up a mountain again. Although Matthew does not specify the location of the mountain, Mark’s account (Mark 7:31 – 8:13) seems to set it in Gentile territory. Wherever the mountain was, crowds flocked to Jesus with their sick and disabled. Jesus did not hesitate to heal them (v 30). Look at verse 31 to see the effects of Jesus ministry and the people’s response. Jesus’ actions here are a fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah (read Isaiah 35:5,6). The people there shared in the blessings Jesus brought.
Verses 32–39 tell the story of another miraculous meal. Look back to Matthew 14:13–21. How do these two miracles differ? In what ways are they similar? Notice that on both occasions Jesus took the little that was offered to him and turned it into a generous meal for everyone present. What can we learn for ourselves and our ministry from what Jesus did with what was offered? Jesus’ actions at both meals are the same: he took the bread and fish, gave thanks to God, broke them up and gave them out. This is an echo of what happens in a Holy Communion service. How does this story help you appreciate this aspect of church life?
Respond
Give thanks that the Lord still heals the sick and feeds the hungry in our world today. Pray for all those involved in healing or food ministries today.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 37,38; Hebrews 4
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the in-person schools ministry training in South Wales. Ask that it equips more people to go into schools and share the gospel, and ultimately creates more opportunities for young people to encounter Jesus. (This week's prayers relate to this article.)
A child has started following Jesus. Help them keep growing.
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