Our paragraph topic is: (Jesus feeds five thousand) Part 2.
And the disciples did not know. They saw with their eyes, heard with their ears, but they did not perceive with their hearts. For they had not seen of such before. They had not heard of such before. They had not understood of such before by any man. Yet Christ was before them. Christ was with them. Christ was in them and they did not understand. They were surrounded by masses of people. They were with hundreds or even thousands of fellow countrymen who were lost. There were many with needs that they could not fill. And the disciples were overwhelmed. And Christ saw their needs and the needs of his disciples.
Christ understood. Christ knew of their needs. Christ wanted to fulfill their needs but his time had not yet come, for his sacrifice would fill the needs of all mankind for all eternity. And the disciples did not know. For life was in Christ. Life flowed from Christ and he wanted to give it to the people and his disciples that they would know the truth. The people were in need. They needed a leader. They needed a guide. They needed love. They needed. And Christ was their to fulfill their needs. But the disciples did not know. The disciples did not understand. The disciples did not see the truth of fulfillment within themselves. So they brought their needs to Christ.
But Christ told them, you, yourselves feed them. Christ told them, in so many words, they had to power to feed the people. Christ told them, in so many words, they could feed the people, but they did not understand. They did not comprehend his words. They only thought in terms of their earthly being. They did not see the seed that was growing within them through Christ. For he had planted the seeds of life within his disciples and growth was taking place. Christ had watered the seeds of life and they were growing. Christ had nurtured the seeds of life and they were growing. Christ had protected the seeds of life within them and the evil one wanted to destroy the seeds. The disciples did not understand. Christ told them, you, yourself feed the people. And they only thought with their human minds and responded with, "We have here only five loaves and two fishes."
Therefore, Christ had to demonstrate to them what was possible. Christ had to show them what to do. Christ had to lead them that they may understand who they were in him. So he told them "Bring them here to me." This is what the disciples had to do, bring all things to him. Bring all problem, bring all sickness, bring all needs, bring all sorrows, bring all to him, for he would satisfy all needs. And the disciples did not understand that the seed in them was Christ.
I found myself in a store the other day buying something to eat. And a man was sitting at the table. When I approached the condiments table he spoke to me. His first question was how much was the sandwich I purchased. I did not know because it was not an issue with me that I should be concerned with the cost of the item. I knew that the cost was within my means to pay because I picked a place where I could buy something to eat for under $3.00. Yet his question to me was how much did one sandwich cost. I told him that I did not know and gave him an approximate amount that I thought it cost. He continued to talk saying that they reminded him of a sandwich from his home town. He was from up north.
The conversation was nothing special but what stayed with me was my reaction. You see, I was afraid of the conversation. I did not know who I am in Christ. I feared that he was about to ask me for some money to buy something to eat. I was afraid and I was only concerned for myself. It was not about the money, it was about the need in him that I did not see. I did not understand who I am in Christ and who he is in Christ. Fear entered me and I was only concerned for myself. I wanted him to ask me for some money so that I could give it to him and he could buy something to eat. I am accustomed to giving to beggars and street people but this was up close. I wanted to help him but I was afraid also. I wanted him to ask me for some money that I may give it to him and then I could be on my way and not be concerned or committed with his needs. I was selfish and only concerned with myself. You see, I was detached and did not want to concern myself with his needs. For concerning myself with his needs meant getting involved, it meant getting close, it meant becoming attached. And I was afraid for myself.
Christ is my provider. Christ is my protector. Christ is in me and yet I failed to be in him. I failed to see the needs of that man. I failed to listen to his concerns. I failed to open my heart to his conversation that I might help his needs. For I feared that it may concern me and I would be involved. How do you help a person? How do you love a stranger? How do you fill the needs of a person that you do not know? How do you overcome the fear of injury, the fear of harm, the fear of loss? How do you open yourself up to a stranger? He started the conversation and spoke out of his need. I withdrew from the conversation and spoke out of my fear.
I missed the opportunity to feed the people. I missed the opportunity to bring him to Christ. I missed the opportunity to open my heart up to show the love of Christ in me to another person. I missed the opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ in me. Be open to the opportunity! Realize that Christ is your provider, your protector. He will provide and protect you no matter where you are or what you are doing, if you carry him with you. Do you carry the seed within you? Let him show you the way. Open your heart to the opportunity and he will lead you to overflowing love and abundant life. You, yourself, feed the people!
