Matt.14:16-21 – TPT – They don’t need to leave,” Jesus responded. “You can give them something to eat.”
They answered, “But all we have is five barley loaves and two fish.”
“Let me have them,” Jesus replied. Then he had everyone sit down on the grass as he took the five loaves and two fish. He looked up into heaven, gave thanks to God, and broke the bread into pieces. He then gave it to his disciples, who in turn gave it to the crowds. And everyone ate until they were satisfied, for the food was multiplied in front of their eyes! They picked up the leftovers and filled up twelve baskets full! There were about five thousand men who were fed, in addition to many women and children!
This has to be the greatest of all the miracles in the Bible!! Why would I say that? This miracle does two major things as far as unveiling the plans of God. First, it displays the gospel plan and the church on earth that Jesus came to start. Think about it; He healed the people of their maladies, He fed them with fish and bread imaging Himself as the Bread of life, and He gathered together the people into a community feasting together on Christ. Secondly, this feast is a prophetic look into heaven when all the redeemed will sit together at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and Jesus will serve us as eternity with Him in heaven begins. This passage defines our life together in the Christian community for eternity.
There is one sentence in this passage that really is central to the miracle. It is this – “He looked up into heaven, gave thanks to God, and broke the bread into pieces”. Jesus looks up into heaven displaying His total dependence on the Father for all things. Every good and perfect gift comes down from Our Father in heaven. Next, Jesus gave thanks. This is the word in Greek eucaristeo, it speaks of thanksgiving but also of the sacrificial death of Christ. Jesus is foreshadowing communion which is at the heart of our Christian experience. Finally He broke the bread. This is a picture of His body that was torn for us that we might enjoy fellowship with the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit. This is the life and bond of the Christian Church. At Victory Church we are approaching our annual Feed the Multitudes celebration. This miracle is at the heart of all we do.
