Digging Deeper – You Feed Them

In Mark’s account of the feeding of the 5,000, the disciples start to get nervous around suppertime. They tell the Master, “Send [these people] away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat” (Mark 6:36). Jesus responds rather succinctly, saying, “You feed them” (v. 37, NLT). And He’s not joking! I can only imagine the look on their faces.

Quickly, the immediacy and helplessness of the disciples become the backdrop for the greatness of the miracle. Note that Jesus doesn’t abandon them to accomplish an impossible task, but rather He employs them in His service to bring about what He wants to accomplish. He has them “go and see” how many loaves they have (Mark 6:38). He instructs them to “have the people sit down” (John 6:10). They distribute the food among the groups (Mark 6:41). Thus, the miracle proceeds, and the disciples become co-laborers in the work.

Jesus doesn’t need our help to accomplish His work. He created the world (Col. 1:16), He has command of the heavenly host (Matthew 26:53), and He performed many miracles—including healing people who weren’t even physically present (see Mark 7:24–30). Yet He has chosen to allow us to participate in the advancement of His Kingdom. He could have fed the multitude instantaneously through supernatural means, but instead He says to the disciples, “You feed them.”

The great byproduct is that we are changed in the process, knowing Him more as we make Him known to others.

Take a moment today to thank God that He says, “You feed them,” and graciously employs us in Kingdom service.