Never Forget.

   This weeks gospel John 6:1-15 Jesus performs another miracle! Most of us have heard how Jesus fed 5,000 men with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.  Once again Jesus shows us that when we fall short and we do not have enough, he is our provider.  As written in the gospel Jesus saw the crowds approaching as he sat with his disciples.  He immediately tests Phillip and asks him a question. “Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?”   Phillip answered that there wasn’t enough money to cover the cost to feed the 5000 men. Another disciple sees a young boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Jesus took the fish  and began to distribute the loaves to  the 5000 men. He did the same with the fish. When all the men had eaten Jesus tells the disciples to pick up the leftovers and make sure nothing was wasted.   There were enough leftovers to fill 12 large baskets. After the people saw this they began to believe. 

    This gospel illustrates something so beautiful to me. When Jesus asks Phillip where he can buy the bread It was to help Jesus’s disciples realize that when they do not have enough, Jesus will provide. Not only did Jesus provide fir 5000 men, he said “pick up the leftovers”. He  even provided more than enough.   I don’t think  Jesus wasted one word.  Every word he spoke was intentional.  I’m not sure but if he asked a question it wasn’t because he needed the answer. I believe  Jesus knows it all. He asked Phillip a question to help make the miracle he was about to perform crystal clear.  That’s where I found the beauty in the miracle. I see the patience that Jesus has with us. He makes sure we don’t miss what he can do for us if we believe.  The language he uses while performing this miracle and his life are all ways to remind us that he is always in our corner. Especially in those tough battles.  

   I ask you  what is your reaction to those challenges that seem too much for you to deal with?  What is your response to life when it gets a little uncomfortable? Have you ever said , “there is no way”? Have you ever said “there isn’t enough”? This gospel shows us that Jesus makes a way when there is no way.  It’s shows us that Jesus is always ready to step in when we need him most.  He steps in to do what we can not do.  He is there to lift the weight that we can not. I see now that these miracles Jesus performed were all ways of letting us know what he is capable of in your life, my life and the lives of his follower.  Most importantly, these miracles serve as reminders when we forget how incredible Jesus is.  Do you need a reminder sometimes? I think we all can use a reminder every now and then. I know there are times when I forget about the miracle that Jesus is. Thankfully, Jesus’s love and patience are never ending, and he doesn't let us forget for too long.