the wrong solution

Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”

Matthew 14:15-16

In the face of a logistical and financial challenge, the disciples thought they had an acceptable solution. Thousands of men, women, and children had spontaneously assembled on the lakeshore where Jesus taught them and He compassionately healed the sick they brought to Him. Now, at the day’s end, the disciples realized feeding this crowd was an impossibility. They call on Jesus to make what seems a sensible announcement: “We’re sorry. Shop’s closed. Time to head back to your villages and buy some dinner for yourselves.” 

But Jesus would not accept their less than hospitable plan. He challenged them: “you give them something to eat.” Their answer to Jesus was meant to bolster the rationale for their modest proposal to dismiss the crowd: “we have only five loaves and two fish.” And we know from the other gospel accounts that the disciples only had that meager amount because they scrounged it up from a young man who volunteered to share his lunch. Jesus proceeds with His solution.

Jesus orders those meager provisions to be brought to Him. He asks the crowds to kindly take a seat on the ground. He prays an evening meal blessing and breaks the bread. And in His hands as the bread is broken, thousands were fed… with twelve baskets full of leftovers retrieved at the end of the meal.

I learn from the disciples not to be so quick with dismissive “solutions”. God loves to make His power known in improbably complex situations. Case in point in current ministry context: This pandemic and accompanying culture of bickering has been the most immensely difficult season of ministry I have seen. There has been so much heartbreaking loss of life from this viral disease… and so much heartbreaking disunity among Christians. There have been so many proposed political solutions, so much needless arguing over issues that seem to me to downplay spiritual needs, and so little appeal to God in many of the discussions upset Christians are having. Yet at the same time, I’ve seen in my ministry context, some of the most amazing conversion growth… something my church leaders and ministry partners have prayed for and sought for years! Imagine that… a death-bringing pandemic forcing people to consider the gospel. Given what is going on in society, the provisions for this growth seem meager. But Jesus is multiplying His Church for His glory! I’ll trust and follow His plan over man’s plan every time!