5,000 Families

Most of us have heard the story many times.  Jesus feeds 5,000 (Matthew 14 & John 6).  But did you know that it wasn't 5,000 people?  Well, he DID feed people but it was many more than 5,000.  The passage tells us that there were 5,000 MEN which means that their families were close by. OK, so it was more like fifteen or twenty thousand people!  Yes, that's impressive.  But my goal isn't for you to be even more impressed with Jesus (although that's a great result).

Imagine yourself in a Jewish community in Jesus' day.  The culture immersed itself in the stories of the Torah.  Every parent and child knew of the teachings of the Old Testament law.  Each was well versed in the stories of creation, the great flood, the wilderness wanderings, the crossing of the Jordan to possess the promised land - ALL of the history of the Jews.  No doubt they knew of how God provided food in the wilderness; manna from heaven.  They knew of the promised Messiah and how he would one day come and feed their souls and satisfy their hunger for holiness.

Now place yourself on that hillside with your family, spiritually full but physically hungry and tired from following Jesus. Then he begins to prepare food; for everyone!  He blesses the food, what little there is.  He feeds your family.  Imagine the images that flood your mind.  God present in man feeding your soul and stomach.  Imagine the emotion that sweeps over you as you realize this is Messiah...and he just fed you dinner!

Jesus came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28).  I am humbled at Jesus' compassion for people.  When I read stories like the feeding of the 5,000 families I am challenged to help my family see ways we can serve.  I'm looking forward this week to reading this story with my three children and see what God leads us to do.  How about you?  Why not check out the latest edition of Homefront Monthly.  There are many ways to being to help your children to ask "What needs to be done?" and help them become a servant.

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