What Jesus Did! 'What Do You Notice Here?' — John 6:10-11

Friday, April 22, 2022

"Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus said [after being told that a boy in the crowd had five barley loaves and two fish]. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.
— John 6:10-11 NLT

Key Thought

What do you notice here? The organization? The number of people? The bread and the fish? The blessing? The full bellies? Look at the impossible. This sort of thing just doesn't happen. It's ludicrous. It's simplistic. Yet, the impossible occurs when our limited resources are brought to Jesus. Jesus and the impossible go together. The question is not whether Jesus can and will do the impossible, but whether we'll get to participate with him in the impossible. Notice that with Jesus, the impossible is suddenly within reach even in the most difficult of circumstances and with only the most basic of resources.

Today's Prayer

Father, thank you for giving me the impossible through the work and presence of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Mark 9:17-24
  • Mark 10:24-27
  • Luke 1:34-37

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4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Come As You Are
Article by Skye Noe
One story that shows God’s desire to empower us is when Jesus took five small loaves of bread and two fish to feed a large crowd. This is what constantly amazes me about the efficiency with which God is able to solve our problems. It's not that I have any doubt concerning his power to create solutions; it's just amazing that he completes His plans using us! God is a master at solv
Give Him What You Have
Article by Max Lucado
You know the paralyzing fear that surfaces when the information is too much to learn, the change is too great to make, the grief is too deep to survive, or the crowd is too numerous to feed. Max Lucado reminds us with Jesus' feeding of the crowd with five barley loaves and two fish that it is his job to make what we have sufficient for the moment.
I Doubt It: You Feed Them
Article by Phil Ware
Will we hold a miracle in our hands? My experience says, “Yes!” Phil Ware continues his series on 'I Doubt it' focusing this week on Jesus' challenge to the apostles to feed the five thousand.
After the Crowd Has Gone
Article by Phil Ware
Thanksgiving is over; so what do we do now as we return to the challenges of life? Phil Ware reminds us that Jesus gave us a great example on how to deal with the challenges we face after a great thanksgiving feast.

Illustration

Illustration of John 6:10-11 NLT — "Tell everyone to sit down,"

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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