Sup with Him

So I’m still in the book of Matthew this morning and I just read in Mt 14:13-21 about the feeding of the 5000 and made some connections I would like to share. In this story, Jesus had been preaching truth and the kingdom of God to a “great multitude” in a “deserted place” far from food in the villages all day and as it grew late in the day, the disciples urged Jesus to send them away so they could eat before it was too late. Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have here only 5 loaves and 2 fishes.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.” He blessed the food and gave thanks for it and had the crowds sit in groups in the grass. Then the disciples fed them, and they ate until all were filled and the leftover fragments were then collected into baskets.

Context: just before this in the chapters leading up to this miracle of multiplication, Jesus talked about why he taught in many parables or teaching stories. This one is not technically a parable but rather a documented miracle. Nevertheless, I am sure theologians have speculated on the significance of the number of fish and loaves for example. Right after this miracle is described in the book of John, the people followed Jesus across the sea to another town and asked for a sign from heaven. Jesus said basically, you just want more fill of bread, but just as Moses called down the manna or bread from heaven, so was Jesus the true Bread from heaven. In John 6:22-23, He said, “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Just as he broke bread at the Last Supper and told the disciples to take and eat, this is My body broken for the sins of the world, He warned them they would only find life in partaking of communion in faith for the forgiveness of sin. So, he was warning the crowd in Matthew 14 that though He is willing to provide for their physical needs, he is more importantly the key to their soul’s true need for His mercy through the cross. The eternal life this forgiveness brings us is far more significant than our physical life here in this world. Just as there were left over fragments, He has warned us in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” There will always be left over fragments in the way that He satisfies our spiritual needs. One most important abundant provision He provides is described in the book of Revelations, when He offers us His very presence to abide with us in intimacy as we sup on this meal of bread saying, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

So, more than the material provision in our lives and the blessing of God’s prosperity, we need His forgiveness, mercy and guiding Presence to abide with us each day. This need far supercedes our physical needs, even if we are sick or suffering. If you sense or hear Him speaking to your heart or making His presence or will known in your life- if you see things that can’t just be coincidence and know that you are being watched over in ways you can’t explain, answer His knock at the door of your heart and invite Him in and break bread and sup with Him. We need more than simply hearing His truths and studying Him. You need salvation most of all and we need His Person more than all. So, I encourage you to seek His presence, especially if you don’t believe, as I have many friends who do not yet believe. I write this for them honestly because I realize many of you who do believe may already know these things. Nevertheless, it is always good to be reminded.

I hope this word encourages you. Thank you for reading and God bless you!