Walking In Spirit

Eternal Hunger

In all four of the Gospels in the New Testament,is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-15)

The multitude, having heard about the works that Jesus had done, sought him in the Desert. Jesus had come to this place with his disciples for some rest but the multitude followed him. When Jesus saw this multitude of people, (about 5000 men, perhaps with their families), we read that he was moved with compassion and healed thier sick and preached to them of the kingdom of God. Once this was done, Jesus took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and distributed them out to the men to feed them. Once the men had eaten, Jesus told the disciples to pick up everything that was left over. There were leftovers, about 12 baskets full.
Although this was truly a miracle worth repeating, there is more to the story. Jesus did more that day than offer them bread and fish to fill their stomachs, he offered them the Bread of Life. After being "Moved by compassion" our Lord and Savior was there healing the sick, and preaching to them about the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:11). Feeding them, was only something that he did afterwards.

What a lesson for life that is. We have people begging for our help all the time. Being Christians, we should follow the example that Jesus gave us. If someone comes to us hungry, we should not only feed them but show them how they can seek the Bread of Life. If they come to us Thirsty, we should not only give them something to drink but also show them how they can seek out a Fountain springing up within them that is the Living Water. If they need clothing, we should not only give them something to wear, but show them how they can seek to be clothed in Rightousness. If they come to you poor, give them money but also show them how to seek the their own treasures in Heaven. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus made it pretty clear. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."