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

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

This week we're mailing annual US IRS donation records...

Please check your mailbox, inbox, and spam folder. Thank you for your support!

 More Info
"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

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

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,"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Ephesians 6:12-13
"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 11:25
"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Let the Light Shine!'
"Dear Disciple, While I was in the world, I was the "Light of the world" (John 9:5). I AM still the Light of the world (John 1:4-5; John 8:12), but..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: John 1:16
"These words tell us that there is a fulness in Christ. There is a fulness of essential Deity, for "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead."..."

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.

More What Jesus Did!