What Jesus Did! 'Limited Resources?' — Mark 6:37-38

Thursday, April 18, 2024

But Jesus said [to the apostles], "You feed [the crowd]."

"With what?" they asked. "We'd have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!"

"How much bread do you have?" he asked. "Go and find out."

They came back and reported, "We have five loaves of bread and two fish."

— Mark 6:37-38 NLT

Key Thought

In the previous verses, Jesus' disciples expressed their concern for the crowds following Jesus. Now Jesus challenges them to do the impossible: "You feed them!" At first, the disciples don't get the impossibility of his command. They are still locked into their normal ways of handling need. So Jesus tells them to check their available resources. They find five loaves and two fish. Now they can be certain that the task they face is impossible for them. At one time or another, nearly every one of us is called on to serve others in an impossible situation: during the illness of a family member or in time of a real financial pinch or when we're facing a difficult ministry challenge or in an unfamiliar environment or ... . No matter what the challenge may be, we realize that we cannot accomplish our tasks through our own strength. Jesus wants us to realize exactly where we are: in an impossible situation unless his provision, his grace, his power, his guidance, and his providence carry us through. Jesus wants us to know that our resources are limited ... but his are unlimited.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, I realize that I am not sufficient for the challenges I face. I confess that my own resources are limited and that without your help, mercy, grace, and power, I cannot do what I need to do. Please help me! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of Mark 6:37-38 NLT — "We have five loaves of bread and two fish."

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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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