Week 10 (3 - 9 Mar): Breaking Bread, Multiplying Grace

At our home fellowship gathering, we reflected on John 6:1-16, the familiar story of Jesus feeding the 5000. As we read, we noticed how the people followed Jesus, seeking miracles. Yet, what stood out was that Jesus’ heart was not just for signs and wonders but for feeding the hungry, both spiritually and physically. His mission was always about caring for the whole person.

When Jesus saw the large crowd, He turned to Philip and asked where they could buy bread to feed them all. This was not because Jesus needed an answer. He already knew what He was going to do. It was a test, but not in the way we often think of tests. It was more of a way to shift the disciples’ perspective. Even though they had seen Jesus perform miracles before, their first instinct was still to solve the problem logically. Philip immediately calculated the cost, and Andrew could only point out how little they had.

We realised that we often do the same. We try to handle things on our own or assume that some problems are too ordinary to bring to God. We pray for miracles in crises, but how often do we trust Him with our daily provision?

Then came the turning point. Jesus took what little was available, gave thanks, and began to distribute the food. The simple act of breaking and giving became a supernatural multiplication. Everyone ate until they were full. The abundance of leftover baskets reminded us that when God provides, He does so beyond expectation.

At the end of the passage, Jesus withdrew because the people wanted to make Him king by force. This made us pause. He had just met their needs in such an incredible way, yet He refused to be shaped by human expectations. He provides, but on His terms, not ours. How often do we seek Him for miracles on our terms rather than trusting in His greater plan?

As we reflected, we saw how we often pray for healing miracles but rarely for daily provision. Yet, Jesus shows that God cares about every need, big or small. I reminded the HF: just as Jesus broke the bread to feed the crowd, His body was broken to nourish us both physically and spiritually. Christ is magnified when the church begins to see to the needs of people holistically, not just their spiritual hunger but their physical needs as well. I challenged the HF to be like Jesus in the week ahead, to stop for the one in need, to recognise the hungry, and to give what little we have with a thankful posture, trusting that God will multiply it.

Keep growing with God’s Grace,

Ps D on behalf of RT2/521