Many of you enjoyed an article my husband wrote titled “Rupert’s Visit” that I had posted a while back. He’s written a new one I thought you all may enjoy as well, and has titled it “The Living Bread of Life”. Here it is:
The Living Bread of Life
We find an interesting and well known story in Matthew 14:16-21, where we see Jesus feeding the five thousand. I have often read this account of the feeding of the five thousand as I had other similar miracles, such as the wedding where He turned water into wine. Recently however, I realized another significance of the multiplication of the bread, and thought I might share it with you.
We know from the story that Jesus had his disciples distribute five loaves and two fishes and after everyone was fed there were twelve baskets full. Have you ever correlated this passage to that of the Great Commission? The feeding of the five thousand is also a sign to us that if we follow his commission, set forth in Matthew 28:19-20 to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you… then the Bread of life will be multiplied as it is shared and passed on!
We know this because Jesus said that He is the living bread of life and whoever eats of this bread shall not die but have eternal life (John 6:35). We see as we read Matthew 4:4 the importance of this bread, and John 1:1-4 confirms to us that this bread is the Word of God, Christ Himself!
If we follow His command and share the Bread of life with others, teaching them the good news of the gospel wherever we are; if in our neighborhood, at work, in our families and with friends, or with strangers in despair, then just as the physical miracle of the breaking and multiplying of the bread took place in Matthew 14, so too spiritually will the Bread of Life be multiplied as Christ is shared and passed on through discipleship, and no one has to go hungry; just as it happened with the five thousand.
We can only imagine then that as we keep the faith, the harvest won’t be a mere 12 baskets, but uncountable storehouses full of the Bread of life! Those who we share with and mentor will continue to share and reach out in turn, and the Bread of Life will become food for millions, keeping them from spiritual starvation and eternal death. As we all are fed, we grow strong in our love for Him and one another, and understand that fellowship with God and worship of our Creator and Savior is what delights Him and brings us joy and contentment.
Scripture references:
John 6:35 King James Version (KJV)
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Matthew 14:16-21 King James Version (KJV)
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Matthew 28:19-20 King James Version (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 4:4King James Version (KJV)
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
John 1: 1-4 King James Version (KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.
4 In Him was Life; and the Life was the Light of men.
Alabastersky 