I Can Only Imagine...

     Over 5000 people, 2 fishes, three loaves...one little boy's childlike faith...that his little lunch would make a difference.
     A conversation was going on between Jesus and his disciples prior to the generosity of little boy. I assume that "the twelve" were with Him, looking at the progression of the events that led up to this story in John 6.
    We know that there were other disciples. There were 70 disciples as recorded in Luke 10:1 and 120 disciples in Acts 1:15. But just keep this in mind...at the end of the story, 12 baskets were filled with the fragments of the loaves that remained.
     John 6:11 says, "And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples and the disciples to them that were set down; and the likewise of the fishes as much as they would."
     The disciples had a tremendous task before them...to distribute an "all you can eat" meal throughout a crowd of thousands. They had no way in which they could carry massive amounts of food... it would have been seemingly impossible. So, how did they accomplish this great task?
     I suppose that each of the disciples could have had a basket into which Jesus placed the broken portions of bread and fish. As each disciple carried a basket through the crowd, did its contents never decrease? Much like the miracle of II Kings 4 in which Elisha told the widow to pour from her one pot of oil...as she poured it out into others, she experienced a miracle that blessed her with more than enough to satisfy her debt and provision enough to sustain her through her life.
    I have also wondered if  Jesus could have placed a piece of bread (and fish) in the hands of each disciple, who may have broken off pieces as he distributed. Could each of the disciples have experienced the creative power of God through their own hands? Certainly those 70 disciples were amazed at the power of Christ's authority through them...
    Imagine the amazement of these disciples, regardless of how it all came about...for they had witnessed and been a part of a creationary miracle! How would it have felt to be part of that event? I can only imagine...
    In studying this passage, the realization of a truth came to me...Our God is a God of more-than-enough. With every need in our lives comes a supply that meets and exceeds our lack, expectations, desires. There will allways be something left...something that overflows from our experience that becomes a testimony....something that is "collected" in an amount that exceeds the size of the problem or need that we experienced and the need of others that is at hand. That which we receive and gather from the experience will become something that we will be able to share with others who have the same problem or need.
    And finally, as disciples of Christ, we are to be instruments through which God blesses...Know that our God is a God of sufficiency, generosity, and more than enough. His provision, blessings beyond our expectations and the overflow (like the 12 baskets) is testimony that enables us to be a blessing. Just imagine...

Be blessed in Jesus' Name,
Angie