Many nameless people with gifts equal only to five loaves and two small fishes magnify their callings and serve without attention or recognition, feeding literally thousands
--President James E. Faust
"Five Loaves and Two Fishes," Ensign, May 1994
perhaps Peter understood that the Son of God came not just to do wonderful things for the people but to empower people like Peter to do wonderful things too. Jesus’s invitation, after all, was "Come, follow me" (Luke 18:22). Peter had accepted this invitation once, and he was willing to accept it again, even if it meant facing his fears and doing something that seemed impossible...
miracles can happen if we, like Peter, will set aside our fears, our doubts, and our limited understanding and follow Him in faith...
Have you ever felt inadequate to meet all the needs you see around you...
Jesus’s disciples must have felt inadequate when He asked them to feed over five thousand hungry people (see Matthew 14:21) when there were only five loaves of bread and two fish available.
I can not count the times in my life I have felt inadequate. Proffesionally, personally, as a husband, as a father. The challenge is to continue to walk in faith, and trust that God will make up the difference. I try to just take it one day at a time, some times down to one tantrum at a time. I have found that as I let it go, relax and trust some how things tend to go better. I am sure this is something I will continually struggle with and have to remind myself daily, but there is hope.
Feeding of the People
When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Matthew 14:13-14
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
Matthew 14:20
When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
John 6:12-13
I think this is the first big public miracle Christ performed. I wonder how many in the crowd realized just what happened, or were they focused only on the food in front of them? Do I see the miracles or do I focus only on the resulting full stomach? I try had each and every day to look for the small miracles (and when the happen the big ones). The moment when I realize I have a fix for some issue I have been trying to fix at work. Seeing an accident ahead on the road that I would have been in if I was only minutes faster getting out the door. The smile in my little Son's eye as he looks up at me.
Walking on Water
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Matthew 14:31
I think it makes Peter more human seeing these little stumbles. I am also reminded that even if I stumble in my faith I can still get up and continue, after all Peter did. Several times!
Traditions vs Gospel
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? ...
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Matthew 15:2-3
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Mark 7:9,13
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Matthew 15:8-9
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Matthew 15:11
And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 15:14
There are so many traditions taken as Gospel fact. One I was thinking of was the recent changes to Young Men and the Priesthood. I always took it as a fact that a Deacon had to be atleast 12. Now, they can be one day past 11. The age of 12 is not Gospel Doctrine, but tradition. Traditions can be good, but the key is not to loose the sight of the gospel core. This is where the Jews at the time of Christ fell short. They focused so much on the many and detailed traditions that they missed the very messiah they longed for. I need to make sure I do not fall into this trap myself.
Healing of the Gentile
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
...It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Matthew 15:24,26-29
What faith this woman showed, even in the face of initial rejection she persisted to have her daughter healed. Do I have this kind of faith? Obtaining the miracle is not always easy and just handed out. It can take hard work, patience and diligence to obtain the miracle. I think about how much Shawna and I put into getting our little miracle, Johnny. Lets just say I would not wish IVF on my worst enemy. Worth it, but not at all easy.
Sermon in Capernaum
...The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do...
John 5:19
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 5:30
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:38
Christ reminded people over and over that he was sent to do the Father's will. From an early age he was about his father's business, and was not ashamed to tell people that. This talk of fathers and sons makes me think about my own son. Will Johnny be able to be a righteous man if he does what he sees me do? If he does my will? I only hope I can measure up in the smallest degree.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 5:25
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.
John 6:35
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I am that bread of life.
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:47-49,51
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life...
John 6:54
I like the symbolism comparing the "bread" being offered by Christ versus the "bread" given to the children of Israel in the wilderness. Manna from heaven is was a miracle. The people were feed from heaven's source. However even though this miracle food was granted by God, it still does not measure up to the nourishment being offered by Christ. The gospel, the good news of Christ provides the salvation from death and sin. Not just immortality, but eternal life and all the blessings it offers.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 6:66-69
I have to admit as I was slogging through John 6 I had to go back and re-read sections multiple times and still did not always follow. Granted limited sleep the night before did not help, but this is some of the most direct and deep doctrine Christ gave in his early ministry. So hard to understand that there were people who stopped following Christ. When the going gets hard will I fold and give in? Or will I be able to hold strong in my testimony like Peter. Back to my earlier thought on Matthew 14:31, even if I do stumble and have a moment of "little faith", I know I can pull myself up and try again.
