All We Have

Jesus responded, “You have the food to feed them.” They replied, “All we have are these five small loaves of bread and two dried fish. Do you really expect us to go buy food for all these people?”

Luke 9:13

Ministry is thrilling, and sometimes exhausting. It is a beautiful privilege to give all we have in the name of Jesus.

The disciples had just returned from what was probably months on a ministry tour, laying down their lives and seeing wonders and miracles through the new authority Jesus had given them. Dusty, tired, and happy, they couldn’t wait to tell their Teacher all they’d witnessed.

Jesus invited them to spend time with Him and they likely assumed that meant time alone to rest together and chat long and cozy.

Much to their dismay, that possibility quickly disappeared as the needy crowds pressed in and begged for Jesus’ attention. As the crowds chased them down, interrupting their retreat, Jesus responded with grace. 

Grace is not an easy response when we’re tired. After periods of intense service, the true state of our souls is often weariness, not gracious capacity for more. We may want time alone with people of our choosing. More ministry can wait a while, can’t it? Look at all we just did. Are already doing. Should be enough for now, right?

Besides, we need rest; really, we do. Rest so we can go back out and work with all our hearts. The disciples were on their way to rest with their Teacher. But in God’s paradoxical, not-what-you-think-it-is wisdom, Jesus had in mind a lesson of rest that didn’t look like rest at all to His little band of devotees. The disciples were about to learn how to serve out of a different rest than physical and mental. They were on the brink of discovering that in Jesus, all we have is Jesus and He is all we ever need. 

And like so many good leaders I know, Jesus led by example, risking push-back for the sake of growth and maturity. Even though He was on his way to rest with those he loved, He saw the clamoring crowds and welcomed them all (see v. 11), taught them more about God’s kingdom, and healed all who were sick. 

Then, perhaps most amazingly, He turned to his disciples and told them to join him by feeding the hungry masses.

Dismayed and maybe a little offended, the disciples responded by pointing out their lack.

All we have are… do you really expect us to…?

For those in full-time ministry, the scenario is achingly familiar.

We are neck-deep in work. The work is endless. The needy crowds stretch as far as we can see. We understand Jesus’ love and power are infinite… we are witnesses, after all! But alas, we are limited. Tired.

Then that knock comes to the door, that call comes in the night, the message flashes across our screen, and we hear the voice of Jesus through our weariness.

You have the food to feed them.

But Lord! We were on our way to spend time together. Just us. I’ve been doing what You asked of me. What You sent me to do. Didn’t I do great? I can’t wait to tell You all about it! These people can wait, can’t they? Can’t they find someone else? Take a little responsibility for themselves?

Yet Jesus’ eyes are intently upon us; He listens to our case as we outline our limits. He understands us. He knows what is in us. And the Son of Man knows the tiredness that comes from pouring everything out. Jesus offers a kind of rest that is directly related to work (see Matthew 11:28-30).

Kindly, patiently, He breaks it down into doable steps. He shows us the next clear thing to do.

Thank you for bringing what you have. Give it to Me.

Have them all sit down in groups of fifty each.

Then, taking what we do have, He multiplies it. He breaks it into portions and hands it back to us.

The disciples, not Jesus, distributed the food to the crowds. 

You have the food to feed them.

One by one, the disciples took the bread and fish from the yet-unscarred hands of Jesus. They walked through the masses and passed it into the hands of hungry children, men, and women. From the disciples’ hands to Jesus’ hands, back to the disciples’ hands, and into the hands of the hungry.

Back to Jesus, from His hands to their hands, then to the hands of the hungry.

Again and again. Until all had eaten their fill.

Afterward, the weary disciples (whose weariness was quickly being replaced by awe), who had been asked to feed the hungry, gathered the leftovers of Jesus’ provision. There were twelve baskets full.

Twelve baskets of provision for twelve disciples.

All we have is… all we need. We have Jesus.

The disciples’ need was not forgotten after all. It had been met as a direct result of their ministry alongside Jesus when they brought him all they had to give.

You are not forgotten, weary witness. Bring what you have today and He will not only feed the hungry around you but will also surely fill a basket just for you.

Lord, thank you for letting me be a witness in weariness and zeal. Amen.

@audreycfrank