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1 After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). 2 A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. 3 When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. 4 It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews. 5 When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" 6 He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece." 8 One of the disciples - it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter - said, 9 "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this." 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted. 12 When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." 13 They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves. 14 The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. They said, "This is the Prophet for sure, God's Prophet right here in Galilee!" 15 Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself. 16 In the evening his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got in the boat, and headed back across the water to Capernaum. It had grown quite dark and Jesus had not yet returned. 18 A huge wind blew up, churning the sea. 19 They were maybe three or four miles out when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, quite near the boat. They were scared senseless, 20 but he reassured them, "It's me. It's all right. Don't be afraid." 21 So they took him on board. In no time they reached land - the exact spot they were headed to. (John 6:1-21 NIV Bible)
Two things about me. I love the ocean. I don't know how to fish. My Dad worked hard all week as did his dad, so neither were men with time to go fishing. I'm thankful he spent time with us but with money being scarce we never saw store-bought rods or reels. Fishing was not an option for either and as a result, I never learned to fish. In my very first fulltime church, a caring church member, who died way too young, Mr. Rene Rolando Lopez, Jr., asked me to go with him fishing at Falcon Lake. He took time to show me all that was involved in fishing and we spent the morning fishing. He caught fish. I caught squat. Lesson attempted. I was very thankful for his care and attention to me. I wish I had caught something because I believe I would now be a fisherman. I did feel call to fish for people when God called me into ministry, and still feel led to do that. As for the ocean there is an unexplainable attraction to driving by it, so my seven years in Corpus Christi were awesome. My day off routine in those days involved Nellie and me taking the bridges over to Mustang Island and on to Port Aransas, then the ferry across to Aransas Pass, and up to Rockport, where in the days before that hurricane took it out, the little free aquarium was a delightful way to spend an hour or so. Then we would drive back over the big bridge into town.
In this passage, we witness two remarkable events that reveal the power and compassion of Jesus Christ. I say it illustrates the awesomeness of Jesus. In this first event we read about the miraculous feeding of the five thousand with just five barley loaves and two fish. This was not merely a provision of physical nourishment but a demonstration of God's abundant provision in response to human need. When faced with the overwhelming task of feeding a multitude, Philip and Andrew could only see scarcity—limited resources in the face of a vast crowd. Yet Jesus showed that in His hands, even the smallest offering becomes more than sufficient. Aren't you and I usually of the scarcity mentality? We see little and think nah; Jesus sees the awesomenss of God and says, "Yes!" Hmm, we should be changing our thinking to a mentality of abundance!
The second event occurs on the stormy Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walks on water to reach His disciples struggling against the wind and waves. In their fear and exhaustion, they see Jesus approaching, not with rebuke but with reassurance: "It is I; don’t be afraid." In this moment, Jesus reminds them—and us—that His presence transcends our fears and challenges. He is the Lord over the chaos of our lives, offering peace and security in the midst of turbulence. How sweet the sound of knowing that Jesus can and does tell us, "It is I; don't be afraid." We should listen and be calm.
These two events reveal a consistent theme: Jesus is not only capable of meeting our needs but desires to do so abundantly. Whether it's physical sustenance or spiritual reassurance, His provision is boundless. Our role, like that of the disciples, is to trust and obey. We may not always understand how God will provide or when He will intervene, but we can be assured that His timing and manner of provision are perfect.
PRAYER: Awesome God, thank You for Your abundant provision and Your constant presence in our lives. Help us to trust in Your goodness and wisdom, especially in times of scarcity and uncertainty. Strengthen our faith so that we may always rely on Your promises and follow Your leading. Grant us courage to step out in obedience, knowing that You are with us every step of the way. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Consider how Jesus might be inviting you to trust in His provision and presence. Take a moment to surrender your fears and anxieties to Him, asking for faith to see His hand at work in your circumstances. Look for opportunities this week to share God's provision and peace with others, demonstrating His love through your actions and words.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
