Outside of a village called Bethsaida, on its gentle rolling hills, thousands gathered to listen to the profound teachings of Jesus.  The sick have come to be healed. 

Hours pass.  It is late in the afternoon, well past lunch time.  The people are hungry, but there isn’t a fast food restaurant in sight. 

No Wendy’s.

No McDonald’s.

No Panera.

So the disciples made this suggestion to Jesus:

“Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”  (Luke 9:12)

Jesus’ response startled them.  He didn’t dismiss the crowd and end the meeting.  Instead he turned to the disciples with this instruction:

          “You give them something to eat.” (Luke 9:13)

What!  There are thousands who needed to eat.  The disciples were incredulous.  Their reply to Jesus was meant to convince him that there was no way they could feed all these people.

           “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish . . .” (Luke 9:13)

Five loaves.

Two fish.

Over five thousand mouths to feed.

Jesus, this doesn’t add up.  It is impossible.  How can we feed so many people with ONLY a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish?

But Jesus did the impossible.  The disciples gave Jesus their “only” – the few loaves and the fish, and Jesus blessed their “only.”   He took their “only” and transformed it into more than enough.  Not only over 5,000 people ate and were satisfied, but the amazed disciples collected twelve baskets of leftovers.

The miracle of feeding the five thousand teaches us a powerful lesson today.  The Lord can take our “only” and bless and multiply it.  He can take our “only” and make it more than enough.

I might have “only” one night a month:

• to volunteer to at a food bank.
• to teach a Bible study at a jail
• to visit the elderly in an assisted living facility

I might have “only” one Sunday a month:

• to serve in the Children’s department at my church
• to participate in the music ministry
• to serve as an usher or greeter

But Jesus can take our “only”:

• only a little time
• only a little talent
• only a little energy
• only a little resources

AND He can bless it and use it to perform a miracle in the lives of others. 

Because the disciples gave Jesus what they had, He performed a miracle of “more than enough.”  The same is true for we who are His disciples today.  So let’s give Him our “only” and watch how He performs that miracle of “more than enough.”