In Luke 9:10–17, Jesus feeds the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fish, showing that He cares for the whole person—teaching, healing, and providing for physical needs. The disciples felt inadequate, just as we often do when faced with overwhelming problems, but Jesus didn’t ask them to solve it all; He only asked them to bring what they had and follow His instructions. That’s the heart of this story: we’re not called to fix everything, but to offer our small gifts in obedience and trust Jesus to multiply them. In His hands, even our “not enough” becomes more than enough, overflowing with grace.

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Good morning, it’s great to be with you again this Thursday as we continue our journey through Luke’s gospel. Today we come to one of Jesus’ most famous miracles—the feeding of the 5,000.

We’re reading from Luke 9:10–17:

When the apostles returned, they told Jesus all that they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. But the crowds found out and followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

As the day drew to a close, the twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so they may find lodging and provisions, for we are in a deserted place.”

But Jesus said, “You give them something to eat.”

They replied, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people.” (There were about 5,000 men.)

Jesus said, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty.” They did so, and he took the five loaves and two fish. Looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

They all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was gathered up—twelve baskets of broken pieces.

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What a powerful story! And notice what’s happening:

• Jesus is teaching about the kingdom.
• He is healing the sick.
• And now, he is feeding the hungry.

Luke continually shows us that Jesus ministers to the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. He doesn’t just give words of life; he gives food, healing, and care. That’s why throughout history, Christians have built hospitals, started food ministries, and cared for the vulnerable. To follow Jesus means we care about both the soul and the body.

But let’s be honest—the disciples’ response feels like ours, doesn’t it? Jesus says, “You give them something to eat.” And they look down at their meager five loaves and two fish and say, “What we have isn’t nearly enough.”

That’s us. We see the overwhelming needs around us—poverty, hunger, injustice, brokenness—and we feel inadequate. What difference can my small offering make?

Here’s the good news: Jesus never asked the disciples to feed the crowd by themselves. He simply asked them to obey in the small things: “Have them sit down. Bring me what you have. Distribute what I bless.” Jesus did the miracle.

That’s the lesson for us. We’re not called to solve every problem. We’re not responsible for fixing the world. Our job is simply to be faithful with what God places in our hands, to do what Jesus tells us, and to trust him with the outcome.

Your five loaves and two fish may feel small—your time, your resources, your energy—but in the hands of Jesus, they become more than enough.

So let me ask: What is Jesus calling you to do today? Where is the Spirit nudging you? Maybe it’s reaching out to someone who’s hurting, serving in your community, or giving generously. Whatever it is, trust that Jesus can multiply your obedience beyond anything you can imagine.

Friends, we can’t do everything. But we can do the thing Jesus places in front of us. And when we do, we’ll see baskets of grace left over.