Jesus can multiply it.

I once went through the Gospel of Mark and read only “the black text.” I’ve heard that some people go through and only read “the red text” as a way to focus in on what Jesus has to say about things. But I wanted to notice what He did and the way He did it, so I read the opposite and skipped over the red parts.

What I found were nuances of Jesus’ behavior – things like how often He snuck away to a quiet place or how much He looked at people – that I usually speed-read through as I’m trying to “get to the point.” …As if Jesus isn’t the point.

Take the feeding of the 5,000 for example. Great miracle. But did you know that right before that went down, Jesus wanted to go with His disciples to a quiet place and rest because there had been so much going on that they didn’t have time to eat? That’s what they were doing when the crowds beat them to where they were going, when Jesus had compassion on them. They were going to rest. To eat. By themselves.

When I read that, my whole perspective shifted.

There had been a lot going on. They were tired. They were hungry. And honestly, reading about how this is the state they were in as they chose to continue pouring out made me feel exhausted just thinking about it. How did they do that?

It made me think about when I feel tired, hungry, and empty, like I don’t have it in me to do any more or give any more. I feel pretty justified in saying no or turning away. It’s just too much, you know?

But this passage makes me question what I think is “too much.” Because here is Jesus. Seeing with eyes of compassion, saying yes, moving closer. And if I’m supposed to be following the way of Jesus… Is it possible for me to choose compassion like that, even when I’m exhausted?

Well, yes. Because the miracle that follows is not a miracle of healing or of resurrection, it’s a miracle of provision. Of taking what was not enough in the natural (five loaves and two fishes) and multiplying it into more than enough (to feed 5,000+ with 12 baskets left over).

It turns out, it doesn’t matter if you’re tired. If you’re hungry. If you’d rather be alone. If you don’t think you have what it takes. If the thing in front of you feels like too much.

All you have to do is bring what you have (what is, in itself, not enough), give it to Jesus, and He will multiply it into more than enough.

The power of God is in you, even on a Thursday.