This chapter contains two of the greatest events of Jesus' ministry:  feeding the five thousand and walking on the water.

In the first situation, the crowd is huge, the day is wearing on, the people are getting hungry, and the disciples are getting nervous.  They tell all of this to Jesus, (as if he didn't already know!), and his gives his followers this instruction:  "You feed them." 

Do you happen to have eight months' wages sitting around to pay for food for thousands of people?  Well the disciples didn't.  But Jesus doesn't seem to be deterred by that.

They bring what they have to Jesus.  He blesses it.  Everyone's needs are met with quite a bit left over.

"Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat..." 

It was in this boat that they would see Jesus walk on water. 

To you and me, the amazing thing is the science of it.

But listen to what Jesus says when the disciples notice this amazing thing.  "It is I.  Don't be afraid."

Some translators insist the short sentence "It is I" is the equivalent to "I AM".  If this is the case, Jesus is revealing Who he is.

 He is the One who has command over the sea and land.  He is the One who has command over food and hunger.  He is the One who has command over what you have and what you need.

Do you find yourself in a difficult situation?  Do you calculate that the amount you have is not nearly enough?

Possibly today the Lord's instruction to you is simply this:  bring me what you have.  I'm master over the problem and I'll make sure it is more than enough.

Grace & peace