Words of Hope Daily Devotional
Jesus Feeds the 5000
Read: Mark 6:30-44
They all ate and were satisfied. (v. 43)
One of the revealed names for God in the Old Testament is Jehovah Jireh—“the LORD will provide” (Gen. 22:14). This name is certainly true of the Lord Jesus. So far we have seen Jesus as a guest at several meals, but in today’s Bible reading we see him as the host, providing for all who came to him.
Jesus and his disciples had come to a desolate place for quiet and rest, but the crowds anticipated their arrival and beat them to it. There were thousands there to see Jesus, “like sheep without a shepherd” (v. 34), and Jesus had compassion on them. When dinnertime came, there were many to feed and only meager supplies: five loaves of bread and two fishes. The disciples told Jesus to send the people away so they could find their own food. But Jesus wasn’t sending anyone away! His provision for their need was good and generous; all ate and were satisfied. His provision was so plentiful that there were 12 baskets of food left over. And his provision was miraculous; like the widow’s flour and oil in the Old Testament (1 Kings 17), Jesus took a little and made it multiply—over and over again.
Whether you have spiritual needs today or physical needs like the hungry multitude, don’t be afraid to bring your need to Jesus. He is good, he is generous, and he has power to do even the miraculous. He delights to meet the needs of his people. He is truly our Jehovah Jireh.
As you pray, bring your need to Jesus and trust in his provision.
About the Author
Laura Sweet
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian school teacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
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