Some months ago I told you about the Postwick Python. I was walking along the river near Postwick when I came face to face with rather a large snake which reared and hissed at me. As it happened it turned out to be rather a large grass snake but as I had never seen one before it left quite an impression.
A couple of weeks ago I was on a short holiday when in the course of a couple of days I came across three snakes of varying sizes and as it wasn’t the UK I left them well alone. I mention the fact because by and large we don’t see many snakes around and for something that seems hidden from us here in Norfolk it was interesting to see them out in the open.
Up until now the miracles in John’s Gospel have been spectacular but quiet affairs although the wedding at Cana provided a more noisy and celebratory setting. Somehow in the bustle and noise of life Jesus does remarkable miracles that change the course and direction of lives. But now, that which was hidden is going to be public, although it may be argued that it was his disciples who captured the immensity of what happened.
Firstly there is a large crowd – possibly 20,000 people because they only counted the men in that day. Secondly they were hungry and thirdly there was no food except for five small loaves and two small fish. We read in John ch 6 v9 that Andrew says, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" (italics mine).
In the face of huge need our focus can so easily be the size of the need and our inadequate resources.
Now this is an important miracle. It is the only one recorded in all four gospels so I guess we should take proper notice of it. The need is huge and our resources are small. I’m not good enough, I don’t know enough, I am not brave enough, are all frequent excuses that we use to explain away our lack of impact on the world around us. BUT our resources in the hands of the master can meet the needs of a multitude. Please note, Jesus sent out the disciples to sit the people down and to miraculously feed them! Jesus’ focus was on heaven. Let us focus on Jesus and go and do what he has called us to do.
