Jesus Will Meet All Your Needs
In Matthew 14, on two different occasions, Jesus revealed His great power and authority to His disciples, and He demonstrated His ability to meet all of their needs. What Jesus taught His followers in Matthew 14 is for us too. By studying His word, and His commands to His disciples in this chapter, we hear His call to submit everything to Him and trust Him in all situations.
In a remote place, a large crowd gathered to see Jesus. The Bible tells us Jesus “had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14). As evening approached, the disciples came to Jesus to tell Him to send the crowds away, so they could find something to eat. Jesus had a different idea. He instructed His disciples to give them something to eat, saying, “‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat’” (Matthew 14:16). This would be a great idea, but the disciples had only five loaves of bread and two fish. The small portion they had, would never be enough to feed the crowd.
Jesus’ response to His disciples is recorded in Matthew 14:18, “‘Bring them here to me.’” He took the five loaves and two fish and looked up to heaven. He gave thanks and broke the loaves, and the disciples distributed the food to the people gathered there. Matthew tells us, “They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Matthew 14:20). They all ate! How is that possible? The crowd numbered 5,000 men, and there were women and children there also. Jesus miraculously multiplied the offering. He took the five loaves of bread and two fish and fed over 5,000 people! What the disciples brought to Jesus would never have begun to feed the people gathered there, but when surrendered to Jesus, the little they had was more than enough. Everyone ate, and even more, they were satisfied. Jesus met their need in that place, and showed His great power to care for those who seek Him.
What does this miraculous account teach us? Submit everything to Jesus. He will take what we offer, and satisfy all of our needs. He will also use what we surrender to Him for His glory. One small serving fed over 5,000 people! Only Jesus could offer such a great return on a small investment.
After Jesus fed the crowd, He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to Bethsaida. He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. It was evening, and a storm came up on the lake, which was called the Sea of Galilee. The boat was already some distance from land, and Jesus was still on the mountainside alone. Matthew tells us the boat was “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it” (Matthew 14:24). The disciples were struggling with a storm.
Jesus went out to them, walking on the water! What an incredible sight that must have been! The disciples did not realize it was Jesus, and they were afraid, thinking He was a ghost. He said to them, “‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid’” (Matthew 14:27).
He came to them so unexpectedly and supernaturally; they didn’t recognize Him. His words commanded them not to be afraid. Jesus met them in the midst of their trouble, climbed into the boat with them, and Matthew tells us, “the wind died down” (Matthew 14:32). This was an incredible lesson for the disciples. Jesus came to them in an unexpected way, and it showed them His power and glory. He was with them, and He had the power to calm the storm. Those on the boat worshiped him, saying, “‘Truly you are the Son of God’” (Matthew 14:33).
What does this incredible moment on the Sea of Galilee teach us? It is the repeated command of Scripture: “‘For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13). God’s word repeatedly commands not to be afraid. The Lord is always with us, and He is able to meet our needs with all power and might, even in the midst of a storm!
These two accounts give us two very important principles for our lives. Jesus said, “‘Bring them here to me,’” and “‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” If we live our lives as Jesus directed His disciples in these two instances, how differently would they look? Trusting He is with us, means we no longer fear the storms. Giving everything to Him, means we grant Him full access to use it all for His glory and for His purposes.
-Jennifer
