12 And when they had eaten their fill, He told His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”

13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.

— John 6:12-13

20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

— Matthew 14:20-21

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”

— 1 Corinthians 2:9

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

— Ephesians 3:20-21

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, peace and joy from Christ to you.

On the mountainside, looking heavenward to His Father, Jesus blessed the 5 barley loaves and 2 fish and fully satisfied all the 5000+ people. They ate until they could eat no more. Jesus again displayed His compassion and power. Jesus’ provisions more than meet our needs and reveal the abundance of His unlimited resources. Regardless of what we long for, satisfaction apart from Jesus Christ does not exist because we were created as God-shaped vessels that only through Jesus Christ can we come forward to God to be satisfied.

While Jesus provided lavishly, He wasted nothing. He commanded the leftovers to be gathered after all were fully fed. Jesus provided an opportunity for His followers to trust Him, recognize His provision and exercise wise stewardship. God calls His followers today to do the same. Jesus’ 12 disciples collected exactly 12 baskets of leftovers. All 12 disciples held in their hands tangible evidence of Jesus’ overflowing provision that attested to His divine power and care for people’s needs. The Lord gives more than people ask or imagine. Only in Jesus can needy people experience true abundance.