Day 20

“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.” —JOHN 6:11

In the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people, there’s a secret we must be very careful to observe. John 6:10-11 says, “Jesus said, “Have the people sit down…” He then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. By the next verse, it’s all over, “When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’”

What happened? What did Jesus do? He does something so simple we often miss it. John says, “He gave thanks”. That doesn’t mean He said grace before the meal! (“For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful, amen”). Rather, when He gave thanks, it simply means He counted on the sufficiency of His Father, passed the responsibility to act to Him, and said, “Thank You”. Five little loaves, two small fish, five thousand people, a human dilemma that causes no panic in heaven – “thank you”.

How do I know this is the key? Because later in this same chapter, it says, “some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks” (v. 23). Did you notice that? If I had written this account I would have said they landed near the place where Jesus had performed a miracle, or had fed the five thousand! That is what would have impressed me. But when John writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he emphasizes that this was the place where “the Lord had given thanks”. That was the key.

This is something so simple here, that we can easily miss it. Giving thanks is acknowledgement of dependence on someone else. If you open a door for me, I will say, “Thank you”, acknowledging my dependence on you in that moment. What Jesus does here is transfer the responsibility from Himself to His Father, and He does so by saying, “Thank you”.

This is to be our disposition towards the Father. Thanking God acknowledges our dependence on Him. That is why Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Are you facing difficulties today? Give them to God with thanksgiving, and leave the consequences with Him.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I want to live every day with a disposition of gratitude to You for everything I have and in every situation I face. Thank You that we can always depend on You and are not limited to mere human resources.

TO REFLECT UPON: Regardless of what trying circumstances I may face, am I giving thanks to God for His presence and sufficiency in them?