Twelve Baskets!!! 4/24/22
Matthew 14:20 (KJV)
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
I “suppose” any and all who follow Christ and/or read their Bibles are VERY familiar of the miracles Jesus performed in feeding of the multitudes:
Matthew 14:15-21 (KJV)
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 He said, Bring them hither to me.
19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
This week past I faced the daunting task of multiple doctor examinations-my sincere apologies to any in the medical field but I strongly dislike entering your domains!!!
WE preachers love to help and “fix” everybody else-besides ourselves.
REMEMBER-Minor surgery is when it happens to others.................
MAJOR SURGERY WHEN IT HAPPENS TO US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After NUMEROUS excursions into WEBMD I had concluded I either had another kidney stone....................OR WORSE!
As the sad day of my Urology appointment approached my dear son Joshua called and told me of a teaching he had learned from T.D. Jakes involving the Story above.
This Story had always troubled me as the question begged to be answered????
WHY did the disciples gather up “the FRAGMENTS that remained twelve baskets full?”
Matthew 14:20 (KJV)
20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
In fact, Jesus INSTRUCTED His disciples to do so:
John 6:12-13 (KJV)
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
WHAT could possibly be gained in the gathering od discarded and half-eaten fragments of bread and fish bones??????????????????????????????????
Was Jesus in the forefront of climate change and world ecology???????????????????
Matthew records that immediately following this miracle Jesus:
Matthew 14:22 (KJV)
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
Jesus was NOT aboard this ship with His disciples:
Matthew 14:23 (KJV)
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
But the “ship” they were aboard immediately encountered ANOTHER turbulence:
Matthew 14:24 (KJV)
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
Isn't this much like OUR lives??? As soon as we conquer one fear or trouble, we encounter another.........................................
You know the Story-Jesus appears walking on the water and that miracle is the one often preached on and discussed.
Mark 8:16-19 (KJV)
16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
Mark explains WHY Jesus commanded His disciples to gather up TWELVE-please note TWELVE-the exact number of disciples on that fateful boat that day to take up TWELVE BASKETS of discarded bread and fish tails!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark 6:46-52 (KJV)
46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
“FOR THEY CONSIDERED NOT THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES!!!!!!!!!!”
Jesus had already provided them a VISUAL AID!!
All they HAD needed in their “boat of adversity” was to look upon the TWELVE BASKETS of discarded fish parts and half eaten bread on board their ship!!!!!!!!
TODAY, as you and I face endless trial and tribulation, REMEMBER what God did just yesterday for us-REMEMBER THE TWELVE BASKETS GOD PROVIDED!!
AMEN AND AMEN!!!
I PRAY each of us CONSIDER “the MIRACLE of the loaves!!”
God Bless You,
Pastor Doug
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McDonough, GA. 30253
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