Introduction 

Singaporeans like food a lot, and some Singaporeans like a lot of food.

Our text today involves a lot of food. It’s a familiar story, but when we read it with fresh eyes we see three surprises:

Context

• Immediately before this: the tragic and unjust death of John the Baptist
• Jesus may have been taking time to be by himself to grieve.
• His peace and quiet was interrupted by the crowd, but he had compassion on them anyway — this was the context in which the feeding miracle occurred.
  
  

Command

• The disciples made a reasonable request, which Jesus replied with a seemingly impossible command: YOU give them something to eat
• Impossible for three reasons: (a) the need was too great; (b) the conditions were too challenging; (c) the resources were too meagre!
• But the impossible command was fulfilled by the God of the impossible: He turned a poor man’s lunch into a grand buffet of mercy.
  
  

Connection

• The feeding miracle was connected to the historical memory of the Jews and therefore deeply meaningful to all who experienced it that day
• When were they last in a desolate place, desperately needing God to keep them alive because they had nothing? The Exodus!
• Matthew’s story goes beyond the breaking of barley buns: Jesus broke bread – offering us His very self.

Applying this to our lives

• The Lord calls us to His buffet of mercy, and to lead others to His table
• One way we do this is by offering our five loaves and two fish to serve God in His church
  • Some of us think we have nothing of value to offer
  • Others think we have plenty to value-add to God
• Today is STEP-UP Sunday – an opportunity to hear how different ones have offered their five loaves and two fish to the Lord, and be inspired to do the same

Sunday Worship Songs at cefc.ch/sws
Next Sunday’s Topic: Matthew 15:1-20; 16:1-12
Next Sunday’s Speaker(s): Rev Edmund Wong (BPJ & WDL); Ps Lee Da-Win (East)