It had been a long hot day and the  people that had followed Jesus to hear His teachings and hope in a miracle had a problem, the day was ending and the people were hungry. They needed something to eat. The disciples decided that they had the solution to the problem and they told Jesus what to do: “And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat (Mark 6:35-38).”

But Jesus had another solution: He told the disciples “ Give you them to eat (Mark 6:37).” The disciples then asked Jesus if they should take some money (from the common purse) and go and buy bread. It’s easy to spend money when it’s not your own.

Once again, Jesus had another idea. “ How many loaves have you? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes (Marc 6:38).” Then Jesus commands His disciples to seat the people in groups of fifties and hundreds. Taking the five loaves of bread and the two little fishes in His Hands, just a boy’s lunch, Jesus prays.

“And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.” (Mark 6:41-43)

Time after, a similar incident happened and this time the multitude had been with Jesus for three days and they were totally exhausted and hungry. This time it is Jesus who, having compassion on the people, said to His disciples that the people were tired and hungry and that they couldn’t send them away as they would faint by the ways. Jesus then asks His disciples “How many loaves have you?” (Mark 8:5) The disciples this time were ready for this dilemma, and they replied. “Seven.”  So once again Jesus had the disciples to seat the people on the ground. 

“So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.” (Mark 8:8)

This time there were seven baskets and not twelve like the first time that Jesus multiplied the bread and fish. 

We want miracles. We want God to bless us and use us. We want to see more souls saved. But are we willing to offer God what we have or what or who we find, and let Him do the rest?

Twelve baskets. One for each disciple. I believe it was just Jesus’ way to say, “Here, I have not forgotten about you and your family. There is plenty for you and them and also there will be plenty of leftovers to give to others. Distribute the bread and use the ‘fish’ that are already in the nets to fill hungry souls with God’s Word.”

Then how come there were seven baskets only on the second occasion of multiplication of bread and fish? My own opinion is that the seven baskets represent the seven days of the week. In other words, be ready to share the “Bread” every day, on any occasion that rises, to whomever you meet or to whoever follows you as you follow Jesus.

Notice that Jesus not only multiplied the bread but He also multiplied the baskets. He will supply every spiritual need and also all our physical needs. But there is a catch. Before anything was done…Jesus prayed.

-by Kathleen Pio-