Enough

Pastor Dan challenges common assumptions about the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, suggesting that applying a “fantastical lens” to Jesus’s stories often makes them feel “out of reach” and relieves us of modern responsibility. Reading from John 6, Pastor Dan notes that the Bible never actually says that Jesus multiplied the food; rather, he distributed what was available. He questions the widely held assumption that 5,000 men plus their families traveled without bringing any provisions, proposing that many people in the crowd were likely hoarding their own food. Pastor Dan contends that if we focus only on Jesus performing an “out-of-touch miracle,” it is easier to remove ourselves from the needs of humanity around us.

Pastor Dan suggests that the true miracle was not supernatural provision, but the transformation of hearts that led to sharing and community. He argues that the opposite of scarcity is community, not abundance. The small boy’s willingness to share his lunch may have served as a seed of trust, inspiring the crowd to stop hoarding their supplies and redistribute what they had. The resulting abundance—everyone being fed with twelve baskets leftover—demonstrates that together, we have more than enough. This message encourages the community to reject the fear-based scarcity mindset that breeds division and isolation, and instead embrace generosity, which creates belonging and enables the kingdom of God to break forth.