What is in your basket?

Mom. mom have you heard the news. What son? Mom, have you heard? Heard what son. Mom, the prophet most likely the messiah is heading this way. I know this is a desolated area but I heard through the grape vine that He was coming this way. Who is this prophet you are talking about? Jesus from Nazareth, you know mom the one that has been doing miracles by healing the sick casting out daemons. Mom, can I go and see Him in the morning? Okay you can but you have to make sure that you have done all your chores before you can go, okay? Okay, mom. Now go to sleep. That night this young man couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turn waiting for the crack of dawn to be able to see and hear this prophet named Jesus. In his heart he probably believed it was the messiah. Finally he started to see the raise of the sun over the hilltop and he jumped out of his bed and started to do his chores. Mom was not up yet but she was after hearing the pots and vases being clung by her son as he was preparing to go and get the water from the well. He took the largest vase and went to the well to get water. He ran to the well because the day was creeping on him. In the distance he saw a big crowed of people heading toward his town. He ran back with the vase full of water. He said, mom he is almost here. Mom replied, have you brushed your teeth? Yes, mom. Have you washed your face? Yes, mom. Well hear is your breakfast, you can not go without eating breakfast. Okay, mom. He ate his breakfast faster than ever before. I am all done mom, can I go now. Yes, son but here is a basket with some bread and fish just in case you get hungry. This young man took the basket and headed to meet the guest in town. When he approach the crowd there was people all over the place. Jesus was teaching about His kingdom. This young man sat and listened. He saw Jesus heal the sick and cast out demons. It seemed like it was just minutes when he saw Jesus talking with His disciples and a great commotion started. The need was asked. Does anyone have any fish or bread to feed the people. One of Jesus’ disciples was passing by when the young boy told him that he had five loaves of bread and two fishes. The disciple took the basket to Jesus. Jesus asked the people to sit in groups of fifty. Then He raised the kids basket and blessed it. He then said to his disciples feed them. The kid saw how the basket started to go around and how the fish and the bread continued to come out of the basket.

Prayer

Matthew 14:13

Matthew 14:13–20 NKJV

When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.

Matthew 15:32–37 NKJV

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.

Matthew 15:32-

Couple of things that I will like to point out about this occasions:

1. Jesus and His disciples stopped ministering to the people so that they can take care of their human needs. In essence, the disciples asked how can this be done when we don’t have the means?

2. They only had five loaves and two fishes and seven loaves and few fishes, but God does not look at our quantity but our desire to give our all for His quality.

Matthew 15:21-28

Matthew 15:21–28 NKJV

Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Here we have someone wanting the bread and the giver declining the request because it was not design for her. But there is one thing that changed the giver’s mind. The requester had faith in the bread.

The word baskets in the feeding of the five thousands is κοφίνους in it means stiff baskets. The baskets normally used by the Jews. Now on the other hand, in the word used for baskets for the four thousands is σπυρίς which means flexible basket. This basket was normally used by the gentiles.

We are the baskets. God created the church and has allowed even the Gentiles to participate in being part of the baskets. The importance is what is in your baskets.

The Jews had focused there center of their religion in the laws that they would not even share the blessings (bread) that God had given to them to their neighboring brothers and sisters. They had lost the importance of taking care of the needs of their visitors and lost the sight of representing the God of creation to the fallen world. Making their basket stiff and non relational.

For God he will use the stiff basket or the flimsy basket depending if we allow to have the bread in it.

The ministry that God has granted you is your basket,

your life is the basket,

your job is your basket,

your relationship is your basket,

your home is your basket,

What are you doing with your ministry, life, job, relationships, home? is Jesus the center of it?

your

What is in your basket?

I am calling you to give Jesus to the world that is much need that is pleading to what to experience Jesus even the crumbs of Jesus that you so much enjoy. In this new year of your duties why don’t we focus to provide Jesus to this dying world.