Organizing a picnic with all the food and drinks and napkins for twenty-five people is a lot of work. A good host thinks about the people coming, how much food to prepare, and budget constraints. Hot dogs or fried chicken?

Jesus fed thousands and thousands of people on more than one occasion with only a few loaves of bread and a handful of fish. His disciples expressed their worry—where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?

Those with Jesus failed to understand who stood among them. How could they know bread for a crowd barely registered on the creative power residing within Jesus? For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17).

I get lost in the pictures beamed back to us from the James Webb space telescope. The image above shows the five galaxies of Stephan’s Quintet. Ginormous, beautiful, and beyond imagination. The deeper the telescope peers, the more it sees—endless space and stars. Truly the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).

Jesus made all those galaxies. They hold together by his power. Is it any wonder he threw a good picnic?

Feeding the masses was no problem for Jesus. Providing for me is no problem for Jesus. Working my life toward his ends is no problem for Jesus. The only problem for Jesus? Me and my lack of faith in Jesus.

Look at those images from the telescope, or walk outside and gaze at the stars this evening. As you do, consider the one who put those galaxies in place, and thank him for the bread on your table as well.

Matthew 15 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022