It’s hard to tell which is the greater miracle involved in the feeding of the 5,000? Is it the fact that they had virtually nothing to start with or that they ended up with so twelve baskets left over! There is absolutely no need to choose. We can and should thank God for both! Since we have already mentioned a bit about how they began this incident, let’s focus here a little in how they ended it.

Let’s go back again to Matthew 14: 9 and pick apart this passage to see how they went from basic to beau coup (Beau coup is French and is American slang for “a whole lot.” Plus, it begins with a “B’ like the rest of our mediations on this text.)

(1). Jesus brought order to and expected obedience from the multitude. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass; (2) Jesus accepted what was sincerely offered to him and made it more than enough to meet the need. …and took the five loaves, and the two fishes; (3) Jesus took what was offered to him, he offered what was offered to him up to his heavenly Father. Even as the Son of God, he recognized his dependence upon God…and looking up to heaven; (4) Jesus added a spiritual dimension to the physical food which transformed it from just food to sufficiency. …he blessed… (5) Jesus reduced what was already a small amount into even small portions so that it would be accessible to each person. Sometimes, what Jesus hands us must be broken down before we are able to handle or receive it. …and brake; (6) Jesus deputizes the disciples as his extensions and points of distribution for his blessings. He has no hands, but ours. …and gave the loaves to his disciples; and (7) Jesus did not give the fish and loaves to the disciples for them to feast on. He gave it to them to give to the people for their benefit and on his behalf. …and the disciples to the multitude.”

At the conclusion of this process, not only was everyone full, there was beau coup left over!