If any one of us were asked on the spur of the moment to tell about a miracle we recall in the New Testament, many of us would think of the Feeding of the Five Thousand as one of our top choices. Perhaps that is because it is recorded in all four of the Gospels. The only other miracle mentioned in all four is the resurrection of Jesus.

 

One of the risks of knowing a passage well is how often we reread it without a lot of thought. Miracles can almost become mundane. We don’t let our imagination put us in the story and allow it to come alive.

 

If that is true of you, you won’t want to miss reading a new release from Tyndale House by Troy Schmidt. Fish Sandwiches: The Delightof Receiving God’s Promises will give you a fresh view of this powerful miracle and well-known story about the boy whose sack lunch of five loaves and two fish fed perhaps as many as 15,000 people one day.

 

Yes, the Bible says 5,000, but the men were typically the only ones counted so if you add women and children it can pretty easily raise the number multiple times.

 

Reading in Matthew and Mark a few chapters farther opens on the feeding of the Four Thousand. We don’t know the time span between the two, but the symbolism about each is fascinating to consider as Troy Schmidt causes the reader to slow down in looking at these miracles.

 

Schmidt reminds the reader of a key truth about miracles:

 

“All of Jesus’ miracles were more than just miracles. They were messages, live-action parables to show us deeper truths about ourselves and God.”

 

 This story about the loaves and fish reminds us of how sensitive Jesus was to the needs of the people. He knew they needed spiritual feeding, but they had been with Him for a long time listening to Him teach and He knew they were physically hungry as well.

 

What a great reminder of not only evidence of the compassion of Jesus, but also how sensitive He was to details some might think He might miss in the midst of teaching spiritual truths. Pausing to see that can help any one of us remember that in our current situation.

 

The miracle utilized three things: fish, bread, and a boy. Consider that in that whole crowd only the boy had anything to offer and that he gave it willingly. Jesus pauses with the bread and fish in his hands and looks up to heaven and the food begins to multiply.

 

Fish Sandwiches will give you more opportunities to delve more deeply into the symbolism and elements of the story. Where did the baskets come from? What was symbolic about 12 baskets of leftovers and where did those baskets come from?

 

One of the joys of this book was the reminder to slow down and take note of the words in the Bible that I read. I think that results in a fresh awareness of how God works in the present even as He did in the past.

 

“When we dine on Jesus, we ingest his words, his sacrifice, his teaching, his promises, his commandments, and his love. He gives us health, vitality, enthusiasm, security, and life.”

Troy Schmidt

 

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 will give you a fresh view of this powerful miracle and well-known story about the boy whose sack lunch of five loaves and two fish fed perhaps as many as 15,000 people one day.

 

Yes, the Bible says 5,000, but the men were typically the only ones counted so if you add women and children it can pretty easily raise the number multiple times.

 

Reading in Matthew and Mark a few chapters farther opens on the feeding of the Four Thousand. We don’t know the time span between the two, but the symbolism about each is fascinating to consider as Troy Schmidt causes the reader to slow down in looking at these miracles.

 

Schmidt reminds the reader of a key truth about miracles:

 

“All of Jesus’ miracles were more than just miracles. They were messages, live-action parables to show us deeper truths about ourselves and God.”

 

 This story about the loaves and fish reminds us of how sensitive Jesus was to the needs of the people. He knew they needed spiritual feeding, but they had been with Him for a long time listening to Him teach and He knew they were physically hungry as well.

 

What a great reminder of not only evidence of the compassion of Jesus, but also how sensitive He was to details some might think He might miss in the midst of teaching spiritual truths. Pausing to see that can help any one of us remember that in our current situation.

 

The miracle utilized three things: fish, bread, and a boy. Consider that in that whole crowd only the boy had anything to offer and that he gave it willingly. Jesus pauses with the bread and fish in his hands and looks up to heaven and the food begins to multiply.

 

Fish Sandwiches will give you more opportunities to delve more deeply into the symbolism and elements of the story. Where did the baskets come from? What was symbolic about 12 baskets of leftovers and where did those baskets come from?

 

One of the joys of this book was the reminder to slow down and take note of the words in the Bible that I read. I think that results in a fresh awareness of how God works in the present even as He did in the past.

 

“When we dine on Jesus, we ingest his words, his sacrifice, his teaching, his promises, his commandments, and his love. He gives us health, vitality, enthusiasm, security, and life.”

Troy Schmidt

 

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review.