Children’s Sermon

Matthew 14:13-21

It’s A Miracle

By Lois Parker Edstrom

A miracle is an amazing event for which we have no logical explanation. It is beyond our understanding. We have learned much about our natural world, but there are many things we don’t completely understand.

Have you ever seen or experienced a miracle? I think you have.

Salmon are hatched and swim down streams and rivers into the ocean. After swimming thousands of miles in the vast ocean they return to the exact river and stream where they were hatched. We don’t understand exactly how salmon are able to do this.

The same can be said of migrating birds. We don’t know exactly why, at a certain time, they decide to move to another location and are able to navigate back to a place they had been the previous season.

We know that when conditions are right – a suitable amount of sunshine and water, a seed begins to grow.

These are amazing events we don’t completely understand – miracles.

There is a wonderful story in the Bible about a miracle that occurred while Jesus was healing the sick. Jesus was surrounded by a large group of people – more than 5000. It was late and they were gathered in the wilderness. His disciples suggested that he send the people back to the villages so they could get something to eat. Jesus said,

“They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat” (14:16).

The disciples replied, “We only have here five loaves and two fish” (14:17).

Jesus said, “Bring them here to me” (14:18). He asked all the people to sit down, he blessed the food and then gave the five loaves back to the disciples; the disciples gave the bread to the people. All the people ate and were filled. When the disciples gathered up the broken pieces of bread, twelve baskets were filled with what remained. We don’t understand how this happened. A miracle!

As you go about your day, think about the possibilities of miracles. You might be surprised by what you discover.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan