14:13-21 What is the significance of there being twelve baskets of food left over after more than five thousand were fed from five loaves and two fishes?

14:13-21 What is the significance of there being twelve baskets of food left over after more than five thousand were fed from five loaves and two fishes? This is also recorded in Mk 6:32-44; Lk 9:12-17 and Jn 6:1-13. There is no significance in the actual number of basketsful of food left over, but in the fact that regardless of the thousands who ate there was still food to spare. This happened again in Mt 15 (cp Mt 15:29-38). Here there were well in excess of four thousand people fed, yet again there was food to spare – this time seven basketsful. We learn from these two miracles that not only will God multiply what little we have into much if we trust completely in His providence like Jesus did, but that His provision will far exceed our requirements (cp Eph 3:20). God also multiplied food in the Old Testament (cp 2Ki 4:42-44).

14:22-31 What does Peter’s failed attempt to walk on water teach?

Here we learn how important it is to remain focused on Jesus and His word rather than on our circumstances in life. When Jesus bade Peter to walk to Him on the water Peter’s faith initially was sufficient for Him to step out of the boat and commence the walk, but when his faith was challenged by his circumstances - he saw how high the wind whipped the waves up around him - he became focused on his circumstances and allowed them to overpower his faith in Jesus to perform His word, and he immediately began to sink. Believers must never allow adverse circumstances which beset them to undermine the authority of God’s word for their lives. God has said it and He will do it (cp Num 23:19).