They Ate and Were Satisfied
“When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. By now it was already late and his disciples approached him and said, ‘This is a deserted place and it is already very late. Dismiss them so that they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.’ He said to them in reply, ‘Give them some food yourselves.’ But they said to him, ‘Are we to buy two hundred days’ wages worth of food and give it to them to eat?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have? Go and see.’ And when they had found out they said, ‘Five loaves and two fish.’ So he gave orders to have them sit down in groups on the green grass. The people took their places in rows by hundreds and by fifties. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to [his] disciples to set before the people; he also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied.” - Mark 6:34-42
Several weeks ago, thanks to the incredible generosity of multiple friends and family members who sponsored us, two friends and I had the opportunity to fly down to Texas and participate in the Season Three filming of a show called The Chosen, a multi-season TV show about the life of Jesus. If you’ve been following my blog, then you’ll know how much I love this show and how it has impacted my prayer life, so being able to be on the set as an extra was an absolutely amazing experience. From the moment we arrived on the set, after I cried multiple tears of joy, we were treated like VIPs, as numerous volunteers and crew members made sure we knew exactly when and where we needed to be and that we were well-fed and well-hydrated throughout the day. They even flew in several well-known Christian musicians to provide live entertainment in between filming blocks, had multiple photo op stations, porta potties, and medic tents, and provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as endless snacks and beverages. Needless to say, the provided hospitality by The Chosen was above and beyond, and all of the cast and crew “ate and were satisfied.”
While walking to the set with the rest of the extras, I couldn’t help but reflect on how we were experiencing a modern day version of the original 5000 person crowd in the first century.
First, there was a TON of preparation that took place prior to us arriving on set. We had to create our costumes (shoutout to my home parish in Virginia for providing our costumes), arrange our travel (shoutout to Southwest Airlines for having an amazing reward program), coordinate our lodging (shoutout out to a friend’s parents who hosted us), and pack our suitcases with clothes, toiletries, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, phone chargers, sunglasses, etc. Back in the day, there certainly would also have been a lot of preparation required, minus the modern day supplies, for one to make the trip to see and hear Jesus. Certainly travel plans, safety, and supplies all had to be considered as individuals and families journeyed to “come and see” for themselves who Jesus was and what he had to say.
Second, people traveled from all over the world to participate in the filming of the Feeding of the 5000 scene for The Chosen. We met some who flew in from different countries, some who road-tripped across the country, and some who lived only 20 minutes away from the set. Fans of the show flocked from everywhere to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity, and in the first century, people would’ve also traveled from all different areas to hear Jesus speak. It would’ve been a beautiful mix of cultures and religious backgrounds, as people arrived with curiosity and/or hope.
Finally, while we didn’t travel to Texas to see the real Jesus, we instead saw an actor portraying Jesus (and an incredible one at that). And yet, by participating in the filming of this show, we were helping bring Jesus to others whenever they watch the show. It could be those who are already really close to Jesus, those who know Jesus but maybe have been neglecting their relationship with him, or those who have never before heard of Jesus. Viewers of the show may watch out of curiosity and/or hope, but no matter how they come to watch, Jesus is ready to meet them right where they are at.
This TV show is truly changing lives, as people are able to encounter the Lord and learn about who He is and what He desires for each of us, and it was truly such a blessing to be a part of it. And yet, as the director of the show, Dallas Jenkins, was once told during the lowest point of his career and often reminds followers of the show, "It is not our job to feed the 5000 but only to provide the loaves and fish.” Each of us have our own version of “loaves and fish” to provide, so what are YOU bringing to God for Him to multiple and share with others so that they, too, can eat and be satisfied?
