Does anyone have any light to shead on this? Did they carry empty baskets in case they were needed for anything? Were they collapsible or firm?
I would say 12 baskets full of left over fragments is just a measure on the left over. There is no other way to measure the fragments those days in a meaningful way. I would discourage you from focusing on where the empty baskets came from, it will take your focus away from the real thing. I am not sure whether you got a chance to focus on the number of left over baskets, it is 12. Jesus had 12 disciples at that time, who served the 5000 and distributed them bread. God rewarded each of them with 1 basket full of Bread and fish each. This shows that the one who does the will of God and serves him in an unselfish way will be honored by God. New Testament has amazing truths hidden in it if we focus on the right thing.
hi, those that say that God is not interested in numbers and are against mega churches would shut these meetings down.
Jesus had 5000 people hearing him for 3 days without food. Anyone would have felt like all these were true disciples of Jesus but they were not. They all departed him and even approved his Crucification. This is why numbers cannot be trusted. Just because we have large numbers does not mean we have an approval from God. And just because we have lesser number does not mean we are not approved by God.
For example Jesus himself had only 12 disciples out of them only 11 endured till the end. All these modern day Big Churches would have called him a legalist for driving away numbers or even unapproved by God because he made very few followers. But what happened in the end. These 11 were able to spread the Gospel so mightily. That is why it is the Quality that is important and not quantity. People who want only money by conducting large meetings will never understand this truth. If these Mega Churches start speaking the Truth then their numbers will drop drastically, are they willing to take risk? No they won't because they are blinded by numbers. Satan has succeeded in blinding their eyes.
Having Said all this, I myself was born again in a mega Church that does not speak the full truth. They had many practices against the word of God. But God still used them to bring me to light. But once I came to light, Jesus is not there in this Church. Hence I moved from this Mega Church and joined a Church in which my groom lives inside and not outside. So God can use Mega Churches but a true bride of Christ will not stay in such Church because the Groom is not there.
