Five Loaves (5)

In the midst of pain and strife, how compassionate am I?  A close friend of yours has died and, whether or not you knew it was coming, he or she was dear to you.  Remember when Jesus cried over the loss of Lazarus (John 11:35)?  And then after several days of him being laid in the tomb, Jesus went, commanded the stone be rolled away, and raised him from the dead.   This time the one who was preparing the way for Jesus, John the Baptist, was on Herod’s radar and had him executed, beheaded.  Boy, wouldn't that be a sight, Jesus healing John after that?  Even though that wasn't in his plan, the Father’s plan, I’m sure he could have done it.

So Jesus heads to a solitary place by boat, but a crowd of people followed him there.  If that were you, wouldn’t you be telling them, “Please go.  I need time alone with God.  I need time to grieve.”  However, Jesus instead, after hearing that they had come, went to them and healed their sick.  By evening, the disciples suggest the crowds leave.  They are far from their own towns and if they don’t leave soon, they could go hungry.  My take: it seemed more like they were tired of the crowd and wanted to retire for the night.  Nonetheless, Jesus replies, “They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat.”  Wow.  Talk about scary.  Does Survivor come to mind?

So they gave Jesus all they had, five loaves and two fish.  After Jesus directed the people to sit and gave thanks, he broke the bread and gave the food to the disciples to feed the people.  Not only were they satisfied but they also picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces.

If we are to be his disciples, are we willing to have compassion on the sick and needy even amidst our own grief?  Are we willing to give all of ourselves, even an entire meal that was supposed to be for you, to feed the sick and needy?  How miraculous it is to serve with Jesus, that He is compassionate on us when we don’t understand how He will do it and yet allows us to be a part of His miraculous works?

Trust in Him with all that you have.  Don’t be surprised by what may follow afterward.

¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

 ¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

 ¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

 ¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

 ¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

   ¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 14:12-21

5 days!