Mark 6:35-44 This is the familiar story of Jesus feeding the 5,000. It's important, however to understand the setting and what happened prior to Jesus feeding the crowd. Jesus receives word that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist. Jesus and his disciples had been very busy with all the people that kept coming. He and his disciples withdrew to a private place by boat to rest their weary bodies and allow some time to grieve. When they get to this quiet, solitary place, it's not so solitary any more. The crowds saw them get into the boat and decided to follow them on foot to this place they were going. Imagine how tired the crowds were when they arrived. Imagine how exhausted Jesus and His disciples are. They are emotionally and physically exhausted only to arrive and see a huge crowd waiting for them. The passage states that Jesus was moved with compassion "because they were like sheep without a shepherd." (v34) Jesus didn't send them away, but instead took time to teach the crowd. As the day moved on, the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him to send the crowd away figuring they probably needed to get going in order to get food. It had been a long day, and they were tired and wanted to be alone with Jesus. I often find myself following the disciples example instead of Jesus'. It is difficult to put my needs aside, especially when I'm physically and emotionally tired and ready to rest. The last thing I feel like is being compassionate and caring. Jesus, however, saw the needs of the people and, in the midst of the exhaustion and grief, He exhibited compassion. For those moments when I am tired, and don't "feel" compassionate, and don't want to help others, God will give me the strength to be His hands, feet, and mouth.
The disciples asked Jesus to send the people away so they (the people) could get something to eat. Jesus, however, tells them to give the crowd something to eat. Can you imagine the astonishment on the disciples faces? Where were they going to get enough food let alone enough money to buy the food to feed over 5000 people? Five thousand was the number of men, not including the number of women and children. That's a huge crowd to feed! The Gospel of John mentions a boy who had five small loaves and two small fish...not much, let alone not even close to feeding 5000+ people. One of the disciples went to this boy to get the food from him. Can you imagine being the little boy? I wonder if he gave his food willingly to the disciples for Jesus to use or if he was reluctant to share. Was he excited to participate in this huge miracle? This boy gave all the food he had with him. I began to think about what I do with what I have...what God has given me. Do I willingly give of my talents, skills, money, etc to God to multiply for His kingdom, or do I selfishly hold onto them?
After the feeding of the 5000+ people, Jesus was able to get away alone for the much needed rest and the time alone with His Father. A couple thoughts that spoke to me through this story: God will give me the rest I need at just the right time, but it may not exactly be when I plan for it to occur. If there is someone God brings my way that I need to show compassion to, I need to follow God's leading and not turn them away so my own needs can be met. I need to give willingly of my time, talents, skills, etc so that God can use them to bless others. I never know when God will use what I say and/or do for others to reach people and multiply His kingdom.
Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV)
The disciples asked Jesus to send the people away so they (the people) could get something to eat. Jesus, however, tells them to give the crowd something to eat. Can you imagine the astonishment on the disciples faces? Where were they going to get enough food let alone enough money to buy the food to feed over 5000 people? Five thousand was the number of men, not including the number of women and children. That's a huge crowd to feed! The Gospel of John mentions a boy who had five small loaves and two small fish...not much, let alone not even close to feeding 5000+ people. One of the disciples went to this boy to get the food from him. Can you imagine being the little boy? I wonder if he gave his food willingly to the disciples for Jesus to use or if he was reluctant to share. Was he excited to participate in this huge miracle? This boy gave all the food he had with him. I began to think about what I do with what I have...what God has given me. Do I willingly give of my talents, skills, money, etc to God to multiply for His kingdom, or do I selfishly hold onto them?
After the feeding of the 5000+ people, Jesus was able to get away alone for the much needed rest and the time alone with His Father. A couple thoughts that spoke to me through this story: God will give me the rest I need at just the right time, but it may not exactly be when I plan for it to occur. If there is someone God brings my way that I need to show compassion to, I need to follow God's leading and not turn them away so my own needs can be met. I need to give willingly of my time, talents, skills, etc so that God can use them to bless others. I never know when God will use what I say and/or do for others to reach people and multiply His kingdom.
Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV)
No comments:
Post a Comment