SHARING BREAD
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.
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.
Matt
14:13-21 (NIV)
Upon hearing about the death of His cousin, John the
Baptist, our Lord withdraws with His guys to a solitary place. The thoughts
Herod held concerning Jesus had reached our Lord’s ear and since His time of
departure from this earth had not fully arrived, He and His disciples retreat
from Herod’s jurisdiction. This also
begins a change of direction in Jesus’ ministry from the masses to a focus primarily
of pouring out and into His disciples.
In our verses for today we read of the only miracle recorded
in all four gospels – an indication of its importance - and its primary significance
was intended for the disciples. After
His physical departure from earth it would be these guys who would be involved
in the feeding of spiritual food to the people and the source of their feeding
would be the Lord Himself. The miracle
took place, Luke tells us, in the town of Bethsaida just prior to the Passover,
which John records in his account of this miracle. I am reminded of Jesus’ reinstatement of
Peter after our Lord’s resurrection which indicates the priority the Master
places on feeding and taking care of His sheep – flowing out of our love for
Him:
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon
Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more
than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he
said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus
said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again
Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love
me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you
know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my
sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things;
you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John
21:15-17 (NIV)
Next, we see the crowds are undeterred by His retreat and
multitudes continued to follow after Jesus in great eagerness. When Christ and His Word withdraw from us it
is in our best interest to follow. Jesus
sees the crowds and does not turn away rather has compassion on them and heals
their sick. How like Jesus! Tired and weary He continues to pour out His
life like a drink offering – willing to toil and expose Himself for the good of
men’s souls. He sets the supreme example
for every believer to follow through His power.
Jesus’ compassion and kindness towards mankind remind me of Jeremiah’s
words in Lamentations:
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. 23 They
are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I
will wait for him.” 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the
one who seeks him; 26 it
is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lam 3:21-26 (NIV)
Believers are called to clothe ourselves in compassion and
kindness as well. We are to look more
and more like the Lord Jesus – not the world around us. Our
Lord’s compassion was particularly directed towards the helpless and
harassed. Paul states in Colossians:
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly
loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. 13 Bear
with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And
over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect
unity. Col 3:12-14 (NIV)
“Jesus, Thou art
all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art.”
Charles Wesley
It
begins to get late and as they were in a remote place the disciples want to
send the crowds away to purchase food.
Yet Jesus has another idea. He
tells His guys to give the crowds something to eat. Can you only imagine them thinking this had
to be some kind of joke. There were five
thousand men and who knows how many women and children – all with hunger pains
– and the most the disciples could come up with was five small loaves of bread
and a couple of meager fish. Yet these
were an abundant feast in our Lord’s hands.
He is ever turning the meager into much.
Such a pittance to feed a multitude yet out of this Christ will have the
multitudes fed. He gives thanks, He
breaks bread and He distributes and all are satisfied. What we willingly place in the hands of Jesus
– small as it may be – to use as He pleases - He can multiply and prosper. Praise Him!
After
everyone is satisfied, Jesus has His guys pick up the broken pieces so that
none would be wasted. Isn’t that just
like Jesus too? He never wastes our broken
pieces - our pains and trials He uses to grow us up in Him – building our
character one brick at a time. What a
blessed thought that our suffering in this broken world is not for naught. He is the Master at making beauty from ashes. Paul tells us in Romans:
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
What I glean from this:
· Out of love
for the Savior I am to feed and care for His sheep.
· Christ set
the example of compassion and kindness that I am to follow.
· Jesus uses
the broken pieces of my life so that none will be wasted.
