1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
God drew my focus to the first and last part of this story, five words that often are like two bookends of my day, week, and sometimes much longer. We’re told they had ‘nothing to eat’, but by the end of the day they had plenty ‘left over’. Boy, can I relate to that. . . I’ve got nothing left in the tank. I’m on empty and I don’t feel like I’ve got anything left to give and so many people are counting on me…my kids, my spouse, my coworkers, my friends, my volunteer work. I’ve been feeding everybody else, but I’ve been too busy to eat or even notice…my soul is starving! And then it’s like Jesus is saying to me, You’re hungry, you’ve had nothing to eat. Let Me feed you…I have plenty to give.
So in this moment, I’m going to stop whatever I’m doing and just BE with Jesus…for 15 minutes, I’m going to shut everything down…my calendar, my cell phone, my email, my door, even my racing mind. I’m going to name my hunger and listen to Jesus say, over and over to me, I have plenty left over…let Me fill your hunger. I’m just going to feast on His presence, and His promise until the groaning of my hunger is satisfied, until I have plenty left over from Him to give to others again.
Steve Steele, Pastor
Saratoga Presbyterian Church
4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
I’m confused…hadn’t they just recently fed five thousand? Seems like they had still not “gained any insight from the incident of the loaves” (Mark 6:52) or from the calming of the storm, or from the subsequent healings in Ch. 6-7. How much does it take to convince us? “Do you not yet understand?” Mk. 8:21
Father, forgive me for needing “more proof.” Today I will get out of unbelief, stand on the truth of Your word, and go do what you have called me to do.
“I have compassion for these people.” I hear Jesus demonstrating the heart of the Father. I hear that to follow Jesus, to reveal the heart of the Father, compassion for people is good imitation.
The self-sacrifice in the phrase “my heart goes out to you,” is tied directly to the compassion of the Father who did something. He sent Jesus.
Jesus is the compassion of the Father. Jesus’ compassion for me is the sign of the Father’s heart for me. They why and the way I can show compassion to other.
The self sacrifice of Jesus at the cross is the premium witness – sign of the Father’s heart. The resurrection is the sign of final victory. God’s compassion for me has victorious power over all, over the enemy, over death, hunger, loss, injustice, doubt, over all.
Today I will rest in the compassion of Jesus’ heart for me. Today I will demonstrate the heart of the Father, by doing something when the need for the compassion of the Father is needed. Like the Good Samaritan (who is Jesus to you and I), I will imitate Jesus and do something.
Ditto–let me be more moved by compassion than I am by doubt/unbelief and fear.
i find myself amazed by this passege. and like Sue says how can
the disciples still doubt,and then i look inside myself and see we always ask for more proof!
today i will pray for understanding, and realize that my life is all the proof i need.
I am hearing God speaking to me about the remote places. Places within me that are so remote even to myself, but he is able to feed them. Fasting exposes these remote places then Jesus feeds them. I am fasting right now around these remote places with in that I need Jesus to fill and feed.
Today I am focusing on trusting God and surrendering to Him. There are so many things I give up on and try to control myself. If God can feed such a crowd with so little, he can handle the worries I need to surrender to him. And, I clearly can’t handle them myself! Today I will try to recite “God I need your help” each time my recurring worries return. Then I wil take a minute to listen to what God wants me to do.
And just think of the crowds He can feed through us if we are surrendered to Him!
“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.” Jesus’ reconition of the crowds physical need and his passion to take care of that need stands out to me. It’s actually a bit of a touchy-feely moment. I agree with Pastor Steve, that as and after we follow him he has a passion to take care of our needs – my “do” is to focus on that!
Thanks, Steve. We read and reflected on this Scripture and your thoughts on it in our staff meeting today. It really blessed us. It got us talking about ways we each can intentionally abide in the Lord on a daily basis.