April 4, 2016 JESUS FED THE MULTITDE
Matthew 14:14. “And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.”
Matthew 14:19. “And ordering the multitude to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the multitudes,”
When we hear the story of Jesus feeding over five thousand people, we think of the great miracle of feeding that many people with just five loaves and two fish-and indeed that was a great miracle. This story servers as a reminder to us that God is more than sufficient to handle any need we face. There is another truth surrounding this story that is even more important than feeding the multitude on that day, and it is a truth that we must not overlook. The simple, but yet most powerful truth is that Jesus saw the multitude and felt compassion for them. Jesus had no desire to impress the multitude with a great miracle; He just saw the people and He knew they were hungry and He wanted them to have food. Whatever we know about God, let us know that He is a God of compassion-that He cares for each of us. Knowing that God has compassion for us has to be more than mental agreement on our part; we must have this truth permeate our heart and our spirit if it is to make a difference. We have to make the connection that the all-powerful God, the God who spoke the universe into existence, the God who created us, has compassion for each of us. God is well aware of our limitations as human beings, our weakness and the trials that are a part of life on earth. “For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are but dust.” Psalms 103:13. For the believer, one powerful way that God demonstrates His compassion is that He gives us the Holy Spirt as a helper, as seen in John 14:16: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” God has not left us alone to “figure it out” or to live as a loner, helpless in overcoming the battles we face. We also must know that in His compassion, He does not simply excuse us when we do not follow in His ways, but because of His compassion, He will discipline us when we need it. Because God knows us fully, His compassion is broad and all-encompassing, touching every aspect of our life. When we are wrong, He corrects us; when we need wisdom, He gives it; when we are confused, He gives direction; when we are lonely, He is our friend. Love starts with God; God draws us to Himself; and God has made it possible for us to respond to His compassion. It was because of His great endless compassion that He sent His Son to die in our place that our relationship to Him might be restored. Today, no matter what your present circumstances may be, respond to the compassion of our Father who not only sustains us, but fills us with His presence.
Lamentations 3:22-23, 25: “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Matthew 14:14. “And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.”
Matthew 14:19. “And ordering the multitude to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the multitudes,”
When we hear the story of Jesus feeding over five thousand people, we think of the great miracle of feeding that many people with just five loaves and two fish-and indeed that was a great miracle. This story servers as a reminder to us that God is more than sufficient to handle any need we face. There is another truth surrounding this story that is even more important than feeding the multitude on that day, and it is a truth that we must not overlook. The simple, but yet most powerful truth is that Jesus saw the multitude and felt compassion for them. Jesus had no desire to impress the multitude with a great miracle; He just saw the people and He knew they were hungry and He wanted them to have food. Whatever we know about God, let us know that He is a God of compassion-that He cares for each of us. Knowing that God has compassion for us has to be more than mental agreement on our part; we must have this truth permeate our heart and our spirit if it is to make a difference. We have to make the connection that the all-powerful God, the God who spoke the universe into existence, the God who created us, has compassion for each of us. God is well aware of our limitations as human beings, our weakness and the trials that are a part of life on earth. “For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are but dust.” Psalms 103:13. For the believer, one powerful way that God demonstrates His compassion is that He gives us the Holy Spirt as a helper, as seen in John 14:16: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” God has not left us alone to “figure it out” or to live as a loner, helpless in overcoming the battles we face. We also must know that in His compassion, He does not simply excuse us when we do not follow in His ways, but because of His compassion, He will discipline us when we need it. Because God knows us fully, His compassion is broad and all-encompassing, touching every aspect of our life. When we are wrong, He corrects us; when we need wisdom, He gives it; when we are confused, He gives direction; when we are lonely, He is our friend. Love starts with God; God draws us to Himself; and God has made it possible for us to respond to His compassion. It was because of His great endless compassion that He sent His Son to die in our place that our relationship to Him might be restored. Today, no matter what your present circumstances may be, respond to the compassion of our Father who not only sustains us, but fills us with His presence.
Lamentations 3:22-23, 25: “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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