Caught up in the miracle and miss Jesus

 

Mark 8:1-10

 

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

“In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them,  “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.  And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”   And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”   And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.   And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.  And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over; seven baskets full.   And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.   And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.”

Often we get caught up in the miracle of Jesus blessing the seven loaves of bread and the two fish and feeding the four thousand, and miss the why.  Compassion is not something we put on a resume, but it always a blessing when we see someone with that in their lives.  My older brother comes across as a tough guy without compassion, but I watched him over the years, and he is a very giving and compassionate person to someone who is needed.

When I think of my Lord, and that is often, He does not love, He is Love, and it does not come with the condition; that just who He is.  He did not arrange a meeting in this desolate place, they were not invited guests, no they hear where Jesus was, and they came.  Now it time to leave and Jesus understands that many need something to eat, and have no ability to buy food or get food. He also understands that many will not make it back to their homes without having food in that it has been three days.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice