Mark 8:1-10 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 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 set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
In this account, we see Jesus once again concerned about whether the people will faint on the way home if they don't have food to sustain their journey. As when He fed the 5,000, Jesus divides what food they have with the crowd. In the first case, He had five loaves and two fish, and on this occasion the disciples bring him seven loaves and a few small fish to feed the crowd. In both situations Jesus wants to meet the physical needs of the people before He sends them away. We see Jesus full of compassion for the people's daily needs. The crowd probably did not expect Jesus to be bothered about whether they had eaten in the last few days or not. For them, Jesus was a man of God, maybe even a prophet: one who heals and drives out demons. Why would He be concerned about a situation they could take care of themselves? Healing and driving out demons was beyond their capabilities, but feeding themselves was not; they could eventually take care of their hunger with a little time and effort. Yes, some of them might faint or collapse on the way home, but eventually they would find enough food to sustain them on their way. In this story of feeding the four thousand, we find Jesus focused on the essential needs of everyday living. This passage clearly shows Jesus' servanthood to the people. He came to serve men, women, and children in every area of need. Personally, He did not have a place to lay his head, and He sent his disciples out with the clothes they wore, dependent upon God and the love of the people for their daily bread and housing. Yet we see Jesus at numerous times moved with compassion for the people. Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36)
We read in the above passage that Jesus already had an agenda for that day: And having sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. He probably knew at the beginning of that day what He intended to do after He got away from this huge crowd of people. Of course, Jesus had his own needs and desires, his own time schedule and purposes for that day; but instead of plunging ahead to fulfill his needs, He reflected on the immediate needs of the people. He told his disciples that He had compassion for these people, for they must be hungry after three days of watching him minister to them. Rather than move on, He asked the disciples to feed the crowd. Think how long it would take to feed a crowd this large. This was no easy task; it was not something one could do in an hour. This probably was quite a time-consuming process: 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 set before the people, and they did so. To distribute sufficient food to that many people and gather up the leftovers had to take a long time. Yet, we find Jesus seeking to serve the people, thus further delaying his own wishes and agenda to meet the needs of others. We know the continued effort of his ministry must have worn him out, for we see him many times seeking to get away from the people so He might rest. Yet when the crowds followed him, He would always heal the sick and teach the Good News of the Kingdom to the lost. Even after three days of ministering, He continued to put the requirements of the people above his own.
In Mark 9 Jesus tells the disciples to be great in the kingdom of God, you must be the least, the servant to all. In today's verses, we see Jesus illustrating this principle to his disciples. He served the people before He fulfilled his own plan of going to Dalmanutha. As a good and faithful servant, He placed others above himself. As the body of Christ, this is our task each day. We need to feed the 4,000 before we satisfy our own interests. When Jesus describes the division of the sheep and the goats, He says whatever we do in his name, we do to him. We give food, clothes, housing, and care to the least of these in the name of Jesus. Jesus concludes his instruction to the disciples about who will be the greatest in the kingdom by talking about little children. Little children cannot command our attention. They might yell, scream, and cry; but adults can ignore all of that to do their own will, for a little child does not have the strength or authority to force adults to do their will. Jesus took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:36-37) Jesus tells the disciples directly, whoever is a servant to helpless little children who have no power, whoever treats them kindly as a servant to them, welcomes me and serves me. But you do not serve only me: you serve my Father in Heaven, the one I serve. Yes, Jesus fed the 4,000: He fed them because they are God's little children, made in his image. He served them with love by providing for them. Today, He asks us to serve people with love, tenderness, and generosity because we are the image of God on Earth. We are to serve as Christ served, for He came to do the Father's will. God bless you, dear servants of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment