This week, we are reading through Matthew 14:14-21, focusing each day on a portion of this miraculous story that appears in all four gospels. You can also read about it in Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-14
Read Matthew 14:14-21
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 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.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said. 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. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
So, it’s getting late…Jesus, the disciples, and the crowd of people are in a remote, desolate area, far from town. Because they had been there for many hours, the disciples anticipated that the crowd must be getting hungry (perhaps they themselves were, too), and they recognized that the people would have to travel to get food. They encouraged Jesus to send the people away, BUT Jesus identified the need for more and challenged the disciples to provide for the people instead of dismissing them.
This shows another act of compassion. The disciples acknowledged the need, but Jesus encouraged them to take it a step further. Jesus identified that the crowd needed more and made the decision to continue giving and pouring out to this crowd. Through His continued compassion, Jesus encouraged His disciples to help Him tend to the needs of the crowd. He challenged them on how they could make arrangements for the necessary provisions.
When I read this, I can’t help but think about peer pressure. I get the sense that the disciples were trying to persuade Jesus to send the people away. But Jesus was not at all influenced by the disciples. He acknowledged the need that the disciples brought to Him and encouraged them to think about how this need could be met. Instead of taking the easy way out and sending the people away, Jesus chose to put in more time, continue to show compassion, and encouraged His disciples to join Him in doing what was right.
What would you choose to do in this situation? How do the choices we make influence others? Why do we do the things we do? How can we influence others as Jesus did?
Please pray with me:
Lord, thank You for sending Your Son and for the great influence He has given us. Help us to be more like Him each day. Help us to identify needs, show compassion, and perform acts of service that draw others to You. May all that we do be for Your glory. Amen
