Luke 9:12 (ESV)
Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and
said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and
countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate
place.”
The story of Jesus feeding a crowd of thousands of people
weaves together themes from throughout his ministry. These include compassion,
power over creation, the ability to sustain life, and involving others in
responding to human needs. We also see God’s grace and providence intertwine as
Jesus sends the disciples out “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the
sick.”
It is important to realize that the people who heard the
gospel and who were healed and fed were not saved and sanctified saints; they
were not fully committed disciples who were ready to follow Jesus. Yet when
Jesus saw their hurts and needs, he responded with love, knowing that many of
them would abandon and even turn against him later. Even so, Jesus was moved
with compassion, seeing their need. In the same way, he has compassion today
when he sees the hurts and needs of anyone created in the image of God.
We have daily opportunities to come alongside the people
around us. It could mean dropping by the hospital or the nursing home for a
visit. Perhaps it involves cooking a meal for someone. Maybe it includes simply
listening to another person’s story. When we seek to provide what Jesus
offers, we reflect a beautiful picture of God’s compassion and care for
others.
Dear Lord, help us to see the needs of others not as
interruptions to our day, but rather as opportunities to reflect the love of
Christ for people who need it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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