About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.”
His disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”
Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”
“Seven loaves,” they replied.
So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them.
They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. There were about 4,000 people in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten. Immediately after this, he got into a boat with his disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha.
“Loser”
If you can read the Gospels without putting a big “L” up on your forehead, you are better than me. I can’t help it. The disciples just seem so dense sometimes, such “losers” that I want to shout at them to think. I mean really, it is just 2 chapters ago that Jesus has fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. The crowd is smaller, the disciples have more loaves and some fish, and they still ask the same question. “How are we supposed to feed all these people?”
Granted, the Gospel of Mark is not real sensitive to expressing time, so the amount of time between the two feedings could have been more than 2 chapters, but even so, the incidents are not so far removed the memory of the first feeding was completely forgotten. Come on disciples, get with it.
Then reality sets in. How many times do I cry out to God about the same problem or concern I have seen God handle over and over. I forget what God does in my life way to fast. As soon as trouble hits, I run back, frantic and worried. I guess the big “L” goes on my forehead too.
I am so glad God is patient with me and continues to pour grace into my life even when I panic.
Here again, the compassion of God wins out. He has compassion for the multitude hungry to receive more of Jesus and even compassion for us disciples who sometimes fumble the ball on the handoff.
God of compassion, thank you for being patient with me. I too quickly forget your works of mercy and grace in my life and panic. Help me to live confidently in your love. – Dan Jones
Retreat!
Sometimes you have to retreat in order to move ahead.
When I forget this principle, I wear out. I am no good to my family, those I am called to serve, my God, or myself when life is a constant full press ahead. Like many others, even when I retreat from the demands of work, I can become consumed with the demands of home and family. And vacation time doesn’t offer much deep refreshment when I follow the motto, “work hard, play hard.”
Three days of sitting in a no-man’s-land, listening to Jesus teach – how boring! – or, perhaps, just the cure for exhausted living. Deep refreshment that begins in the soul and percolates through one’s whole being begins with extended time with Jesus.
Deep spiritual refreshment will not come on the heals of doing a church service like a drive through at McDonalds; sing-pray-listen and run. It won’t come with a weekly meditation session with the lotus guru. Religious radio on the way to work, half awake (or full awake if you are a morning person) early morning devotions, or routine prayers – all of this serves its purpose, but none offers the kind of opportunity for deep spiritual refreshment that retreating for an extended period offers.
They’d brought enough food for two days. But they needed a third. “Just one more day with Jesus, and we’ll be ready to go!” By the middle of day three, stomachs growled, but souls were full. It was enough. And in his compassion, Jesus feed their bellies before he sent them home.
Father, I will make sure that I set aside extended days to be with you without the distractions of work, household demands, or entertainment. I’ll listen, reflect, interact, and fill my vision and ears with you and your words. And I’ll do this often enough so that your life energizes mine all the time. - Mike Leamon
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