I was thinking of the many ways that Jesus cares about us and how He meets our needs. One of the most basic needs is food. We all need to eat, and preferably at least once a day. Most of us want to eat at least three times a day. And so it was in the days, weeks, and months that people traveled with Jesus. Have you ever wondered how they all ate while traveling? I mean, there wasn’t a McDonald’s in those days, and so you couldn’t just drive through and pick up your meal like we can today. People had to plan for where to gather something to eat. And, like today, many people forgot to do so. Jesus cared about the crowds that gathered to hear Him preach and teach. He cared!
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. Mark 8:1-5, (New International Version or NIV).
The word “another” gives us the clue that this is not the first time that Jesus has worried about the people’s health who were listening to Him. When was the first one, I wonder?
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 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. Matthew 14:13-21, (NIV).
Some may think that Matthew is retelling the same incident as Mark did. I don’t think so. First of all, Mathew relates different facts, only bread with Mark’s version and bread and fish in Matthews. Luke also tells of the same facts in his record, Luke 9:10-17. Also, Mark states that the crowds had been with Jesus for three days and were without food. There is also a difference in the number of people that were fed. Matthew says about five thousand men and the number of women and children were not included in the headcount. Mark doesn’t tell us how many people were fed, only the number of the leftovers. And Luke states pretty much the same as Matthew when counting the number. But there is another account of this we haven’t examined.
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:5-13, (NIV).
Now we have all four gospels recording that Jesus fed many people. Is this the same incident only from four different viewpoints? You decide, but I just don’t think so, and here’s another reason why.
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. John 21:24-25, (NIV).
We know that Jesus had crowds follow Him wherever He went. The New Testament bears that out about Him. Some people listened to trap Him, but others took to heart His teaching as they were hungry for the truth. I think that Jesus fed many crowds over the three years of his ministry. Otherwise, people would not have expected free food. I mean, only one little boy had a lunch to eat. Out of five-thousand men and more women and children? I know that I am relying on human tendencies here, but people don’t change in many ways from generation to generation. But this is what makes Jesus so special, He cared then and cares now too.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7, (NIV).
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:7-10, (NIV).
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30, (NIV).
Jesus cares for His followers and even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death as Psalm 23 tells us, we will fear no evil. Every human that is born must walk through the valley. It is what our life on earth is all about. People have always feared death and the unknown of it all. But as followers of Jesus, we know that the Good Shepherd is guiding us through each day and every step. We know where we are going and with whom. We are cared for, loved on, watched over, and loved by Jesus. Just remember that Jesus knows your need, even if it is because you are hungry, He will fill it if you love Him and obey His teaching. He cares.
Until next time…Katherine
Katherine Speaks 