By Lisa Wilmore
Scripture: So when Jesus came out of the wilderness, a vast crowd was waiting for him, and he pitied them and healed their sick. That evening the disciples came to him and said, “It is already past time for supper, and there is nothing to eat here in the desert; send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy some food. ”But Jesus replied, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them!” “What!” they exclaimed. “We have exactly five small loaves of bread and two fish!” “Bring them here,” he said… (Matthew 14: 14-18 TLB).
Greetings My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In our text for this message, it is evident that Jesus has great compassion on people regardless of where they come from, their class or status. Jesus comes out of the wilderness, sees this crowd of people waiting on Him, has compassion on them, and heals their sick. He sees the need and provides essential health for those who are in need.
Once the healing service was over, the disciples, Jesus followers, makes a suggestion to send the crowd away for they lack enough food to feed them. Interestingly, one cannot judge the disciples harshly because they were operating in what they could touch, feel or see without understanding that they were among the One, Jesus, who operates in the Spirit. The One who is “Bread in a starving land”, as stated by my grandmother. Had the disciples not read Old Testament scriptures, which highlight the account when Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the alter and God provided a Ram to be sacrificed, instead? Yes, my friends, He is our provider-Jehovah Jireh! (Genesis 24).
The disciples gave Jesus the best advice they could in how to handle the hungry crowd-“Send them away so they can go and buy some food”. As we continue to read, we will discover that this idea was not what Jesus had in mind for people who were in need of food or anything. He taught the disciples and us a valuable lesson in this particular text. “Don’t send them away, you feed them.” The responsibility of feeding the hungry and persons who are in need of a blessing rest on the shoulders of all who believe in Jesus.
Do you send individuals away who are in need of help? Do you say, “I cannot help you but I will pray for you”. We must never overlook the need of people. As God provided the food for the crowd, He has already provided, through us, what individuals need. We just have to be willing to share.
Ultimately, the feeding of crowds will be the disciples’ responsibility. Jesus fed them the physical food, but later the disciples will be responsible for feeding the crowd spiritual food, the Bread of life-Jesus Christ.
“Don’t send them away, my friends, you feed them.”
