broken (Mt 14:13-21)

Monday, January 28, 2008

Psalm 120; Matthew 14:13-21


"You give them something to eat."
(Matthew 14:16)


When Jesus hears that John was killed he withdrew, just as he did when he heard that John had been arrested (4:12). This time he withdrew in a boat to a desolate place by himself, certainly to grieve and pray and to be comforted and strengthened. However the crowds hear about it and find him. "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick" (v. 14).

He had compassion on them and was moved to heal them, even though he could have used some compassion and ministry. When evening came the disciples ask Jesus to send away the crowds to go and buy food for themselves. Exactly why Jesus does what he does next I don't know. Did he know it would create havoc in the villages they'd go to in order to find food? Did he know they didn't have enough money? Was he planning an evening service, a campfire, or an overnight? I don't know - but I think I know what moved him to meet their need, to fill their hunger. Compassion. He had compassion on them.

And because he had compassion on them he tells his disciples, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." And they just tell him the facts as they know it (perhaps they'd already assessed this, or perhaps there's an unrecorded break in the story when they went looking for food in the crowd). They found five loaves of bread and two fish. That was it. Yet the Master commanded them to feed the hungry crowd.

The main point for me today is that I never have enough to do what Jesus calls me to do. Whether without or within, whether it's seven pieces of food for five thousand plus people, or the fear of looking like an idiot or not knowing what to say, or whatever, we are often quick to say in one way or another that we don't have what it takes to do what he asks. Even when what he asks is really just an expression of his compassion.

What does Jesus say? "Bring them here to me" (v. 18). And the rest is history! Jesus takes what is given to him, however little or limited it is; he blesses it; he breaks it, and he gives it to his disciples to give to the crowds. And everyone was satisfied. This is the the language of the supper he would institute.

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (Matthew 26:26)

However inadequate we may feel, or insufficient our resources may be - Jesus says "bring them to me." He will take what is wholly and freely given to him. He will bless it, he may break us further in the process to ensure that what shows when we join him in his ministry of compassion is Jesus himself, that what is given in his name has been touched and blessed by him (so that it's not me beaming because I feel so good about myself!).

In fact, perhaps it's actually in our receiving his body and blood, our encountering the weakness and brokenness of Jesus himself that we learn compassion. Or at least, here we truly can find compassion ourselves, and in turn share it with others in need - even through our own weakness, brokenness, inadequacy and insufficiency.

Thank you Lord Jesus.