Today is a continuation of my unintentional series on loving others. I've been reading through Matthew every morning with a few other Christian ETAs. This morning we were reading in chapter 14, and I was struck by Jesus' compassion.
In verse 13, Jesus is grieving the death of His friend, John the baptist. He wants - He needs - to be alone. He had purposefully sought out a "solitary place" after He heard about John's fate. But even there, there were people in need.
Jesus could have easily told them to go away. He could have easily ignored their pain, rationalizing that in that moment, He had quite a legitimate reason to think of Himself and not them. But He didn't do that. He didn't ignore them; He didn't shoo them away, He didn't tell them to come back when He was having a better day. He had compassion on them.
How often do we rationalize our propensity to ignore others' pain? How often do we say to ourselves, "Oh I'm too tired, or I have other things I need to do, or they can take care of themselves"??
But God has called us to be His hands and feet. He wants us to show His love to the people around us. Even when we don't feel like it. The Christian life is not a cushy desk job; it requires sacrifices. What sacrifices have you made for others to show them God's love lately?
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
15 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.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 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. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
In verse 13, Jesus is grieving the death of His friend, John the baptist. He wants - He needs - to be alone. He had purposefully sought out a "solitary place" after He heard about John's fate. But even there, there were people in need.
Jesus could have easily told them to go away. He could have easily ignored their pain, rationalizing that in that moment, He had quite a legitimate reason to think of Himself and not them. But He didn't do that. He didn't ignore them; He didn't shoo them away, He didn't tell them to come back when He was having a better day. He had compassion on them.
How often do we rationalize our propensity to ignore others' pain? How often do we say to ourselves, "Oh I'm too tired, or I have other things I need to do, or they can take care of themselves"??
But God has called us to be His hands and feet. He wants us to show His love to the people around us. Even when we don't feel like it. The Christian life is not a cushy desk job; it requires sacrifices. What sacrifices have you made for others to show them God's love lately?
Matthew 14:1-21
John the Baptist Beheaded
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
13 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. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.15 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.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 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. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
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