As Jesus popularity began to take hold early in his ministry, there are two significant things worth noting. First, Jesus saw the multitudes and was moved with compassion for he viewed them as sheep in distress who were scattered, harassed, and helpless because they had no shepherd (Matthew 9:35-36). In my mind, it is a very moving and telling scene revealing the very nature and heart of God and His Son. Their heart is always with those, who for whatever reason have lost their way! The Divine heart moves with compassion toward all those who have not only been marginalized and disenfranchised by society but by even the religious of the day!
Compassion was no small thing for the Lord. It was the very heartbeat of His dealings with the crowds (Matthew 14:13-14; 15:32). Some may argue that since these last two references to Jesus’ compassion are in connection with the feeding of the 5,000 and then the 4,000, compassion therefore means feeding people. However, there is more at stake here than just the physical welfare of the crowd or some alleged act of social justice.
Clearly from John’s account, it was a teaching moment for his inner-circle (John 6:5-6) as well as for the multitudes. Both had failed to believe what they had seen, namely, the meaning of the miraculous feeding (John 6:26-29). They wanted a sign, so they could see and believe; after all, their fathers had the manna in the wilderness (6:31). Had they not just seen and participated with Jesus in feeding the 5,000? Yet they asked for a sign that they might see and believe! Clearly, seeing is not necessarily believing! Here is the paradox: it is only by faith that we are enabled to see most clearly!
Clearly from John’s account, it was a teaching moment for his inner-circle (John 6:5-6) as well as for the multitudes. Both had failed to believe what they had seen, namely, the meaning of the miraculous feeding (John 6:26-29). They wanted a sign, so they could see and believe; after all, their fathers had the manna in the wilderness (6:31). Had they not just seen and participated with Jesus in feeding the 5,000? Yet they asked for a sign that they might see and believe! Clearly, seeing is not necessarily believing! Here is the paradox: it is only by faith that we are enabled to see most clearly!
Going back to the passage with which we began in Matthew 9:35-37, the second thing worth noting occurred not only by way of His own example but also by means of His instructions when “he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:38). In essence, the very pulse of Jesus’ compassion was to teach people who their true Shepherd was – for no one cared for them like He did.
It is a bit ironic but in an earlier and very dangerous moment, a great storm began tossing the boat occupied by Jesus and his disciples. So torrential was this storm that even the waves were breaking over into the boat filling it with water. Think about it! These were seasoned sailors and fisherman, having grown up on this lake. They understood the types of weather patterns and squalls which were capable of great damage and loss of life. They were highly distressed and agitated by the power of such a storm because they knew its certain destruction and devastation of life. All of their ability and knowledge as veteran fisherman was no match for this storm. They scurried to find Jesus and when they found Him, He was asleep in the stern of the ship! They were beside themselves, because of the power of the storm and the hopelessness of their situation and what it portended for them. They could not believe Jesus was able to sleep in the midst!
It is a bit ironic but in an earlier and very dangerous moment, a great storm began tossing the boat occupied by Jesus and his disciples. So torrential was this storm that even the waves were breaking over into the boat filling it with water. Think about it! These were seasoned sailors and fisherman, having grown up on this lake. They understood the types of weather patterns and squalls which were capable of great damage and loss of life. They were highly distressed and agitated by the power of such a storm because they knew its certain destruction and devastation of life. All of their ability and knowledge as veteran fisherman was no match for this storm. They scurried to find Jesus and when they found Him, He was asleep in the stern of the ship! They were beside themselves, because of the power of the storm and the hopelessness of their situation and what it portended for them. They could not believe Jesus was able to sleep in the midst!
Mark is the only one of the gospel writers who records their one question which always makes me smile. Waking Him from His sleep they cried out, “Teacher do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38) I have to tell you, reading and writing about this from my chair, in the safety of my office, it is easy to be amused by it. I mean from my vantage point, I am not the one being threatened by the storm. Even so, whatever the circumstance, I mean, asking Jesus if He cares about people is a bit like asking Einstein do you understand simple math? Jesus is the only one in the whole world who, without reservation or judgment or condition or question, DOES love and care for people--especially the perishing!
For the One who cares so deeply for those whom He loves, it is a teaching moment! And, it is a teaching moment that comes in the form of a rebuke! He rebukes them for their lack of faith. Sometimes we all need to be rebuked – you know a good kick in the seat of the pants figuratively speaking – for our lack of faith! Both Luke and Mark record what Jesus said entering the boat, “Let us go across to the other side” (Mark 4:35; Luke 8:22). Jesus knew who He was, having confidence in the power of His word to perform it just as He had said. Yet they had failed to consider who he was or place their confidence in the power of His word. For had they known who He truly was and trusted in the power of His word, they too, would have remained calm without a single moment’s thought that they were perishing. Nonetheless Jesus, in spite of our weakness, fears and doubts, rises to the occasion calming the storm with His word. Isn’t there a lesson here for us! Far too many are listening to things ABOUT Jesus and the Bible relying on their own mastery of the word. Consequently, when the storms of life come (and they will) such people are so unprepared because they neither know Him nor His word having failed to be mastered by either.
The irony is blazing – what the disciples failed to be, the winds and waves were: they were calmed by the Master’s word. Thus, the disciples were made to ask the obvious out of their sense of overwhelming awe, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). Why are they in such awe of Jesus’ power to calm the winds and the waves? The answer is because they believed that the Sovereignty of God was over the forces of nature, including the wind and waves. They would have been familiar with Psalms 107: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven” (vv. 28-30).
Truly, our faith is developed by the storms that test us – those are teaching moments for us all but we must listen and believe what the Lord has said and obey! If there is one thing the cross of Calvary on which Jesus died says loudest, it is that He cares! That He loves us not because of our goodness but because of His goodness. He who loved His Father, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, yea even the death of the cross for our sake! (Philippians 2:8) The only reason people would argue with what Jesus and His apostles taught is unbelief in who He is and the power of His word. People were wrong for that very reason in Jesus day as well as ours (Matthew 22:29).
Questioning who God is, specifically His authority by casting doubt on what He has said, has been the work of Satan from the beginning and continues to this day, “Did God actually say…” (Genesis 3:1). Should we be surprised then, when Jesus rebukes them/us for our lack of faith? It’s a teaching moment with the Master if we will hear him!
Truly, our faith is developed by the storms that test us – those are teaching moments for us all but we must listen and believe what the Lord has said and obey! If there is one thing the cross of Calvary on which Jesus died says loudest, it is that He cares! That He loves us not because of our goodness but because of His goodness. He who loved His Father, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, yea even the death of the cross for our sake! (Philippians 2:8) The only reason people would argue with what Jesus and His apostles taught is unbelief in who He is and the power of His word. People were wrong for that very reason in Jesus day as well as ours (Matthew 22:29).
Questioning who God is, specifically His authority by casting doubt on what He has said, has been the work of Satan from the beginning and continues to this day, “Did God actually say…” (Genesis 3:1). Should we be surprised then, when Jesus rebukes them/us for our lack of faith? It’s a teaching moment with the Master if we will hear him!
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