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Compassion for the Multitudes

Text: Matthew 15 : 21 - 39

What drove Jesus to minister as He did? If a single word may be found, it would be the word “compassion”. He loved the masses, even though when they came to Him, they sought not His friendship nor His love, but His power that would make them well.

“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said,
‘I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now
continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.
And I do not want to send them away hungry,
lest they faint on the way.'”
MATTHEW 15:32

This particular set of people seemed keener than other groups. They had been following Jesus for three days without their usual consumption of food. Jesus shared His concern with His disciples – perhaps as a test!

BETWEEN MASTER AND DISCIPLES

It is interesting to note how Jesus communicated with His disciples. Rather it is intriguing to know how the disciples perceived or interpreted what Jesus said!

“Then His disciples said to Him,
‘Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness
to fill such a great multitude?'”
MATTHEW 15:33

The woman of Canaan seemed to have understood Jesus better than His disciples. No matter how cryptically Jesus spoke, she seemed to fathom what He meant.

How could the disciples have mistaken what Jesus meant? They had seen Him feed an even larger group of people! Did they think that special miracle was a one-off thing, never to be repeated again? Did they think that Jesus would not repeat a miracle?

Graciously, Jesus allowed His disciples to lead in the conversation. He went along the path His disciples were treading.

“Jesus said to them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’
And they said, ‘Seven, and a few little fish.'”
MATTHEW 15:34

Had the disciples really forgotten how He fed the five thousand (Cf. Matthew 14:13-21)? Or had they just not been able to fathom the significance of that miracle?

THE NEED TO REPEAT A LESSON SOMETIMES

Without another word, Jesus arranged to feed the multitudes. Would they pay more attention to the significance of the miracle this time round?

“So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
And He took the seven loaves and the fish and He gave thanks,
broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples
gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled,
and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments
that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men,
besides women and children. And He sent away the multitude,
got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.”
MATTHEW 15:35-39

1. Compassion

One of the important lessons that Jesus wanted His disciples to learn was to have compassion on the multitudes. Ministry without compassion would soon see the initial sense of enthusiasm shrivel up.

2. Compassion and action

Compassion never exists by itself. Compassion and action are inseparable concepts. One must accompany the other. Compassion for the multitude must lead a person to pray. There must be faith that God would indeed meet needs!

3. Compassion – a hard lesson to learn

The multitude had been with Jesus for three days without food! How did the disciples think Jesus would feel about the situation? Would they not have understood Him through their own compassionate spirit?

Judging from the answer they gave to Jesus, it would appear that the disciples lacked the compassion their Master obviously had. If there was something that they would need to have would be compassion for people. How does one obtain a compassionate heart? The disciples seemed to have the hardest time learning this lesson!

PONDERING THE MIRACLE OF FEEDING THE FOUR THOUSAND

What other lessons did Jesus want His disciples to learn from this awesome miracle? Two other lessons may be highlighted!

1. The needs of the multitude

The need for physical food was but one of many issues that the disciples would have to grapple with in the future.

a) The problem of poverty would demand their time and attention.

b) The physical needs of the masses would clamour for attention too.

2. Facing needs with discernment and faith

The disciples must have marveled at the way Jesus handled every problem that cropped up. He was always down to earth and practical. He was never flustered. Always He would take whatever was at hand and seek His Father in prayer over the matter. In response, God would meet the needs at hand!