Matthew 14:1-21
Matthew 14:1-21 (The Message)
At this time, Herod, the regional ruler, heard what was being said about Jesus. He said to his servants, "This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead. That's why he's able to work miracles!"
Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison to placate Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias "adultery." Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid because so many people revered John as a prophet of God.
But at his birthday celebration, he got his chance. Herodias's daughter provided the entertainment, dancing for the guests. She swept Herod away. In his drunken enthusiasm, he promised her on oath anything she wanted. Already coached by her mother, she was ready: "Give me, served up on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer." That sobered the king up fast. Unwilling to lose face with his guests, he did it—ordered John's head cut off and presented to the girl on a platter. She in turn gave it to her mother. Later, John's disciples got the body, gave it a reverent burial, and reported to Jesus.
When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
Toward evening the disciples approached him. "We're out in the country and it's getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper."
But Jesus said, "There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper."
"All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish," they said.
Jesus said, "Bring them here." Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
Devotional (by Emily Gray)
There’s a lot going on in this section, but lets focus on the interaction between the disciples and Jesus when it came time for dinner. I’m sure the disciples were tired and just wanted to be alone with Jesus as they were trying to mourn the death of His good friend and cousin, John. But alas, the crowds followed Jesus and He took the rest of the day to teach, talk to, and bless them. So it’s only natural that the disciples want to “get rid” of the crowd so they can get some R&R. But Jesus, never missing a beat, could hear their tone of voice and knew their motives. So He challenged their faith and attitudes: “You feed them.”
I imagine the disciples scanning the throngs of people standing around and thinking, “Uh…there’s no way!”
This was their chance to be part of a miracle. They could have had faith and said, “Ok, Jesus, we know You’re trying to teach us something here. We don’t have a lot of faith, but we have some; help us have more. And we don’t have a lot of food, but what we do have we give all to You, believing You can do something amazing.”
Instead, they focus on their inadequacy, what they lack, and mumble, “We don’t have much. It’s pretty pathetic and unrealistic, actually…”
None the less, Jesus takes the meager food and turns it into a simple yet ample meal for over 5,000 people! There were even leftovers! The disciples still got to be part of the miracle by handing the food out, but part of me wonders how this would have been different had they been more willing, filled with more faith. It reminds me of the times when I focus on what I don’t have and how unqualified I feel to serve God and work on His behalf. I don’t have much; I have lots of things to work on in my life! But instead of focusing on these areas, God asks me to have faith and focus on the potential I have in Him. I may not feel like I have much, but when I offer it all to Him with no reservations, He can do great things.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You are willing and able to use me in Your plans. Help me to have more faith and focus on the potential You’ve put inside me, instead of the negatives. I want to give all I have to You, believing You will do something amazing in and through me. Amen.
At this time, Herod, the regional ruler, heard what was being said about Jesus. He said to his servants, "This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead. That's why he's able to work miracles!"
Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison to placate Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias "adultery." Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid because so many people revered John as a prophet of God.
But at his birthday celebration, he got his chance. Herodias's daughter provided the entertainment, dancing for the guests. She swept Herod away. In his drunken enthusiasm, he promised her on oath anything she wanted. Already coached by her mother, she was ready: "Give me, served up on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer." That sobered the king up fast. Unwilling to lose face with his guests, he did it—ordered John's head cut off and presented to the girl on a platter. She in turn gave it to her mother. Later, John's disciples got the body, gave it a reverent burial, and reported to Jesus.
When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
Toward evening the disciples approached him. "We're out in the country and it's getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper."
But Jesus said, "There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper."
"All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish," they said.
Jesus said, "Bring them here." Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.
Devotional (by Emily Gray)
There’s a lot going on in this section, but lets focus on the interaction between the disciples and Jesus when it came time for dinner. I’m sure the disciples were tired and just wanted to be alone with Jesus as they were trying to mourn the death of His good friend and cousin, John. But alas, the crowds followed Jesus and He took the rest of the day to teach, talk to, and bless them. So it’s only natural that the disciples want to “get rid” of the crowd so they can get some R&R. But Jesus, never missing a beat, could hear their tone of voice and knew their motives. So He challenged their faith and attitudes: “You feed them.”
I imagine the disciples scanning the throngs of people standing around and thinking, “Uh…there’s no way!”
This was their chance to be part of a miracle. They could have had faith and said, “Ok, Jesus, we know You’re trying to teach us something here. We don’t have a lot of faith, but we have some; help us have more. And we don’t have a lot of food, but what we do have we give all to You, believing You can do something amazing.”
Instead, they focus on their inadequacy, what they lack, and mumble, “We don’t have much. It’s pretty pathetic and unrealistic, actually…”
None the less, Jesus takes the meager food and turns it into a simple yet ample meal for over 5,000 people! There were even leftovers! The disciples still got to be part of the miracle by handing the food out, but part of me wonders how this would have been different had they been more willing, filled with more faith. It reminds me of the times when I focus on what I don’t have and how unqualified I feel to serve God and work on His behalf. I don’t have much; I have lots of things to work on in my life! But instead of focusing on these areas, God asks me to have faith and focus on the potential I have in Him. I may not feel like I have much, but when I offer it all to Him with no reservations, He can do great things.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You are willing and able to use me in Your plans. Help me to have more faith and focus on the potential You’ve put inside me, instead of the negatives. I want to give all I have to You, believing You will do something amazing in and through me. Amen.
posted by Mikey | 10:55 AM
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