First of all, Jesus left the crowds and even the disciples as he got on a boat and took off. Unfortunately, either sailing or rowing, he couldn't outrun the crowds. He just needed a break, some time alone. But he didn't get too much because they found him and he went to shore because he had compassion. Second, Jesus left while there was sick and hurting people, for they had to chase him down to be healed. Third, the disciples were playing catch-up all day, because they didn't understand the parables and they didn't understand how they were going to feed all these people. Fourth, this is the only miracle told in all four gospels, so it must have been big in the early church. Finally, Jesus left the crowds because he was told his cousin, John the Baptist, had just been beheaded by King Herod. So, Jesus headed out to have some time to grieve and take care of himself.
For myself, being on the water is very refreshing, relaxing, renewing. Canoeing and kayaking are something I really enjoy. However, sailing is my favorite way to spend an afternoon, day, or long weekend. I do not get the opportunity to do it much, but when I am sailing, everything else stops and I am in the moment. It consumes my mind, my body, and my soul, but feeds me even more. So while some have stated that Jesus was refreshed just by the boat ride to get away from people, I take it with a grain of salt that maybe he truly wanted more than a boat-ride and time out in the wilderness, not with a crowd, but with God and some alone time.
So yes, when Jesus left there may not have been huge crowds around at the moment he heard about his cousin, but the scriptures say they followed him and apparently gathered more people as they went so it turned into a great crowd, 5,000 men, not counting the women and children. Many were in need, so much so that Jesus couldn't keep away from them, so he healed, touched, and cured those who were sick. Apparently there were many as by the time he was finishing up, the gospel writer says it is evening and the disciples notice that there is another need: food.
The disciples were not with Jesus. Maybe there were off to the side, discussing how to minister to Jesus, wondering if Jesus or them were the next victims of King Herod, or what they were going to say. Then someone told them that Jesus left in a boat and the crowds were following them, so they hurried along to find them. Once they arrived, Jesus was ministering to the crowd and they noticed that it was getting late in the day and here is a chance for them to care for Jesus, 'let's send everyone away with the excuse that there isn't enough food, and it will give us a chance to be alone with Jesus and give him the evening off.' But once Jesus was caring for everyone, he may have found his heart a little less heavy, and wasn't going to send them away with empty stomachs. So wanting to maybe slow down a little, he tells the disciples to feed them.They already have it covered, "We only have 5 loaves and 2 fish" so they thought about feeding themselves and Jesus, but not the crowd.
I remember the TV show, the Hulk, and Bruce Banner was taking refuge in a monastery and the local cop wanted him to prove that he was a real priest, not an impostor. Bruce banner talked about the feeding of the 5,000 and how many the disciples offering their food to the whole crowd inspired everyone else to do the same, so not one was left hungry. I do imagine that most of the early Christians and those today would rather believe that Jesus performed a true miracle and multiplied those five loaves and two fish and had twelve baskets of bread left over. I can believe both. I can believe that some small act of generosity inspired others and soon there was abundance and more than enough for all. I do also believe that Jesus who has cured and healed and filled with compassion, decided that he would tend to all their needs, not just their spiritual, no just those who were sick, but to all who came to listen and talk and be near Jesus and the kingdom of God.
Jesus shows us his human side. When we hear bad news, when someone we love dies, we need to take care of ourselves, not just keep on doing what we are doing and ignore it. After he feeds the crowds and sends even the disciples away, he once again seeks time alone with God on a mountain. This time he gets it and able to continue his ministry afterwards.
In our world today, we have to ask if our church (local and world-wide) is the crowd, wanting to be healed, lead, and fed, then sent home with a full stomach and heart? Or is the church the disciples, often getting it wrong, playing catch-up, but finally getting it right enough, that in addition to being content, whole, and full, we don't return to our comfort but continue to go where Jesus sends us, ministering to others and sharing the good news of the kingdom of God?
Peace
For myself, being on the water is very refreshing, relaxing, renewing. Canoeing and kayaking are something I really enjoy. However, sailing is my favorite way to spend an afternoon, day, or long weekend. I do not get the opportunity to do it much, but when I am sailing, everything else stops and I am in the moment. It consumes my mind, my body, and my soul, but feeds me even more. So while some have stated that Jesus was refreshed just by the boat ride to get away from people, I take it with a grain of salt that maybe he truly wanted more than a boat-ride and time out in the wilderness, not with a crowd, but with God and some alone time.
So yes, when Jesus left there may not have been huge crowds around at the moment he heard about his cousin, but the scriptures say they followed him and apparently gathered more people as they went so it turned into a great crowd, 5,000 men, not counting the women and children. Many were in need, so much so that Jesus couldn't keep away from them, so he healed, touched, and cured those who were sick. Apparently there were many as by the time he was finishing up, the gospel writer says it is evening and the disciples notice that there is another need: food.
The disciples were not with Jesus. Maybe there were off to the side, discussing how to minister to Jesus, wondering if Jesus or them were the next victims of King Herod, or what they were going to say. Then someone told them that Jesus left in a boat and the crowds were following them, so they hurried along to find them. Once they arrived, Jesus was ministering to the crowd and they noticed that it was getting late in the day and here is a chance for them to care for Jesus, 'let's send everyone away with the excuse that there isn't enough food, and it will give us a chance to be alone with Jesus and give him the evening off.' But once Jesus was caring for everyone, he may have found his heart a little less heavy, and wasn't going to send them away with empty stomachs. So wanting to maybe slow down a little, he tells the disciples to feed them.They already have it covered, "We only have 5 loaves and 2 fish" so they thought about feeding themselves and Jesus, but not the crowd.
I remember the TV show, the Hulk, and Bruce Banner was taking refuge in a monastery and the local cop wanted him to prove that he was a real priest, not an impostor. Bruce banner talked about the feeding of the 5,000 and how many the disciples offering their food to the whole crowd inspired everyone else to do the same, so not one was left hungry. I do imagine that most of the early Christians and those today would rather believe that Jesus performed a true miracle and multiplied those five loaves and two fish and had twelve baskets of bread left over. I can believe both. I can believe that some small act of generosity inspired others and soon there was abundance and more than enough for all. I do also believe that Jesus who has cured and healed and filled with compassion, decided that he would tend to all their needs, not just their spiritual, no just those who were sick, but to all who came to listen and talk and be near Jesus and the kingdom of God.
Jesus shows us his human side. When we hear bad news, when someone we love dies, we need to take care of ourselves, not just keep on doing what we are doing and ignore it. After he feeds the crowds and sends even the disciples away, he once again seeks time alone with God on a mountain. This time he gets it and able to continue his ministry afterwards.
In our world today, we have to ask if our church (local and world-wide) is the crowd, wanting to be healed, lead, and fed, then sent home with a full stomach and heart? Or is the church the disciples, often getting it wrong, playing catch-up, but finally getting it right enough, that in addition to being content, whole, and full, we don't return to our comfort but continue to go where Jesus sends us, ministering to others and sharing the good news of the kingdom of God?
Peace
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