"Jesus, through the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, demonstrates His divine power and compassion to provide abundantly for both our physical and spiritual needs, despite apparent limitations."
Welcome Church! Today we're going to dive into a story that's a favorite for many of us, straight from the book of Matthew; The Feeding of the Five Thousand. This passage beautifully displays Jesus' deep compassion for the multitudes, His divine power to multiply resources, and His authority and ability as the Messiah. The feeding of the 5000 is an incredible example of Jesus teaching deep spiritual truths through very ordinary and regular experiences.
Things like being hungry and needing a little help.
And if you’ve ever been hungry, you know the signs; the subtle growling of the stomach and the increased fixation on when and where your next meal is coming from. If you delay too long you may even find yourself becoming hangry - which can be an extremely dangerous situation for your family members and close friends. Even worse, if you try to satiate your hunger with a handful of potato chips or a Snickers bar, then you only delay the inevitable. At some point you have to address your hunger, and you simply cannot do it with quick snacks or empty calories.
Hunger is a feeling so widely understood and it makes sense that Jesus would use it to help describe both a physical AND spiritual state. It makes sense that he would use an everyday occurance like hunger pains to point us to the great spiritual reality we need to be aware of.
And in so doing, we also realize that Jesus is in fact the prophesied Messiah.
Miracles do not, in fact, break the laws of nature.
As we get started, let's remember these words by beloved Christian author, C.S. Lewis, who said, "Miracles do not, in fact, break the laws of nature." Rather, they're a demonstration of God's divine-miracle-working-nature and love for us. Every miracle is a sign post and reminder that the God of the universe has all power, authority, and compassion.
Read Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus' Compassion for the Multitudes
As we read this passage, one of the first things that strikes us is Jesus' compassion for the multitudes. The Greek word used for compassion in this context is 'splagchnizomai,' which means to be moved in the inward parts, down in the bowels. Which were thought to be the seat of love and pity. This is not a fleeting feeling of sympathy but a deep, gut-wrenching compassion that moves one to action. Jesus, upon seeing the large crowd, was moved with such compassion.
In the midst of His own sorrow, having just heard of the beheading of His cousin, John the Baptist, Jesus chose to put the needs of the people before His own. He could have sought solitude, could have turned the crowds away, but instead, He chose to heal their sick and minister to their needs. This is a profound demonstration of His selfless love and compassion. Jesus is not a distant, uncaring deity, but a loving Savior who is deeply moved by the needs and sufferings of His people.
We also realize that Jesus' compassion was not limited to spiritual healing alone ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
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