Matthew 14:13-21 “Jesus is Aware”
1. Today’s reading tells us
• Jesus has just heard that his cousin, John, had lost his head.
• He's trying to find a solitary place. So he may grieve for a while.
2. Our text reminds us of Jesus’s Awareness
• He is aware of the tragedies that we face John was just beheaded. The text says, “13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. “ he had just heard about the death of John
• Jesus is aware of our hurts and harms
• Jesus is aware of the masses and their issues
• He is aware of the crowds faith and spiritual needs
3. Jesus is aware of everything
• as general as crowds are, Jesus' has all-seeing eyes
• There's nothing in the crowd that's new, and nothing in the crowd will cause startle to him.
• Jesus is aware There are people with brown eyes and people with green eyes. People who have curly hair and people who have straight hair. There are those who are a head and shoulder above and those who are a head and shoulder below. Quiet ones. Rowdy ones. Rich ones and those who could use the help. They are all there. They are all welcome.
4. Jesus is aware and his awareness creates or produces a great compassion
• Matthew says Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion on them. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
• Compassion cares for the needy, the less fortunate ones there. He commands the disciples to feed them, The Disciples say, Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." 16Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
• They've been sitting on this hillside and lakeshore all day. No coffee breaks. No biscuit and gravy, No eggs and bacon, No bottled water. It's late in the afternoon and the hunger is here. Jesus sees that they have a noticeable need. Do we notice the needs of the other Jesus does.
5. Jesus is so aware he Touches He tells the Disciples to bring him the loafs of bread and the two fish
• 19And he directed the people to sit down grass. He touch people with that still small voice set here please
• He touched their lives in a way that would allow them to put their trust in Him. He prayed Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves
• His touch was more than a spiritual blessing, not a saying about a greater tomorrow, it was not about stronger faith helps but He did something Tangible Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied
• Jesus’s cares deeply for what we are muddling through right now. When evening comes, if we're still hungry, it's not just a peaceful rest that we need for tomorrow. It's fish and chips or a bowl of chowder. Jesus knows this, and as he asked his disciples to distribute the loaves and fishes, so he invites us not only to sit at the table and eat, but also to wait on tables and serve.
6. Jesus is so aware that he Provides and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
• Jesus says, "This is what I am giving you ... hope. And Help
• Finally, Jesus is aware, aware of our tragedies, the all seeing eye sees everything in the crowd, Jesus’s awareness results on great compassion,
• Jesus’s awareness results in him touching, and Providing that’s why today he invites you to
• Come and Rest, Come and Follow, Come and Drink, Come and dine, Come away with me, Leave the Crowd and be with me
