Letting Go of Logic
From Matthew 14:13-22
13-14: When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Two thousand years ago, crowds of people followed Jesus. When he withdrew to a lonely place after the death of John the Baptist, five thousand men, plus women and children, tracked him down, without seeming to consider physical needs.
As evening approached, the disciples became concerned.
"Send the crowds away," they advised, "so that they can go to the nearby villages and buy themselves some food."
The account of events though, then takes a twist that suspends logic.
"They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." Jesus said.
The disciples' response seems remarkably restrained under the circumstances.
"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish."
Our imaginations can picture the emotions behind those few words--incredulity perhaps, or nervous laughter.
The rest is well known. Jesus blessed and broke the bread and gave it to the disciples and they gave it to the people, who were indeed fed. Only then did Jesus dismiss them.
A day in Jesus' life--and a day from which we can tell: That he doesn't see crowds but people; that he cares about physical needs and is willing to meet them; that logic must be suspended when he is involved--and that his followers had better be ready for adventure!
13-14: When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Two thousand years ago, crowds of people followed Jesus. When he withdrew to a lonely place after the death of John the Baptist, five thousand men, plus women and children, tracked him down, without seeming to consider physical needs.
As evening approached, the disciples became concerned.
"Send the crowds away," they advised, "so that they can go to the nearby villages and buy themselves some food."
The account of events though, then takes a twist that suspends logic.
"They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." Jesus said.
The disciples' response seems remarkably restrained under the circumstances.
"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish."
Our imaginations can picture the emotions behind those few words--incredulity perhaps, or nervous laughter.
The rest is well known. Jesus blessed and broke the bread and gave it to the disciples and they gave it to the people, who were indeed fed. Only then did Jesus dismiss them.
A day in Jesus' life--and a day from which we can tell: That he doesn't see crowds but people; that he cares about physical needs and is willing to meet them; that logic must be suspended when he is involved--and that his followers had better be ready for adventure!
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