Matthew 14:13-21 ~ Compassion

 

At the previous record-setting Mass, 2 million people turned out in 1979 at John Paul’s hometown of Krakow for his first visit to Poland after his elevation to the papacy. A Vatican spokesman said the church had planned for a crowd of 1 million. But shortly after dawn, officials raised the estimate to 2 million and later said as many as 5 million were trying to reach the site.

When we say 5,000 were fed

then

we have to consider

the Millenniums fed

by Jesus

from the Gospels

Matthew 14:13-21

Now when Jesus heard this, He withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by Himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the towns.

When He went ashore He saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 

Now when it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

But Jesus said, 

“They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 

They said to Him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 

And He said, “Bring them here to me.” 

Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and said a blessing. 

Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 3.224-3.236 found the High Holy days, the accounting of the animal sacrifices purchased, would equal 2 million pilgrims. The word used is multitude. Of the Book of Acts, who turned out to proclaim Jesus is alive.

The Gospels begin to tell All People.  903 Times. The Lord tells us He has arrived to save the world. ALL.

Matthew, the counter, the accountant, loves the word ALL. 96 Times. (Yes, the Matthew of his profession, accountant, likes abundance and ALL. (The Way, The Truth, The Life!)

We grasp the feeding of 5,000, even as children. And this is enormous compared to our lives. And yet, the enormity of God's Salvation to the Millenniums.  

Abba, Father,

In Your Holy Spirit 

we ask forgiveness for sins,

and Your help for forgiveness

and guidance
create and renew Real Joy and Giving Thanks

within us.

Help us to be the one who

gives thanks with meaningful purpose.

Victory is Certain in Christ Jesus The Lord.

And to gain strength

with hope and health!

Dwell in us, Father,

we ask in the Highest Name of Jesus.

Dwell, fully, in those we love

Help us to seek You 

first

and we will finish well 

in Jesus Christ.

We pray 

Peace

for Israel

and Your Good Creation.

Continued Healing

and all Good Health!

Thank You.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

Amen.

Lent question of the day:

Galatians 6:9 

Let us not become weary in doing _ _ _ _ 

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, 

let us do good to ALL people, 

especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES, Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You, Jesus

John 4:46-53 ~ see signs and wonders †

… I've been everywhere, man

I've been everywhere, man

Crossed the desert's bare, man

I've breathed the mountain air, man

Of travel I've had my share, man

I've been everywhere

† 

John 4:46-53

 So He came again to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine.

 And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

 48 So Jesus said to him, 

“Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 

49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” 

The man believed the Word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 

51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 

53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, 

“Your son will live.”

 And he himself believed, and all his household. 

John 21

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

John had seen many other things that Jesus did. If John tied every thought he had to everyday Jesus was Grace upon Grace, John knew he was unable to accomplish this.

And these verses tie together in a very unique way.

John had seen many other things that Jesus did

… I've been everywhere, man

I've been everywhere, man

Crossed the desert's bare, man

I've breathed the mountain air, man

Of travel I've had my share, man

I've been everywhere

We know in John's 2nd Chapter, Jesus spoke water into wine. And since vacationing with His Disciples and family, Jesus has been to speak with Nicodemus, discussing the wind of the spirit and being born again in God's Love. Jesus has all over the Judean countryside and been praised by John the Baptist, as the Messiah. Jesus has spent 2 days in Samaria and proclaimed He is the Messiah to the woman at the well.

And as these verses begin, John remarks Jesus has come from Cana, Jesus has come from Cana where He made water from wine.  John ... has gone back to Cana in these verses?

John 3

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. 

So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Maybe, just maybe and then again, maybe... we should call this: 

The 52nd Miracle of Jesus!

John has done what we do, today, and hopefully again.  John has listened to the "Sermon" Jesus gave Nicodemus and has decided to put John's own sails into the wind to see where he is going in the wind of the Spirit. 

Don't you like John even more now? 

Our hearts grow warm, seeing John 'walk on water' for flinging himself into the wind of the Spirit. Atta boy, John! We do this too! Good job, John!

(† When Jesus was doing His Father's works in the Gospels, and we say His 52nd miracle, we have to remember how very many times the Gospels say, "He healed them ALL." All the multitude were healed. The many times the Gospels record mass and multitude of people were healed by the Word of Jesus. 

When Jesus died and rose again, the Scriptures record, "All of Israel knows." And Acts records multitudes of people were there. Josephus looks at the accounting of the Multitude days at the Temple and records a multitude is 2 million people.)

 

Why has John flung this out there? Now, being honest, we are saying 'probably', but I'd bet this to be very correct. John is trying, and is finding out, how the Spirit is putting together the words of Jesus: 

A man petitions Jesus. He arrives in the regular garments, but John understands something in the Spirit is saying, "Ordinary vessel (garments), but spectacular abundance (Royal Official)." And we find out in the Book of Acts, the Stewart of Herod has Christians in his family. Who travel intimately with the Disciples.  John is reminded of the Spirit stirring the water, like Jesus had done during the wedding in Cana. Not only is abundance in the parent petitioning Jesus, but the Holy Spirit says something abundant is about to occur. 

John is reminded of Jesus coming from the Transfiguration, John is revealing in John 1. When Jesus is just back from a tremendous time of visitation, or vacation, and Jesus is immediately presented with an impossible child situation by a frantic parent. 

How does the Spirit solve and do the impossible?  Our Father upholds the Universe with the power of His Word. We see ... when we believe. We are not the miracle workers, we are called by faith to see the workings of the Holy Spirit and understand them in the miracle of faith.

Miracle 52! See one, do one!

51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 

53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, 

“Your son will live.”

 And he himself believed, and all his household. 

Abba, Father,

Our heart hears the call from You.

And we see in Scripture 

the mercy of the merciful

Luke 17:17-19

Then Jesus answered, 

“Were not ten cleansed?

 Where are the nine? 

Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

And He said to him, 

“Rise and go your way; 

your faith has made you well.”

Help us to LIVE

 each day

putting You first.

As the Name of Jesus covers us

and 

the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

We ask healing

of Your Good Creation!

The fullness of the earth is Yours.

The healing of those we pray for

in our heart and soul.

Those who have worried about

illness

and the ones they love.

Dwell in us, Father,

we ask in the Highest Name of Jesus.

Dwell, fully, in those we love

Let us see healing

in families,

in health,

in cities planning.

In Joyful, Hopeful, Beautiful Planning

and 

not the robbing of Joy

in cold, necessity planning.

Let us see planning have the Joy

of the Lord John describes.

Help us to seek You 

first

and we will finish well 

in Jesus Christ.

Thank You.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES, Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Lord Jesus

Luke 5:4-6 ~ He sat down +

A unique view, wouldn't we all want to see this?

Luke 5:4-6

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on Him to hear the Word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, He asked him to put out a little from the land. 

And He sat down and taught the people from the boat. 

4 And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 

5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on, you will be catching men.” 

11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.




Peter was living a Deuteronomy Blessing moment. And his reaction was disciple typical - absolute fear. Angels are God's messengers and instructed to speak with authority, "Fear Not!" God would indeed be able to carry His Message succinctly and effectively.

God loves to repeat Scripture because we see our unique circumstances fits in His Plans.

 His Will. Peter was afraid and later the 72 disciples would see too many blessings and too much God Authority Absolutely to be comfortable. Then again, God does not have Angels say, "Be comfortable, what is your opinion?" God tends to do all God intends.

Numbers 22 

When we go back and back to the Pentateuch, we are reminded Jesus was the Light of Creation. Scriptures repeat and repeat to explain the Power of God. In the Gospels, Jesus tells us, to know the Scriptures is to know the Power of God.

God can send fish. God can send men. God sends men. 

God can give a donkey speech.  

God fills the Ark with birds of the air and animals of all kinds.

"God buries His Workmen, but carries on His Work"
~ Charles Wesley

2 Kings 6

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 

16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 

17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Where would God get the fish?

Or the animals for Noah's Ark?

Anywhere He wants

2 Kings 2:11-13 

And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. 

And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 

12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 

And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

1 Chronicles 4:9

10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" 

And God granted him what he requested.

Lift up your heads, O gates! 

Be lifted up, O ancient doors, 

that the 

King of Glory may enter!

Abba, Father,

Our heart hears the call from You.

And we see in Scripture 

the mercy of the merciful

Luke 17:17-19

Then Jesus answered, 

“Were not ten cleansed?

 Where are the nine? 

Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 

And He said to him, 

“Rise and go your way; 

your faith has made you well.”

Help us to LIVE

 each day

putting You first.

As the Name of Jesus covers us

and 

the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

We ask healing

of Your Good Creation!

The fullness of the earth is Yours.

The healing of those we pray for
in our heart and soul.

Those who have worried about

illness

and the ones they love.

Dwell in us, Father,

we ask in the Highest Name of Jesus.

Dwell, fully, in those we love

Help us to seek You 

first

and we will finish well 

in Jesus Christ.

Thank You.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

YES, Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Lord Jesus