Hospitality is demonstrated at its finest in today’s passage. Jesus, the Lord of Hosts, taught, healed, and met many needs of those who followed him throughout a long day in the midst of his own grief. Yet, the day passed quickly. Soon it was dinner time, and they were in a “desolate” place.
Jesus saw one more need and was pleased to provide provisions in abundance. Jesus taught volumes to his disciples as he used them to meet the crowd’s immediate need. He also revealed the power to provide for future needs the disciples would have as they were called to be “fishers of men.”
Kim
Matthew 14.13-21
13 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. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 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.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 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. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ What had Jesus “heard” in verse 13? What did he do when he received the news?
+ Where did Jesus go? Who followed him? [vs 13]
+ How do you best handle grief? With a group or alone?
+ What was Jesus’s response when he arrived at the “desolate” place and saw the great crowd?
+ What action does Jesus take as he sees the crowd? [vs14]
+ What do the disciples ask Jesus to do in verse 15?
+ Does the disciples request resonate as “reasonable” at the end of a long day?
+ Who does Jesus expect to feed the people? [vs 16]
+ How did the disciples respond to Jesus’s direction? [vs 17]
+ What does Jesus do with the disciples “offering?” [vs 19]
+ How is this a model for the disciples? How is this a model for you and I?
+ Who delivered the feast to the people? Whose power provided the feast? [vs19]
+ From verse 20, does the meal meet expectations? What words are used to describe it?
+ How much was left over? Why might this be significant? [vs 20]
+ How many families were fed by the disciples through the power of Jesus on this day? [vs 21]
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ How often do you settle for “reasonable” instead of allowing the Spirit to move in your heart to see other ways Jesus can compassionately provide?
+ How can I be Jesus’s hands and feet in the feeding of His people today?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?
+ Who do I need to “see,” have compassion on, and provide for in the power of Jesus today?