Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."
His disciples answered, "Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?"
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied, "and a few small fish."
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children."
Matthew 15:28-39
I am a big fan of HGTV's Dream Home Giveaway. In case you aren't familiar with this
show, every year, they build an enormously elaborate multi-million dollar dream home in some wonderful resort-like location and then give it away. Every year I enter online, once a day until the deadline. I've never won, of course, but I love to read the stories of the people who have won. How exciting that would have to be! Not only do you get a brand-new home in a wonderful setting, but you also get the furnishings, a new car, and a huge tax bill!
If I remember correctly, every winner so far (about 10 or so) has opted to sell the dream home shortly after winning it. Primarily, this is because the average Joe that ends up winning can't afford to pay the property taxes, utility bills, maintenance and upkeep, etc. on such a sprawling pad, not to mention the cost (emotionally and monetarily) of uprooting the entire family. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that if I were to ever win, I would have to sell the place just like all the other winners. I couldn't afford to quit my job, move, and still pay for everything - even with the 1.5 million that they have started including in the prize package. Believe me, I would exhaust every option possible before I sold the dream home, but, alas, HGTV just doesn't seem to understand that life goes on, even after a dream.
This is the kind of thing that Jesus knew all too well. In Matthew 15 we read how Jesus healed and delivered multitudes of people who were sick, blind, deaf, crippled, or demon-possessed. Chapter 15 paints the picture of literally hundreds of sick and troubled people coming from miles around just for the chance of seeing Jesus and being healed. I picture the scene to have been like one of those "Fan Fare" autograph sessions where famous country musicians take time to meet the fans and sign autographs. I heard that Garth Brooks once stood in the same place for 12+hours, without breaks for eating or even to go to the bathroom, to sign autographs for his fans.
The story in Matthew tells us how crowded it was around Jesus - it was so bad in the last town that he was forced to get away from the crowds by getting in a boat, and this time Jesus went to the side of a mountain. But despite the enormous crowds, Jesus stayed and ministered to his "fans" and all those who made the trip to see and hear him. Matthew tells us that in looking over the crowds, Jesus had compassion on the 4,000+ people that had followed him there. "Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."'
As many times as I have read this story and the other stories like it, I never once stopped to wonder about what was going to happen to the sick, the lame, and the demon-possessed who were healed by Jesus. After all, a lot of the time these people had traveled (or were even carried) to remote areas or areas far away from their home hoping to see Jesus. And when you think about it, these Lepers, cripples, blind men, demoniacs, and outcasts would have had little if any money and/or food. It's not like they stopped at Wal-Mart before leaving to fill up the cooler with supplies. They were desperate and willing to do whatever it took to be healed. They would have left any help, security, and family they did have to reach Jesus.
So, once they finally did reach Jesus, and were healed, they then quite possibly would have been days away from home, without much food or water. There were no homeless shelters, and you can't beg on the streets with a sign that says, "I used to be blind." They literally gave up everything for the hope of being healed or touched by Christ, with, I imagine, little thought as to "what's next."
So, imagine what it had to be like after you were healed. Say you had been blind from birth and were now fully healed. What next? You likely have no money, and even less food. Maybe you had a guide help you to where Jesus was, but now he is gone. You can see, but you have no idea how to get back home without a guide. You can see, but you have no skills or trade that you can use to gain money for food. You obviously look and smell like a beggar, so it is unlikely that many people would be eager to take you in for the night. You can finally see, but you have no food, no water, and you are far from home. Odds are stacked against you, and it is likely that you are going to fall out along the way.
This story illustrates an amazingly brilliant truth, one the disciples didn't see. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law didn't recognize it. But Jesus saw it - Jesus saw the whole picture and saw every need, and he cared. The truth is, only Jesus cared enough to see the whole plight of man. Only Jesus loved the people enough to care about their whole situation, mind, body, and soul. He didn't "love 'em and leave 'em" like some. He didn't solve one problem only to cause another. No, Jesus saw the needs of the people, in their entirety, and he met them. It is like the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Everyone else would have seen a woman in need of water, nothing uncommon. A few others may have seen that this woman had been married five times. But only Jesus saw her complete needs. He knew that she was thirsting for something more than water, that she was looking in vain for fulfillment or security or purpose or identity in failed relationships.
In life, there will be many people who love us and care for us. But there will only be One person who loves us enough and is able to meet all of our needs. There is only One who cares - only one Good Shepherd. Jesus really does know our every need, our every worry, our every anxiety, and our every thought. He notices the passing of even the smallest sparrow, and so we can trust that nothing that happens to us will escape his notice. Jesus cares. More than anyone else on this earth, Jesus cares. He sees our hurt, he hears our cries, and he knows our sorrow. He feels your pain. He knows that you are anxious and worried about the future. He knows our insecurities and the deep secrets of our hearts. He knows when we are putting on a brave front just to make it through the day. He knows when we teeter on the verge of breakdown, seemingly unable to stand beneath the burdens of life.
He stands waiting - waiting for us to let him feed us, to let him meet our needs. He offers to us his yolk and his burden. He calls out: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
