The Story of Jesus
At the church pot-luck, people say you never know what food will show up. Well, not if you are the pastor and family. You show up every time and you know who will bring what because they always, by habit, do the same thing over and over. But you are grateful for some who do that, because they bring some of your favorite foods! Our kids, the morning of a potluck after church, would say, “Oh, I hope Betty brings her awesome chocolate pie dessert thingy!” (We didn’t know what it’s real name was, we just knew it was fabulous.) The oldest would say, “Of course, she will bring it, she always does!”
Well, Jesus “brings it” again by serving another blessed meal to thousands of people after spending time healing them all day! The people were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them. I love that phrase in Peterson’s Message rendition of the gospel of Matthew. Oh that God would be blazingly alive in our churches, in our homes, in our towns, in our cities, in our world! Even at our potlucks!
Matthew 15, Msg
29-31 After Jesus returned, he walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a mountain and took his place, ready to receive visitors. They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus’ feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them. When the people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them.
32 But Jesus wasn’t finished with them. He called his disciples and said, “I hurt for these people. For three days now they’ve been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. I can’t send them away without a meal—they’d probably collapse on the road.”
33 His disciples said, “But where in this deserted place are you going to dig up enough food for a meal?”
34-39 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”
“Seven loaves,” they said, “plus a few fish.” At that, Jesus directed the people to sit down. He took the seven loaves and the fish. After giving thanks, he divided it up and gave it to the people. Everyone ate. They had all they wanted. It took seven large baskets to collect the leftovers. Over four thousand people ate their fill at that meal. After Jesus sent them away, he climbed in the boat and crossed over to the Magadan hills.
I am overwhelmed by a God who heals and provides for our every need…”I hurt for these people, I can’t send them away without a meal.” That’s our Jesus, Son of God, who is God in human form who came to earth to seek and to save the lost…all of us. How can we not know Him, believe in Him, and trust Him with all that is within us and all of our “life stuff”? Turn your eyes on Jesus, look full into His wonderful, caring face. Turn away from all other voices that say the opposite. Accept Jesus. Receive peace.
Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word to us strikes a cord deep in our hearts of the love You have for us. All of us. May we love You and love others more and more each day. Break our hearts of those things that break yours. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit to live it and live it well. In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 