We have been briefly tracing the steps of Christ around Palestine, from Galilee to Judea and back again. Now we are entering the third and final year of His earthly ministry. Crowds were still following Him, perhaps only to receive healing. Opposition was growing, however. Christ had an extensive ministry in Galilee. Then He went northwest to Tyre and Sidon and then north to Caesarea Phillipi and Mt. Hermon where He was transfigured. Soon He would start for Jerusalem for the last time. He would go east to the area of Perea and then finally back to Bethany and Jerusalem. Luke tells us He set His face for Jerusalem when He came down from the transfiguration. Here in our reading today we see again the tremendous compassion and emotion Christ had for the crowds of people who followed Him. He yearned over their spiritual condition but also was very conscious of their physical needs. Sad to say, the disciples at that time did not share His compassion. In the other three Gospels we are told they said, "Send the multitudes away. Let them go and find food for themselves." But Christ knew this might be difficult for them and asked the disciples to see what they could do to help. Then follows a remarkable story of Christ's miraculous provision, but notice particularly that Christ also needed the co-operation of the disciples. He supplied the needed food but they had to give it out to those who were hungry for it. Christ's plan for reaching the multitudes of the world is still the same. He has compassion for them. He has made provision for them but He is waiting on the co-operation of His followers to take the news of that provision to the waiting people. Have we been giving out what Christ has given us; what He made possible by His death and resurrection? This is our part today. Christ is counting on us. What are we doing about it? |
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