Reflecting on Mark 8:1-10
“I have compassion for these people; they have nothing to eat.” (Mark 7:34)
As a Jesus follower I am compelled by the compassion of Jesus.
Jesus is still in the non-Jewish region of the Decapolis.
These are non-Jews, who do not look favourably on Jewish people.
But this large crowd of ‘non-believers’ is attracted to Jesus.
Foolishly so; why didn’t they prepare with food in advance?
How did they expect to eat in this wilderness region?
Whether they were foolish or not, Jesus has compassion on them.
He sees their desperation, their hunger for hope and healing.
He does not view these people as wicked sinners under God’s wrath.
He sees them as desperately needing God’s grace and mercy.
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'” (Matthew 9:35-38)
Jesus repeats (see Mark 6:30-44) His feeding miracle among these non Jews.
His compassion extends beyond the Jews to all people, all nations.
He sees them as lost, harassed, helpless sheep, neglected by their shepherds.
His mission is to rescue them, not to condemn or reject them.
He is looking for helpers in this mission, people of compassion.
He looks to His disciples to feed the hungry of the world.
This is not just feeding souls with salvation.
This is feeding those who are physically hungry.
He uses what He has (7 loaves, a few fish), and this becomes enough.
If His compassion feeds those who are physically hungry, do I?
Are there physically hungry people around me, who I can feed?
‘But I don’t have enough to feed so many people, the need is too great!’
I am like the disciples, overwhelmed and immobilized by the need.
I lose sight of God and Jesus, and their compassion.
I don’t expect them to multiply what little I have to help others.
Compassion does not focus on what it can’t do.
Compassion focuses on what it can do, with faith in God.
We give thanks for what little we have, and share it with others.
We can’t do everything, but we don’t do nothing; we do something!
“I have compassion for these people; they have nothing to eat.” (Mark 7:34)
This is a line I need to repeat to myself.
As I see so many homeless, and people begging and that stop light.
As I volunteer at the Food Pantry.
As I respond to phone calls for assistance that come to the church.
It is not my job to save their souls, or to criticize their folly.
It is my job to have compassion, and to offer what I can.
Of course their need is greater than my ability to help.
But I am not doing this alone; God and Jesus are with me.
They can multiply my little seeds of kindness, to produce a harvest.
They are prepared for a great harvest, if the workers step up.
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:39)
Are the workers few because we are too busy making excuses?
Are the workers few because our compassion is not engaged?
“Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:38)
The week that lies before me is the harvest field.
I will meet people who are hungry, people that Jesus has compassion on.
Can I see myself as an answer to this prayer, a worker sent by the Lord?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, raise up people of compassion, including me. Send out works of compassion to bless and feed the hungry. Help me not to be immobilized by the need. Help me to be mobilized by compassion, and by faith that God can multiply my limited resources and bless and feed the multitudes.