Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Daily QT: 09/04/2007 Mark 8:1-3
1During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2"I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."
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1In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, (A)Jesus called His disciples and said to them, 2"(B)I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3"If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance." (Mark 8:1-3 NASB)
It says in the previous chapter that many people were overwhelmed with amazement, since "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." Consequently, as people see good results by following Jesus, they keep coming to Him to see more miracles and wonders. Though Jesus knows that they don't come to Him to seek repentance and to listen to the word of life, He still has compassion for these people. He is anxious that they could collapse on their way home due to lack of food. ...Jesus Christ clearly knows and understands all of our (difficult) situations, and He truly wants to fill our needs. Even if we don't have the pure heart and different purposes by seeking His grace and love, He still embraces us. I thank God for His love and understanding.
The word compassion shows a lot throughout the chapter. I can definitely feel and hear Jesus's compassion towards us. Just for simply following him he provided food but more importantly, he cared about them.
I don't know if the people's motives were only mercenary. After all, they were willing to follow Jesus into the wilderness for three days without food. Can I honestly say that I would have done the same?
They hungered for him more than for food. I think they were responding to more than just his miracles. His compassion, love and sermons were feeding them as well. I pray that my appetite for Jesus grows greater than my appetite for worldly food or comfort.
Yet what I love about Jesus is that he understands that we also live in this world and need food, etc. He doesn't ask us to starve ourselves and collapse for him. He spent 40 days in the desert fasting and withstood temptations, because we could not and cannot. Jesus knows our limitations and weaknesses, yet he accepts us fully. He forgives our weaknesses more easily than we forgive them in ourselves.
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