The Lord will come and provide

Whether it is recognized or not, Jesus was not on the Love Boat, taking a cruise on a vacation from all that was going on. He was taking his disciples to a place where they could all reconnect with who they were and with God. Not just as individuals but as a community (Mark 6.30-34,53-56). They came back to Jesus in their drips and drabs, telling him all that they had seen and done in their time away. They shared what it was like to be blessed and cared for. They spoke about being rejected and hungry, wet and cold because of the rain. The Twelve chatted with each other, comparing their experiences of ding ministry and how it went. On top of this, as the Twelve are returning, Jesus also learns of the death of John the Proclaimer (Baptist) – a member of the family.

Jesus called the Twelve to get a boat ready and to be prepared to set out on the lake (Sea of Galilee) to go to a desolate place. This is interesting in that it is the kind of place where John would have preached, baptized and proclaimed the call to repentance. Jews would know such a place as a place of prayer for renewal and revival. It is the place where Jews learned who God was and who they were to God. A desolate place would have been where they learned how to deal with temptation and to eat manna. It would be a place where the community would learn how to work into grace and into rest that God has for us in eternity.

People were coming and going in such numbers that no one them had time to eat and rest. That is why the got in the boat and headed out to another place. Unfortunately for them the people on land and those who sailed with them knew the spot to which Jesus was headed. So, whether the boats were slowed by a headwind, or there were some who were fleet of foot – people got to the spot ahead of Jesus and where they're in that place, waiting for him. No chance of a decent meal, or rest or even a break. Jesus looking at these souls, was moved in his guts to come alongside and enter into their suffering with them. He fed them with the bread of his life – his teaching. And he spent the balance of the day doing it.

When it got late, the Twelve encouraged and directed Jesus to send the people into the communities to find their suppers. Jesus retorted and said, “No, you give them something to eat out of what you have yourselves.” I am certain that there was a discussion about the costs and whether or not there was enough in the common purse to make it happen. And they come back with a question, “Are we going to spend eight month’s wages to give everyone a bite?”

They went and discovered that they had 5 loaves and 2 fish in their basket. Barely enough to feed themselves never mind the masses. Jesus took what they had, blessed it, broke it and began passing it out. Every man, woman, and child ate and were satisfied. Who knew that God could or would do that!  

But if you notice, there is something important going on. We do not eat to just survive. We eat to be enabled to serve God and neighbour. It is also a foreshadowing of the Banquet that is to come – the wedding feast of the Lamb. In the meantime, we are fed from the Word and by the Body of Christ to be enabled to serve. The People of God were taught the Law and fed manna in the wilderness to learn how to be the People of God. The Church is taught the Gospel and fed the body of Christ so that we in like manner might serve God.

In all this, we need to remember a couple of simple things: (1) people lead people not organizations and principles; (2) People respond to witness of God’s grace and power and out of a need they cannot fulfil for themselves. Therefore, we can invite people to “mash in” – to come and participate in all that God has to offer so that they can be enabled to be the people God is calling and drawing them to be in the world. The place to do that is within the community of followers – the Church.

Most of all we need to remember that on the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided.

Jason+