Like us, they were unprepared. Like today, Jesus came through

By Dean Collins

If there had been a Costco, Walmart, or a Buc-ee’s nearby, the disciples would have felt no pressure. Maybe they should have realized at the end of Day One when the crowds spent the night that Jesus would end up wanting to feed everyone. They had seen his compassion many times by now. And certainly after Day Two with the crowds still tagging along, they might have been looking for a local source just in case. But Day Three arrived and Jesus said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I am afraid they will pass out on the way home, and that simply won’t do.”

The disciples pushed back because they saw no place to buy anything. They were far from the towns. I think Jesus would have been pleased if one of them had said, “Jesus, we will get them organized and maybe you could feed them like you did before.” But it was Jesus who initiated the plan by asking, “How many loaves do you have?” All the disciples came up with was seven loaves, plus a few small fish. We don’t know the source. Maybe one of the disciples in charge of supplies for the group offered what was left in the food wagon. Jesus took it from there and, just like with the 5,000 men and their families, had more than enough. More than 4,000 ate all they wanted. Jesus sent them home and got in the boat and headed out.

Bad leaven

Later, Jesus began to warn the disciples to watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. His point was that just a little of their problematic teachings can rise to a big problem in a community. As soon as Jesus mentioned leaven, a few of the disciples looked in the boat and then at each other. No one had picked up the leftovers. They still were without bread.

If Jesus kept a straight face I would be surprised. It must have been frustrating to spell something out so clearly only to have his followers miss the point of the teaching. Clothes, food, and beverages were important, but Jesus over and over again had indicated that if you seek God and his kingdom first then the other things will be taken care of without constant worry.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were focused on their traditions and their interpretations of the Law. They protected their power base at all costs. Of course they wanted people to follow God, but only if it was according to their rules and methods. And sadly they were hyperfocused on what was right and wrong according to the Law and had forgotten that God loved people. All people. Every teaching session with Jesus was a course correction from seeing the rituals and the rules as a path to holiness. Jesus was showing everyone what his Father was really like and what they could expect if they would but surrender their wills and follow him.

Bad thinking

It’s easy to beat up on the disciples. But maybe we should ask ourselves which group we are more like? The Pharisees or the disciples? Has it become our tendency to expect those who would follow Jesus to think and act according to our preferred traditions? Do we sometimes act as if following Jesus requires a certain political party or denomination? Does it require we agree with certain ideologies in order to be accepted? If Jesus walked into the coffee shop tomorrow, would he say something to us about looking out for the “leaven” of others? Or maybe the “leaven” we might be spouting?

Some days I would have to plead guilty to thinking you need to understand things my way. And some days I am like the disciples, not paying attention to Jesus and the way he showed compassion and love to others. And sometimes, in a difficult moment when there doesn’t seem to be an answer or a way forward or resources to do what God called me to do, I forget that God is just waiting for me to remember he is with me. He can take care of every need.

Right response

It wasn’t long after this conversation with the disciples that Jesus asked them what people said about him. He wasn’t insecure and he certainly knew the answer. What Jesus was focused on was what the disciples said about him. Did they realize they were walking with the Messiah of God? Peter pulled it together when Jesus asked him directly. His response is the one we need to remember and come back to each day. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” were Peter’s words.

It’s a good starting point today for us as well. Maybe as we declare that confession each day, we will remember to focus on Jesus over all of the structures and preferred rules we tend to focus on. And believing that, maybe we will also remember we serve a living Savior who will never abandon us in a moment or season of need.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15:32-39; ‭16:5-12‬‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Fatima Wahab at Unsplash

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