Dear Christian friends,

Here in our text we see how Jesus multiplied the 5 loaves of bread and the 2 small fishes and fed and satisfied more than 5,000 hungry people. Jesus did many other miracles and He says that we, His disciples, also can do miracles. On the evening before He died, He said to His disciples, "I tell you the truth, he that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father." (John 14:12) Same as Jesus, we Christians can do wonderful, surprising works. Perhaps we can't walk on water and do miracles in the same way that Jesus did, but we can do wonderful, surprising works.

If we intend to do miracles, we need to have compassion for people, the same as Jesus had for the people. In our text we read, "When Jesus saw the large crowd of people He felt compassion for them, and healed their sick ones." (v.14)

When we think about what really happened that day long time ago we are amazed at Jesus' compassion. Jesus had just heard about the death of His cousin, John the Baptizer. I am sure that Jesus felt very sad about that bad news. Matthew here tells us that Jesus got into a boat and went looking for a place to be alone in His grief. Perhaps Jesus also felt angry that King Herod had executed His dear cousin. Jesus was also feeling fear for His own life because He was now beginning the same work that John the Baptizer had done. Jesus knew that He was risking His life also.

So we can understand that Jesus was feeling tired, sad, angry, confused and afraid. He needed some time for Himself alone. Most of us will agree that Jesus had a right to tell the crowd to go away and leave Him alone. But that is not what happened.

We read in our text that the many people followed Jesus on shore and were waiting for Him when His boat arrived on the opposite shore. These people were not very nice to Jesus in His grief. Jesus was searching for peace and quiet, but they let Him have no peace. They had no sympathy for Jesus in His grief. Jesus should have told them, "Give Me a break! Leave me alone at least until after the funeral!"

But people in need do not have sympathy for their helpers. They are the same as children wanting something from mother. And you mothers know that children have little or no understanding of mother's needs. Children do not realize that mothers get tired too. So the crowd came to Jesus for help at a very bad time. But Jesus, same as a mother, yes, better than a mother, had patience, love and compassion for these 5,000 "children". He healed their sick and satisfied their needs, although He Himself was much in need of help.

And this is only part of the story about Jesus' compassion. Today Jesus continues to do the same thing. Jesus sees you and me from His throne above in our troubles and needs and He has love and compassion for us. His love has no more limits now than it did that day by the lake. Our text is not only telling us what Jesus was like; it is telling us what Jesus is now for you and me. Really, Jesus can love us better now than when He was here on earth in the body because He has gone to the Father. Sitting at the right hand of the Father Jesus never sleeps or gets tired or needs time for grief. THINK! There is no time when Jesus does not see you or care for you!

Seeing Jesus' wonderful compassion for these people 2000 years ago and for us today, gives us the love and compassion we need to do His wonderful works today. We also need faith in Jesus' power if we intend to do His wonderful works here on earth.

Matthew in our text tells us that the people forgot to bring their lunch with them that day. They had not eaten since breakfast, and no fast food places such as McDonald's or Burger King in those days. The disciples were worried for the people being hungry and weak, not able to walk home. They asked Jesus to do something to help.

Imagine their surprise when Jesus told them to feed the people themselves! Jesus said, "You give them food."" The disciples responded the same as we often respond when Jesus commands us to do something:"But we can't." "We'd like to do it, but we don't have enough..." "We would, but..." "We do not have enough for ourselves."

The hungry and the homeless are still with us today. Same as these disciples, we are concerned. We see them on T.V. or lying on the street. We read about them in the newspapers. We sometimes pray that God will do something about it and God says to us the same as Jesus said to those disciples, "You give them food." "Feed them yourselves!"

Perhaps our problem today is the same as what the disciples had that day. The disciples thought about their few, small resources, five loaves of bread and two small fishes. That's all they considered.

What happened next? We know that someone brought the five loaves and the two small fishes to Jesus and He prayed and blessed that small resource. We also know that the 5,000 or more people ate and had plenty to eat and that there were 12 baskets of crumbs left over. How did that happen? Did Jesus make the bread and the fish from the thin air? We do not really know how He did it, but that is not really important.

One thing is very clear here. What is that? Nothing happened until the boy who had those five loaves and two fishes gave up control and was willing to let them be used in a way other than what he had planned. That was the beginning of the miracle. Then there was enough for everyone.

And here we are today, living far away from that lakeside. And we, too, in prayer, are telling God that there are people without food and houses. And also today God is telling us to feed them ourselves. Perhaps this text is meant to open our hearts to realize, understand that if we give up control of our resources there will be enough to feed the hungry. Perhaps, if we change our priorities and give our resources into Jesus' hands the hungry will have food and the homeless will have homes.

Same as it was by the lake 2000 years ago, many are hungry until those who have control of the resource are willing to let Jesus' word control them. When we use our resources according to Jesus' command, then we will do Jesus' wonderful works. We need to do same as the boy in this text, have faith in Jesus and put our resources under His control. Then we will be miracle workers.

Amen.