Compassion, Creating, Counting Us In (and Leftovers)
Matthew 14:13-21
Last week > John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin > beheaded for revenge and entertainment at a birthday party.
Let’s back up make see if we can make this real and feel John and Jesus’ relationship.
CHOSEN VIDEO John and Jesus
13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.
All of us know what loss feels like, don’t we.
QUESTION: What did Jesus want to do when he suffered this loss?
TOUGH TABLE QUESTION: What did you do or what did you want to do when you suffered a loss?
I just wanted my immediate family close by.
Lighten things little > Kim > after funeral > everyone there > front porch > Myra laughing and choking > at the table,
preacher there > autistic grandson Noah > Momma got mad this morning and told us to get F BOMB ready to go >
laughter > did I say something wrong > “Where’s Holly?” > Hiding in the bedroom > She finally came out.
Hear this:
But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he
stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
SLIDE: COMPASSION
One of the most remarkable qualities of Jesus while on earth was his compassion. He could see, feel, and identify with
the desperation of people in need, and then he acted on that compassion in a way that personally involved himself.
TABLE QUESTION: Hard question > Are you compassionate? Why do you think you are or aren’t?
I think we all wish compassion was part of our life, one of our “markers.”
Here’s what we battle: our selfishness on one hand and lack of discipline on the other. We have to learn to say "no" to
our tendency to just ignore the needs around us.
Jesus is grieving the loss of his cousin John the Baptist. Yet rather than ignoring the crowd, he ministers to them and to
his disciples.
We know that Jesus took time away from the crowd to be alone with his Father and that Jesus will spend much of the rest
of his ministry away from the crowd teaching his disciples, but he will interact repeatedly with the crowd to offer
compassion and share God's love.
VERY IMPORTANT: Sometimes under heavy stress, there is no greater comfort than to minister to others — not
for our good, but for theirs! That’s being used by God!!
13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was
headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had
compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place,
and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But
Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they
answered. 18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves
and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the
disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up
twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!
1) V15-16 What was the disciple’s solution to feeding the people and was it unreasonable?
Disciples – go to town and buy some food. Not unreasonable. Actually, very reasonable. They were out of town but
there were several towns nearby.
2) V16 When Jesus said, “You feed them,” what was he actually offering to the disciples?
The chance to participate in a miracle.
Said another way, the chance to get in on what God was doing.
SLIDE: GET IN ON WHAT GOD IS DOING
“HE WANTS TO “COUNT US IN”
QUESTION: Use your “good eye.” What do you see God doing now that you can get in on?
Recovery! God wants to free you from the bonds of addiction -so that – you can worship him and serve with him.
(vertical)
So that – you can Support each other in recovery. (horizontal)
Learning a new way to live. – so that – you can worship him and serve him. (vertical)
So that – you can teach and encourage others a new way to live – (horizontal)
Learning/introducing new and better ideas that you did not previously know. God wants to teach you – so that – you can
worship him and serve him. (Vertical) -so that – you can teach and serve others who are where you have been.
(Horizontal)
3) V17 What did the disciples have for the meal? What do you think they were thinking at this point?
Five loaves and two fish. Their thoughts? Were they just so unimaginative that they couldn’t picture what was about to
happen.
4) V18-22 What did happen?
Jesus performed a miracle. The disciples fed the 5,000 and the women and children.
QUESTION: “Use your good eye again,” What can you dream big?
SLIDE: GOD CREATES – SO DREAM BIG!
Planting “Garage Churches” in other towns.
By example, being the beta site, the original group, that changes how addiction is handled in the legal system.
Plant another church right here in this building that reaches another group.
Be a youth director
Be a preacher
Be a ministry leader
Be a small group leader.
Be a Discovery bible study leader that has multiplied group, and then becoming a coach.
Serve faithfully, like a rock, in a church.
Be known for your compassion.
Be a great mom or dad.
Remember decision making, later on, this can be “just” a story that you tell.
“There was the moment I had this dream and . . .”
“The moment I verbalized that dream I had and . . . .”
SLIDE:
Before you count your money, bread, or fish,
Before you count yourself out,
Turn and look at Jesus.
He can help you do the impossible.
Simply give him what you have and watch him work.
5) Twelve baskets of leftovers! What does this say about Jesus?
He is exceedingly willing to bless us and provide for us.
SLIDE: JESUS WAS GREAT AT HOSPITALITY!
SLIDE: HOSPITALITY
The friendly and generous reception
And entertainment of
Guests, Visitors and Strangers
QUESTION: Do you want to be an evangelist or do discipleship?
Jesus’ evangelism and discipleship often involved meals and hospitality. Jesus:
– eats with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Levi.
– is at a meal when He is anointed by the weeping woman.
– feeds the five thousand in the wilderness.
– eats at the home of Martha and Mary.
– is at a meal when He condemns the Pharisees and teachers of the law.
– is at a meal when He urges people to invite the poor to their meals.
– invites Himself to dinner with Zacchaeus.
– eats the Last Supper.
– has a meal with two disciples in Emmaus after the Resurrection.
– appears to the disciples in Jerusalem and eats fish with them.
“It seems in Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.”
SLIDE:
People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:28, NIV
And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom…
Luke 22:29-30a, NLT
SLIDE
COMPASSION
GOD IS CREATING – GET IN ON IT, DREAM BIG
SHOW HOSPITALITY (have leftovers!)