Day 67: Jesus says, "Come."
Please read the Bible verses for today:
Matthew 15: 29-39
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
29 "Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel." (Matthew 15:29-31)
When I read this passage this morning, I saw Jesus sitting on His throne. Then I saw people, one by one, bringing their prayer requests before Him and 'laying them at His feet.' (Matthew 15:30b) 'Jesus healed them.' (Matthew 15:30b) This story is just like my vision, only it took place on earth, before He entered His Holy Kingdom. I believe the Lord is telling us that nothing has changed- come to Him, as the people did on the mountainside, lay your burdens down at His feet, trust Him, believe, and it will be done.
When I read this passage this morning, I saw Jesus sitting on His throne. Then I saw people, one by one, bringing their prayer requests before Him and 'laying them at His feet.' (Matthew 15:30b) 'Jesus healed them.' (Matthew 15:30b) This story is just like my vision, only it took place on earth, before He entered His Holy Kingdom. I believe the Lord is telling us that nothing has changed- come to Him, as the people did on the mountainside, lay your burdens down at His feet, trust Him, believe, and it will be done.
32" Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” (Matthew 15:32) This story is different than, Jesus feeds the five thousand, found in Matthew 14:13-21. In Matthew 14 we see the disciples bringing up the issue of the people needing food, but here, Jesus brings up the issue before the disciples. The heart message is different. The disciples wanted to send the people away to find food for themselves, but Jesus says He has compassion on the people and He is concerned about them- the people stayed by Jesus' side for three days with NOTHING to eat. The people were weak, but wouldn't leave Jesus' side. I hope I would sacrifice food, fast, just to be near and stay near to Jesus.
33 "His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”
34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children.39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan." (Matthew 15:33-39)
Jesus sat everyone down, took the fish and the bread, gave thanks and broke them. In Matthew 14:19, Jesus feeds the five thousand, "...he gave thanks and broke the loaves." In Matthew, Mark and Luke, at the last supper, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." (Mark 14:22) Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and through it He reveals WHO He is- the Son of God. I wonder if the disciples, when they were sitting at the last supper, saw Jesus 'give thanks and break the bread' and wonder what miracle Jesus was going to do next. I wonder if it all came together for them. Jesus didn't need to break the bread when feeding the five or four thousand, (maybe He did) but at the last supper, when Jesus broke the bread, Jesus said, this is my body- broken for you. "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this is remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19) At the last supper, the breaking of the bread is symbolic of Jesus' body being broken for us. At the feeding of the five and four thousand, maybe He was breaking the bread to begin to prepare them for what was coming, the greatest gift ever given to man- forgiveness of sin and eternal life!
Pray with me:
Jesus, thank you that you have made a way for us to come before you, lay our requests at your feet and know that you will heal us. Thank you for your compassion on us to heal our hearts, our wounds, our physical bodies and our physical needs as well as healing the way to God the Father. You did it all. Thank you that you are all I need. Help me to rest in the security of your abounding love. I trust you, Lord. Jesus' Name, Amen.
Jesus sat everyone down, took the fish and the bread, gave thanks and broke them. In Matthew 14:19, Jesus feeds the five thousand, "...he gave thanks and broke the loaves." In Matthew, Mark and Luke, at the last supper, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." (Mark 14:22) Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and through it He reveals WHO He is- the Son of God. I wonder if the disciples, when they were sitting at the last supper, saw Jesus 'give thanks and break the bread' and wonder what miracle Jesus was going to do next. I wonder if it all came together for them. Jesus didn't need to break the bread when feeding the five or four thousand, (maybe He did) but at the last supper, when Jesus broke the bread, Jesus said, this is my body- broken for you. "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this is remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19) At the last supper, the breaking of the bread is symbolic of Jesus' body being broken for us. At the feeding of the five and four thousand, maybe He was breaking the bread to begin to prepare them for what was coming, the greatest gift ever given to man- forgiveness of sin and eternal life!
Pray with me:
Jesus, thank you that you have made a way for us to come before you, lay our requests at your feet and know that you will heal us. Thank you for your compassion on us to heal our hearts, our wounds, our physical bodies and our physical needs as well as healing the way to God the Father. You did it all. Thank you that you are all I need. Help me to rest in the security of your abounding love. I trust you, Lord. Jesus' Name, Amen.
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