A Test in a Deserted Place

Matthew 14: Son of God (3)

Pray Psalm 138.1-3.
I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

Sing Psalm 138.1, 2.
Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory
I will give You thanks and praise You, God of gods, with all my heart. 
I will bow before Your temple, grateful praise to You impart. 
For Your Name and for Your glory, You have magnified Your Word!

Read Matthew 14.1-21; meditate on verses 13-21.
How does this situation recall Israel in the desert?

Prepare.
1. How did Jesus show His compassion for the people (cf. also Mk. 6.34)?

2. What does this story tell us about the sovereign power of Jesus?

Meditate.
Jesus felt the need to be alone. So he departed by boat to go to a deserted place, to be alone with His Father (v. 13). The people heard about this, and they followed Him to His place of retreat. We might think Jesus was annoyed by this; He was not. When He saw the assembling crowds, He had compassion on them. Mark tells us that He first began to teach them many things (Mk. 6.34). But when evening came, the disciples, thinking of the wellbeing of the people, urged Jesus to send them away, so they could find something to eat (v. 15). Jesus’ reply startled the disciples. We know this from Philip’s response when Jesus asked where they might find bread to feed the people (Jn. 6.7). Philip said, in effect, the resources aren’t there. 

Pop quiz, Philip: F.

Andrew weighed in next: A kid has some loaves and fish, but that won’t even begin to feed this throng. Andrew: F.

Jesus took the available resources in hand and began to do what He as God does every day: create the world anew. Like His Father fed Israel in the wilderness, Jesus began to break the bread and fish, and He kept breaking them and giving them to His disciples to pass around, until everyone had all they could eat. Then His disciples gathered up leftovers more than the initial offering (v. 20). Five thousand men, plus women and children, ate until they were full, as the Creator of all things fed them from His compassionate heart.

Who is Jesus? Jesus is the Creator. Jesus is the sovereign God. As amazing as this miracle of the loaves and fishes is, it’s the sort of thing Jesus does every day. The vast creation has no inherent power to keep itself going or even to continue in existence. Neither do you or I. Let us open our souls like hungry baby birds, and plead with Jesus to feed and fill us. 

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
When Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been murdered, He departed from where He was by boat, and went to a deserted place by Himself. Jesus, although God, felt deeply the loss and violence of His friend’s death. He wanted to spend some time, quietly, with His Father—to feel what He was feeling in God’s Presence. And thus, He knows how we are feeling about everything.

“For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, 
but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4.15).
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, 
and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34.18).

Jesus’ concern and compassion for the woman so bent over that “in no way [could she] raise herself up” 
is exactly how we would like to be cared for—with vehement compassion. 
Jesus became quite firm with the synagogue ruler, indignant because He had healed her on the Sabbath. 
Our Lord answered by saying: “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath 
loose his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? 
So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, 
whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, 
be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Lk. 13.14-16). 
“Think of it,” He vehemently said, truly feeling her pain.

Jesus also was moved with compassion for the multitude who followed Him to the deserted place. And so, “healed their sick” (Matt. 14.14). He was additionally concerned about their hunger, and therefore, miraculously fed all five thousand men and the women and children accompanying them.

Jesus’ concern and compassion for others overrode His Own grief and need for solitude.
“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, 
and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Ps. 86.15).
“…His compassions fail not. They are new every morning…” (Lam. 3.22, 23).

When we fully live within His Kingdom, for His honor and glory, we strive to become like Him—in all His wisdom, love, obedience, compassion, and care for others—but we also are to have fellowship with Him in His sufferings (Phil. 3.10). To know Him.

“For I know Whom I have believed…” (2 Tim. 1.12).

Through His compassion and concern, we will be strengthened—in every deserted place we may traverse—
to do His will, in His Kingdom for His glory and the good of others.

Obediently following Him, to be like Him. 
And then one day “…when He is revealed, 
we shall be like Him, 
for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn. 3.1).
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Reflect.
1. What does it mean to have compassion? Would you describe yourself as compassionate?

2. What kind of actions does compassion encourage? What did Jesus do?

3. How important is compassion as an attribute of Christian life? Why?

Although this was a deserted place, He that is here is ready to feed the world. The One who is speaking to you is not subject to time, even though “the day is now over.” John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 49.1

Pray Psalm 138.4-8.
Praise God for His daily provision: He will take care of all that concerns you. Thank Him for His mercy and faithfulness.

Sing Psalm 138.3-8.
Regent Square: Angels from the Realms of Glory
On the day I called You answered, made me bold within my soul; 
when I walk in troubled places, You revive and make me whole. 
For Your hand will gently shield me, and my fearsome foes control. 

All the kings of earth will praise You when Your words of truth they hear; 
of Your ways, of Your great glory, gladly they will shout and cheer. 
For the proud shall not approach You, yet You hold the lowly dear. 

Your Right Hand will save and keep me; all I need You will supply. 
For Your love is everlasting, reaching from beyond the sky. 
You will not forsake or leave me; You will save me when I cry.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

We invite you to join us in ReThinking Church. We explain further at our ReThinking Church page, here.

Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast is into a new series of readings from our book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter concludes our series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column considers questions all church leaders must address. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.