Jesus – moved with compassion (4) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

They said to him, We have only five loaves and two fish. He said, Bring them to me. Then he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
Matthew 14: 17 - 19.

Jesus - moved with compassion (4)
When the Lord suggested that the disciples should give the multitude the food needed, they had to admit that there was very little available for such a crowd: only five loaves and two fish, which didn't even belong to them (cf. John 6: 9). They failed to realise the Lord's power, although it had been revealed convincingly at the marriage at Cana, where He had turned a great quantity of water into wine.

The Lord Jesus ordered the multitude to sit down in groups of fifty and one hundred (cf. Mark 6: 40), gave thanks to the Giver of "every good gift" (James 1: 17) and broke the loaves. The disciples were then told to distribute the food.

Where the Lord sees a need, He is ever ready to provide or do what is necessary to relieve it. This was yet another instance of His wondrous compassion.

What lessons we can learn from this! Nothing proves to be a problem for Him, but we realise it only when we exercise our faith. Then He set us an example, when He, the Creator of heaven and earth, thanked God for what had been provided. How often we omit to do so!

Finally, the disciples co-operated despite their initial misgivings. It is important that the Lord's servants realise their dependence on their Master, who once reminded His disciples: "Without me you can do nothing" (John 15: 5).

(to be concluded on Monday)


Today's reading: 2 Kings 2: 1 - 14 · John 16: 12 - 24