0114 GIVING ABOVE AND BEYOND

GIVING ABOVE AND BEYOND

There are several important events that happen in chapter 14 of Matthew: the death of John the Baptist, Jesus feeding the 5000, Jesus walking on water and crowds following him in Gennesaret. But since Matthew is the mathematician among the gospel writers, let’s look at his “bad math” in the feeding of the five thousand.

There are other accounts of the feeding of the crowd of five thousand men, and we might delve into some of those later. But for today, I notice a little detail in Matthew’s account that challenges me. 

It comes in six parts, and they all add up to the same end. Bear with me while I tell you each:

Part one. Jesus is withdrawing to get away from the crowds after he heard about the death of his cousin and friend, John the Baptist. It is a sad loss. It is foreshadowing of the sacrifice that Jesus himself will make before too long. He needs some “alone” time. But Matthew writes, “When the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” He has compassion on this crowd of TAKERS. So he does what they want, instead of what he had a right to do. After all, he came for people, right? Someday soon, he will give his life for them. Until then, he will give up his rights.

Part two. The disciples come to Jesus at the end of a long day of healing and teaching, and they compassionately urge him to “send the crowds away.” You know, so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves. Generous guys, those disciples. Sounds like a “win/win,” right? Jesus and the boys get that alone time, and the crowds are taken care of, without having a guilty conscience. But Jesus is ready to keep serving, even now. “They need not go away. YOU give them something to eat!” The challenge to me here is that Jesus calls his followers to yield their rights, just as he does himself. No easy way out. Time to do more work. But there’s more yet.

Part three. The disciples tell him they have only five loaves and two fish among them. Sounds like another good reason to send the crowds away, right? We don’t have the resources! I did my best. I was willing. Send them away now? But Jesus answers, “Bring them here to me.” Like any good disciplemaker, He is not demanding anything of his followers that he is not willing to do himself.

Part four. Jesus has the crowd sit down on the grass. This is another little detail that intrigues me. Jesus puts his reputation on the line now. Everyone is hungry. It is late in the day. Should they leave or stay? Jesus raises expectations without an actual solution yet. Notice that he has not told the disciples how this was going to work. Can you imagine being one of the twelve here? “Yes, just sit down in this group, and we’ll be getting back with you shortly.” Talk about risks! He prays. He looks up to heaven. He says a blessing. Then he hands out the fish and the loaves. And keeps handing them out. And handing them out.

Part five. They all ate and were satisfied. There were even leftovers, in greater numbers than had been at the start! There is no hint that the crowd was having to “make do,” but kind of disappointed at the meager supply. All of them ate. All five thousand men. Plus women and children. Thousands and thousands of meals provided directly from the hands of Jesus.

Part six. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces left over. Wait a second! How many baskets full? Twelve. How many disciples were there? Twelve. Every one of them, in spite of having to sacrifice his own agenda and energy, was taken care of with an entire basket full of food!

In the math of the kingdom, there are days when I am called upon to give more than I think I can give. More than should be expected of me. But in the end, the same God who asks “too much” of me, also GIVES me “abundantly more than I could ask or imagine” in return.

Twelve baskets full. You know, it’s too bad Jesus didn’t think to get a basket for himself.  He sacrificed above and beyond.