Compassion!

Monday Message for August 31, 2020. 

Mark 8:2 ESV, Jesus speaking: “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.”

Jesus wrote the book on compassion. When he perceives a need, he steps in to fill it. This feeding of 4,000 is similar to his previous feeding of 5,000. Perhaps Jesus was hoping that the disciples might reason, “You’ve done this before - you can do the same kind of work again!” Hopefully Jesus’ past faithfulness would point to him meeting present needs. For Jesus, it’s also a teaching moment. 

Sensing a hungry multitude, Jesus presented the dilemma to the disciples. “What should we do? These people have followed for three days. If I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint along the way. Some of them have come from afar. So what should we do?”

If you were present that day among the disciples, what would YOU have him do? The obvious answer is to solve the problem, provide the food, feed the people. That’s what Jesus did once before; that’s what needs to be done again. And Jesus makes it so. 

What is your greatest need nowadays? Most of us have food, but we need protection from the coronavirus. Is ending the civil unrest in our communities or reconciling racial injustice high on your list of needs? Whatever your greatest need, Jesus can meet that need. Remember, compassion is a trend with Jesus! And that gives us hope!

Blessings and safety to all today! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406