Matthew 14:13-21
The disciples were a funny group of people. They walked with Jesus, but they argued amongst themselves who was the greatest of them. They made ignorant request to sit at the right hand of Jesus on the day of his glory. They asked Jesus to send the Canaanite Woman away because they were embarrassed at the pleas of a woman on a public street. They told a blind man to be quiet and stand aside because their Lord was coming through on his way to his crucifixion. The disciples walked with Jesus, but failed the mission of their master on so many occasions.
The Passover meal is at hand and the disciples want to have their meal in peace with their Lord. After following Jesus all day long, they’re tired and this large group of poor, needy, afflicted, diseased, people will not leave. The people come in masses from far away places. They cross borders, rivers, and seas in the hopes of a better life. They ask Jesus to send this group of needy people away to fend for themselves. Let them go back to their towns on their side of the border. We do not even know if they are all Jewish. How can we eat with them? We only have five loaves and two fishes, our general fund is limited. Their numbers are growing but they must be able to sustain themselves because what we have belongs to us.
Jesus had something to teach the Disciples of Christ on this day. He tells them, you feed them and serve the mission of Jesus Christ. He took away what the Disciples had, looked up to heaven, and broke it. With his blessing he gave their precious bread back to them and ordered them to serve it. The disciples served the very people they wanted Jesus to send away back to their towns across the rivers, seas, and borders.
The mission of Jesus Christ is very often contrary to the mission of the disciples, but they learned that by having mercy and giving, all can eat and be filled. Thank you my Lord for your mercy, love, and sacrifice.
They are a funny set of people. Although, to me i found the book of Mark even more emphasizing the point of the disciples as failures or as mis-understanding. Jesus taught love everyone, while his disciples questioned whether they should talk with people of different cultures and nations. Even at the very end of Mark - the original ending that was intended by the original author(s), before the added on short/long endings by the early church - the few of Jesus' followers whom "saw" the angel still failed to do what he said, "They said nothing". That in itself is a more beautiful message to me. It speaks a different message that goes like this... "Get up and tell them yourself! You are empowered by God to spread the word!". I love Mark! But Matthew is great too!
Obviously, someone told Jesus' disciples becuase they believed in the "empty tome" and finally decided to follow and live out the mission of Jesus Christ. But what I wonder is when? Maybe they were just beginning to really understanding Jesus' Mission when thousands of followers were fed with food that can only feed the few, but they still didn't quite get it. Even in the beginning of Holy Week, his disciples were like "dude, what are you doing?" So that really leaves the after events of Holy Week, such as Pentecost.
I often times wonder what really happened after Jesus was laid in the tomb and resurrected. And within those time frames, I wonder when the Disciples decided to change from being failures and being disciples of Jesus' true mission. Was it when Thomas touched Jesus' wounds? Or was it when Jesus told them the commission of spreading the word of God? Or was even after Jesus had went to heaven? Whenever it happened, we are reminded every day that they went out and spread the word of Jesus to the world as far and as long as they could, because - at least for my hometown - I pass by 8 churches on the way to my church.
With Peace,
AG Woods
I don’t believe the disciples ever lived out the mission of Jesus Christ. They obeyed and were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit which gave them the courage enabling them to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ at any cost. In Acts Chap. 1 Jesus commanded the disciples not to leave Jerusalem and wait for the gift the father had promised. They were probably being hunted in Jerusalem and staying was probably a risk. In Acts chap. 2 the gift is revealed in Pentecost. Most people tend to focus on the miracle of speaking in different tongues but the real miracle has to do with what they were proclaiming. They were openly and fearlessly proclaiming the gospel in front the same people who participated in the condemnation of Jesus. In Acts Chap. 4 Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and tells the Sanhedrin, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." What a change in Peter. He went from an utter failure denying Jesus three times to making this dangerous statement in front of the very people who condemned Jesus.
If there was ever a statement which could get you killed, this was it. It can still get you killed as popular ecumenical movements push outside of Christendom. It is my opinion that Peter did not make a decision to live out the mission of Jesus Christ. He obeyed the instructions of Jesus and was filled with the awesome power of the Holy Spirit. It fills you with truth that burns within you and you are compelled to proclaim the truth and good news at any cost. Because of his obedience, Peter was used by God to proclaim his truth. Despite Peter’s failures, God used him when he finally submitted and obeyed.
Jesus is the only person with the ability to live out the mission of reconciliation of God with humanity because he is perfect. He is the only person uniquely suited to this mission because he is both human and divine. Humanity is imperfect, sinful, and fails. Only through submission and obedience can we be filled with the Holy Spirit which gives us the courage to act out the will of the Father.
I think it is important to realize that the disciples didn’t just “get it” one day and start to live the mission of Jesus Christ. I think we are all still in the process of “getting it.” They probably had plenty of failures throughout theirs lives, but through servitude, obedience, and submission they were utilized by God for his greater plan. This gives me hope. I know that I have and will fail my lord on occasion, but my Lord forgives me out of love.
May he give us the strength to serve, obey, and submit because his plan is better than ours. I pray that thy will be done with us as thy will was done with the disciples. Our God is an awesome God.
Blessings in Christ,
Joel M. Saucedo
Thanks for sharing this insight. This whole discussion is great. Keep sharing anything you discover.
Nick