Matthew 15:32-39 A Repeat Performance

Matthew 15:32-39 (NRSV)

​³²Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way." ³³The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" ³⁴Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." ³⁵Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, ³⁶he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ³⁷And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. ³⁸Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

Observation: This is Jesus' second feeding miracle in Matthew (the first is in chapter 14). Mark also has two versions of this story. Jesus needs to remind his disciples that God doesn't just provide once. We can count on God every day.

Application: It's amazing and disheartening how quickly I forget important, mountaintop moments with God as they fade into the rearview mirror. No matter how powerfully present God was yesterday, the problems of today always seem so insurmountable. But if Jesus was willing to "redo" one of his most well-known feeding miracles for his disciples and the crowds, I can trust that Jesus will find a way of showing up for me today, just like yesterday.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for remembering me, for feeding me, and for reminding me of your compassion. Amen.