How many Port-A-Potties do you need for an all-day event with fifteen thousand people? I wonder about things like that. Perhaps it’s the perversity of my engineering mind or a habit I developed when I was a gofer for my wife while she was Special Events Coordinator at a large church we attended in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The disciples may have wondered as well. They had returned from their mission trip to report to Jesus on what they had done. Jesus intended to give His disciples some much-needed rest by taking a short boat ride to a deserted place.
As the boat makes its shore-hugging journey from Capernaum to a deserted place in the region of Bethsaida, the crowds follow on foot like sheep without a shepherd. They walk along the northern shore of the lake and cross the Jordan River at its mouth, using a ford that remains a popular route for foot travelers to this day.
The gospel writers report that there were five thousand men. In those days, women and children didn’t count. So, if we include women and children, there could have been roughly fifteen thousand, all clamoring for attention and trampling on each other. Jesus had compassion on them and started a day of teaching and healing. Sorry, disciples, no rest today.
The character of our Savior was on display that day. When the crowd disrupted His plans, He responded with compassion and grace, rather than irritation. He didn’t fault them for being needy or sick. Rather, He healed their sicknesses. He didn’t fault them for needing instruction. Instead, He taught. He didn’t fault them for being like sheep without a shepherd, but led them with compassion.
When your plans are disrupted by those in need, respond with compassion and grace, as Jesus did.
Earl C Pomeroy is a retired engineer, chaplain, wilderness camping guide, and recreational poet. Writing poetry is how he processes things. He was formerly a member of the Word Weavers International chapter in Boone County KY, but he now lives in Forney, TX, with his daughter. He has self-published a book titled More Than Finest Gold, a paraphrase of Psalm 119 fashioned as an English language acrostic. For most of his married life, he and his wife, Ila Jean, maintained a ministry of rescuing women from the street in their home. They showed the women the love of Jesus and guided them to a new life in Christ. You can contact Earl at www.mountaintopcreatives.com.