"They ate and were satisfied" (vs.42)

The next scene Mark describes for us takes place out in the desert. "This is a remote place" we are told, and the time is "late in the day." (vs.35). It was hot, isolated and crowded. Jesus is moved by this scene and experiences deep compassion for the crowd because "they are like sheep without a shepherd." (vs.34) His reaction is understandable. Anybody willing to travel into a remote region of the desert with no lunch or snacks in the heat of the day must be desperate for something. And so Jesus responds by teaching them and then feeding them.

What we see next stands as one of the most beautiful and dramatic scenes in all of the scriptures. An unimpressive two fish and five loaves of bread are distributed and somehow manage to stretch to feed a crowd of over 5000 people. By this Jesus leaves his mark as the provider for man and the shepherd who is able and willing to lead his flock to spiritual food even in the remotest of times. People have been looking to him for such miracles since and have never been disappointed.

I claimed Psalm 23 as my beacon some months back as I began what I believed would become a year of respite and recovery. After my wife had spend two harrowing months in the hospital following a life-threatening brain tumor operation, the year ahead would serve as a necessary sabbatical. The words that open the Psalm were like a soothing balm on my wounded soul. I felt the Shepherd leading me and making me to lie down in green pastures. My soul needed restoring and I looked forward to many hours sitting on the edge of his river of delight enjoying quite waters. One month into this time of spiritual and emotional recovery the Lord unexpectedly chose to lead us through the valley of the shadow of death. The roar of another storm – the inoperable brain tumor of our son Travis, has shattered those quiet moments by the still waters. Like the crowd seated in that hot desert I too have felt worn out and spiritually hungry wondering how the Lord could possibly meet my need with the little I have to give him. But he does.

You see, the Lord Jesus will frequently prepare a table for us even in presence of my enemies. That enemy can be the threat of death, loss, sickness and loneliness. There is never a moment Jesus cannot take the little we give him and turn it into an abundance. The desert seems an unlikely place for a banquet table but that is what Jesus has for every one of us. I trust you are feeding well. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6)

God feeds even the worm in the earth. -Yiddish Proverb

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