The passage starts of with the apostles returning from "their ministry tour" and they told Jesus what they had done, and Jesus says "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile" ... the disciples had been working hard and haven't had time to eat, so Jesus and his disciples take a boat, to get away from all the people that were following them.
But, more and more people came, and they "ran ahead along the shore" .. and got ahead of them. Still, no eating. Jesus had compassion on the people, and when he got off the boat, he began to teach them until late afternoon.
The disciples then said "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat." Now the disciples themselves haven't had a chance to eat yet as well.
Would we be so different? Was there a time I never ate because of ministry? Heck, I don't even remember a time at work when I didn't eat .. sure it may be an hour later than usual, but I still ate. Already these disciples are doing more than I think I've done. Crowds of people were everywhere, for more than a day (remember the disciples were on a ministry tour before this) Jesus and the apostles had been ministering to people. The disciples asked a reasonable question .. we should let these people go to get something to eat. The Beatles were big, but lets face it, they just sang ... they were entertainers ... but lets see them keep everyone's attention for a full day speaking!! ;)
Sometimes I'm pessimistic when I look at this passage, and I think that the disciples are just trying to get rid of these people, so that they can eat. But maybe they were genuinely concerned about the welfare of these crowds.
Either way, Jesus has compassion on these 5000 men and their families and goes ahead and feeds them with five loaves and two fish. The disciples were involved in organizing people into groups, and participating in another great miracle. I think what Jesus taught them, and definitely me is that compassion for people trumps our own needs sometimes. Are we compassionate people? Do we look for ways to bless others? Do you think this miracle helps or hinders the Kingdom of God? What would people's ideas about Jesus be if the disciples had sent those 5000 away?
We need to think about the bigger picture in our lives, and I know I need a heart that is filled with compassion... compassion is filled with action .... NOT pity filled compassion.
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