The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:15:29-39

kjv@Matthew:15:29 @ And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

kjv@Matthew:15:30 @ And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

kjv@Matthew:15:31 @ Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

kjv@Matthew:15:32 @ Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

kjv@Matthew:15:33 @ And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

kjv@Matthew:15:34 @ And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

kjv@Matthew:15:35 @ And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

kjv@Matthew:15:36 @ And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brak them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

kjv@Matthew:15:37 @ And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

kjv@Matthew:15:38 @ And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

kjv@Matthew:15:39 @ And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

Today's notes:Feeding 4000+

Context:

Before - Crumbs from the Master's table
After - Discerning the face of the sky

What is man believing/doing?:

following Jesus in great multitudes
bringing with them through the wilderness the lame, dumb, blind, maimed, others to Him to be healed, many are women and children
a good many if not all continuing with Him three days
disciples inventorying food supply

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

Jesus' fame and their neighbors necessities
the spectacle of such, testimonies of the transformed, (the teaching? (not mentioned)), (the distance?)
disciples second time through this

Notes:

See also: kjv@Mark:8:1-9
Magdala = Dalmanutha

Possibilities of food shortage:

they had not prepared to be there three days, whatever duration they had prepared for ran out - problem = they all ran out approximately the same time and they had stayed longer knowing that they had already run out, kjv@Mark:8 further states that some came from much farther suggesting full travel rations
they had not prepared at all to go out, had not time, it was by impulse - problem = they are staying three days knowing there is no provision made and there is no mention of murmur or request at any time even for the infirmed and children
the opportunity to prepare was shortened or eliminated by a Sabbath - problem = distant travelors
some may have prepared but shared their provisions with those that did not thus shortening the duration of the whole - problem = not everyone would likely share knowing how far into the wilderness they are
the crowds had either volunteered or been directed to fast from the beginning, possibly simultaneous to a national observance, perhaps in respect to the dire needs of so many - problem = not mentioned or corroborated by other accounts
the crowd had heard of the five thousand fed previously and were expecting the same - problem = Jesus would likely not be so compassionate knowing their design unless it was the Father's design all along as well.
combination of any above

Are events such as these pre-announced? Are disciples going out in advance or is there possibly a network of messengers or even a schedule? There is no mention of this that I am aware of; it would be pure speculation. The anticipated answer is that the Holly Spirit is bringing it all together. Does the leading/gathering of the Holy Spirit preclude the use of such?

Imagine the excitement of these people afterwards and the testimonies buzzing around the region for a longtime after. In local cultures where everyone knew everything about everyone, such buzz would not go unnoticed and would be strong evidence in the legal case Matthew is building against the people of that time rejecting Jesus.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

There are a great many sick, injured, diseased, and handicapped; so many that we may not fully realize the scope until they are brought together to one place. The suffering and hardship endured by these people, the low impoverished position the chronic are forced to take in society, the challenges presented to the kind souls watching over their care, all this figures in to our society immensely yet unnoticeable.
People are more than willing to go to great lengths and with great difficulty to chase down the opportunity to have something done about anothers' condition, and willing to stay long after their own miracle in support of those remaining when such miracles do happen or are likely to happen as is here (which happening is rare).
How would you like to be one of those who talked themselves out of going, or was talked out of it by another, or had not another to take them?
There are still people who despite the scale of this event and the sheer numbers healed look at what Jesus is doing with severely critical or skeptical eyes, who are increasingly put off by this, who put this as the devils work, who'd say it did not happen decades later. These hardened souls are likely to see others' suffering as consequence of one's sin and deserved, their own lack of these things proof of their own fortune/righteousness, their future sickness or that of a loved one a travesty of God.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:15:29-39
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:15:29-39 rwp@Matthew:15:29-39 mhcc@Matthew:15:29-39
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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