Jesus taught the disciples, "They need not go away. You give them something to eat." These people are in great need - all kinds of different needs. They have found Jesus in a deserted place - sought him out. He is attending to their needs, one at a time, apparently. It is logical for the disciples to suggest that Jesus should wrap things us so the crowds can go eat. But Jesus wants the disciples to feed the crowds - in a miraculous and abundant way. I think this story is both spiritual and physical. When people come to us for spiritual or physical food... we aren't to send them away, but we are to address their needs in a miraculous and abundant way.
Matthew 14:14-21 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16 Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." 17 They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." 18 And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching not to turn away those who come to us, but to address their physical and spiritual needs in a miraculous and abundant way? Who have I turned away? Who have I left to the mundane instead of showing them Jesus' miraculous power?
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