Matthew 14:1-20 | Psalm 86:15
Happy Valentine’s Day! While it’s hardly recognized as a Christian holiday at this point, it does have some now distant connections to Christian history. In any event, each thought or effort we can put toward implementing more of the love of Christ in our lives is a welcomed thing, right?
The passage before us today tells a truly bizarre story, a soap opera of sorts within the gospels.
Jesus’ response at the end jumps out. When he heard that his cousin was killed, he went away by himself. Think on that for a bit. The crowds didn’t give him much time though. And even when they didn’t, he continued to have compassion on them.
Matthew 14:1-20
At that time Herod the ruler heard the news about Jesus. He said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He’s been raised from the dead. This is why these miraculous powers are at work through him.” Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip.
That’s because John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry her.”
Although Herod wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd because they thought John was a prophet. But at Herod’s birthday party Herodias’ daughter danced in front of the guests and thrilled Herod. Then he swore to give her anything she asked.
At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a plate.” Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests he commanded that they give it to her. Then he had John beheaded in prison. They brought his head on a plate and gave it to the young woman, and she brought it to her mother. But John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.
When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.”
They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.”
He said, “Bring them here to me.” He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers.
Psalm 86:15
But you, my Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy; you are very patient and full of faithful love.
Prayer
God,
You see and have seen all things. Nothing is a surprise to you. Help us for our lack of such insight. It is easy for us to be swayed one way or another by any which direction of the wind blowing. The things we have often been able to rely on even in part - political leaders, scientific expertise, technological innovation, or even religious strongholds - have contradictory, muted, or confusing voices.
Help our heels to be dug in only for the character of Christ.
Keep us from holding firm for anything but your Kingdom, even as some of these things appear to look as though they contribute therein and as such. We do not know where we are headed. We need your resolution, if not your direction. May we know who the least are and hold hands with the Christ who is found with them.
Be with us by your Spirit and in Christ, Amen.