35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
In our verses for today Jesus was about to show His guys (and us) the folly of making and depending upon our own proposals and plans sans prayer – a method we are all too prone towards. Our Lord was and is desirous for His disciples - both then and now - to learn dependence upon Him – leaning into Him with listening ears for direction - for without Him, He is fully aware, we can do nothing of eternal value – go figure! Our Lord’s purpose is to be intimately involved and present in all the affairs and details of our lives. He who is constant in the exercise of faith and dependence upon the Savior will undoubtedly bear much fruit and keep from much regretful sorrow. Things hastily done in the flesh apart from His directing hand are often lamented. We find in John our Lord speaking this Truth:
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)
“A prayerless soul is a Christless soul.” Charles Spurgeon
The believer bears fruit in the Branch alone - in His will and in His way. Thinking and reasoning are very good companions but they are not to be held in higher esteem than prayer in diligently seeking God’s way. Left to our own devises we often opt for the easiest approach - the one with less trials and troubles - the one which caters to our common sense yet that is not always the excellent path, the highest ground. God is in the business of conforming us into the image of His Son and He does it through a myriad of ways. Most often our best times of learning are through our trials and tribulations. Certainly Jesus was up front with us in this as in all four Gospels we are told to deny self, take up our crosses – just as He did - and follow Him. Interestingly, it is the death to self which is the door way to abundant life. Our ultimate contentment, fulfillment and abiding joy are found in Jesus’ way alone. It is no wonder He tells us:
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)
“Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.” Alexander Maclaren
“Few delights can equal the mere presence of One whom we fully trust.” George McDonald
The crowds following Jesus - depicted in our verses today - were vast as well as famished and fatigued. They had left their shops and homes, their callings and affairs and on foot sought the Lord Jesus. They earnestly endeavored to stick to our Lord like glue – running ahead and getting to the location prior to Jesus and His guys even reaching the shore by boat. They made haste because they wanted to be with Him – to hear His teaching and feel His healing touchiH. They set a wonderful example for us do they not? Do we have that great of a desire to fellowship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Somehow they got it at a gut level - the presence of Christ can turn our wilderness into a paradise.
“The world is far more ready to receive the gospel than Christians are to hand it out.” George W. Peters
Ever compassionate and kind to those who willingly seek Him, Jesus looked upon these crowds as sheep without a shepherd and that’s not a good thing. Sheep are stupid animals. They can be right at the water’s edge and thirst to death because they do not know to put their heads in the water and drink. They scare easy and refuse to lie down unless they are free from all fear, tensions, aggravations and hunger and only the shepherd of the sheep can provide such relief from these anxieties. It is he that makes it possible for them to lie down relaxed, content and flourishing. An agitated flock does not do well. This of course is true for people too. That is why we all need the great Shepherd of our souls. It is no wonder that we are compared to sheep over and over again in God’s Word.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalms 100:3 (NIV)
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)
“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” John Newton