It’s a common reaction
to want to be alone when you’ve lost a family member or a friend. When someone you love has died, the grief can tear you up inside. And sometimes, the sadness can last a long time. The mourning can be totally overwhelming, and it can feel like you’re walking through a dream. For many, the last thing they want to do is help somebody. It can be hard to give away more of yourself when you feel like a part of your heart has just been ripped away. I know the feeling all to well because I lost my brother and my mother within a short period of time. The majority of me wanted to withdraw, but I was a wife and mother and had to go on living. It was hard. But what I found was the more I focused on the needs of another, the more God healed my own broken heart. It did not happen overnight. It took a little bit of time. And that is why I am able to see what I believe to be the greatest miracle found in Matthew Chapter 14. It’s not the feeding of thousands of people from two loaves of bread and five fish, and it’s not that Peter and Jesus walked on water - No, that is not it. It’s the ability of Jesus to respond to thousands of people with great compassion right after finding out that Herod had killed his beloved cousin, John the Baptist. The scripture says, “On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.” “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” Isn’t this the initial reaction of most of us who find out our loved one is dead? In disbelief, we want to retreat, or faint, or attack the person or the reason responsible for ripping out our heart. “Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Can you imagine? You go off to be alone and people come from all around for selfish motives. Most of us would say, “Just go away and leave me alone! But that is not what Jesus did. His compassion for others was stronger than his own heartache. “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Immediately, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” Matthew Chapter 14 Matthew Chapter 14 is all about grief and compassion. And we can the human side of Jesus felt strong emotion and needed to grieve, but the God side of Jesus WON. His compassion for mankind went above and beyond losing a man that he loved.
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