5,000 men brought their families to a grassy knoll in Bethsaida, one mile northeast of the stately Sea of Galilee who carried The King of Kings on its whipping waves. The massive crowd begged to hear what this Son of God had to say. They came in droves: lepers, lame, demoniacs, diseased, poverished, poor, brokenhearted, blind, jailbirds, jews ... over 10,000. Oh my! What kind of Wonder could draw such a crowd to this tiny fishing town?
I watched the rolling plains of the mount from a rickety boat on that noble Sea of Galilee I pictured a lonely leper sitting quarantined way below to catch the Voice of the One Who would rescue Him f.o.r.e.v.e.r. *Drawn to the Heart of God they were.* You see, Jesus stood at the tippity top of the rolling hill so that the wind would carry His Voice down the plain into stained souls sitting silently in hope. The Wind of the Spirit of God. And Living Hope does not disappoint. Romans 5:5. They sat to find Grace in which to stand. God Himself poured out His Love into lonely despised rejected bruised hearts by the Holy Spirit through a little boy and his five loaves and two fish. Wonder how he felt?
I'll never forget the words of a mentor to me at the lowest spot I never imagined anyone could be. I had just been diagnosed with PTSD five years ago. Severe depression. Unwanted poverty. Never thought I could pull out of it. I came to talk to my friend. His last comment to me before I left that frightful dark night of my soul: "Bev ~ Five Loaves and Two Fish." Luke 9:13. And like that leper listening, the blind begging, the desperate dreaming, The King of Kings fed me in my poverty a Hope that didn't disappoint.
As Mother Teresa said,
“Loneliness
and the feeling of being unwanted
is the most terrible poverty.”
My verse to memorize this month fits in with your topic of hope today.
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 29:11-13-- "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Mother Theresa was so right.
ReplyDeleteI had a personal experience with Jesus feeding what seemed like 5000. When my mother passed away I had so many people staying at my house since it has always been the gathering place whenever my family comes to town. I had a house full of people after the funeral. My friends were so sweet to drop off dinner. I remember taking one look at it and immediately worried that it wasn't enough for this huge crowd. All I can say is, everyone ate and there were leftovers! Every time I looked at the pan there was more pasta. I am not kidding! I'll never forget it!
I love how you express yourself, Bev. You painted the perfect picture of the whole scene. I felt like I was one of those desperate people begging to get a Word from the Only One who rescues me from all of my insecurities.
Sometimes we are the boy with two fish and five loaves and sometimes we are the hungry masses, but however you add it up, it didn't appear to be nearly enough.
ReplyDeleteWhatever we have to offer if it's two fish or simply empty, open hands to receive--when we come to Jesus, He invites us to come and blesses our offering and makes it more than enough. Our part: show up and look to Him.
"And they all ate and were satisfied.
The 2 fish and 5 loaves is just a beautiful picture of grace to me. We come to Jesus with mustard-seed faith and He gives us grace.
ReplyDeleteAnd grace is more than enough...He never runs out...enough for all who come.
Baskets full.