Matthew 14v10-21 10.30 am Sun 31st July 2005
Life is filled with stress isn’t it. Some days when life already seems complicated and stressful, little choices like what shall I wear today or what brand of kitchen roll shall I buy – strong or cheap; can practically be too much to handle.
If there is illness, death, financial pressures, personal relationship problems, or friends and families have problems, then our natural tendency can be to one or all of the following.
A. Panic! B. Worry C. Bitterness. God it isn’t fair.
D. Anger E. Try to ignore the problem.
Trouble is non of these actually practically help do they? You don’t even feel any better.
When Duncan was at college training for ordination something good happened to me at the beginning of his second year. I was offered a full time job with reasonable hours. I would be away from home from just 8 am to 6 pm.
For twelve months we had been struggling to make ends meet on a Diocesan grant. We had an old car to get the family to our placement church at weekends but couldn’t afford the running costs. However we started the year with some savings. Which we had spent at just the same time as I was offered a job.
I started the new job catching the tube on the London, Piccadilly line everyday. We had frequent IRA bomb scare alerts, and messages about the train being late as there was a “body” on the line. It all seemed quite surreal.
I didn’t see daylight and even worked in a strange environment of permanent artificial lighting even at lunch time. Change, new places of work are always stressful aren’t they.
But then I received the news that my 64 year old mother, back in North Staffordshire, was terminally ill with cancer and was entering a hospice. With the new job I could spend the £30 on petrol, for return visits to Staffordshire each weekend to visit her. I used a credit card as I hadn’t received my first pay cheque.
At work, one day, I had a call from the hospice. It was a staff nurse. She told me it was my duty to spend the next few weeks visiting my mother everyday at the hospice. “You are her only child, she needs you. It’s your duty.” she said.
Other people can’t make decisions for us. They don’t fully understand situations, and often make judgements that are hurtful, because they don’t understand the facts.
Through my tears on the phone to the staff nurse, I tried to explain how it was financially impossible to do as she asked. My father lived about 12 miles from the hospice. How much would the taxi fares have been, let alone anything else. Also my children and husband needed my first pay cheque, to eat.
She didn’t understand and her words were very cruel.
Fortunately with God’s grace, my mother lived three months longer than that staff nurse expected.
Duncan and I were able to be with her each Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning. Mum was also able to say goodbye for my children, her sister, sister in law and nephew and nieces in the few days before she died.
Jesus understood how I felt, and was especially close at the Sunday evening services at our placement church.
He understands how you feel. He has had similar difficult situations.
It had been a long hot day. The twelve disciples had returned from their outreach to the neighbouring villages full of joy at the miracles that took place, and the sheer numbers of people who had listened. Many of these new believers were now following Jesus and his disciples. Can you imagine the enthusiasm, joy and demands of those people? More Lord! More Lord!
Then John the Baptist’s disciples arrived with the news of John’s execution. Jesus’ cousin John was about six months older than Jesus. Do you remember it says in Luke’s gospel, that Mary went to help the pregnant Elizabeth? She stayed with her for three months. It is likely, therefore, that Jesus and Jon grew up as friends, as their mothers Mary and Elizabeth were friends.
Jesus probably hadn’t seen much of John recently, but he held John in high regard. In Matthew Jesus says of John -
Matthew 11:11 "I assure you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist.”
On hearing the news of John’s death Jesus was probably fighting back the tears. Do you remember when Jesus’ other friend, Lazarus died?
Jesus’ called on Lazarus’ sisters Martha and Mary. He asked where the body had been laid, and when he was told to “come and see”; he shed tears.
Jesus knew that after he himself has died, his resurrection would come quickly, and John would eventually be resurrected with all believers; but that didn’t take away the immediate pain of the loss.
When we lose a close Christian relative or friend, we do suffer from bereavement don’t we. Even when we know we will meet again. So did Jesus.
John’s disciples probably warned Jesus at the same meeting, of the rumour that Herod thought Jesus was “John come back to life”. How did this make Jesus feel? Did this mean Herod was considering arresting Jesus?
Jesus is human and probably found himself anxious about his own safety whilst mourning the loss of John. Imagine the words of condemnation the devil put into Jesus mind.
“How can you call yourself good when you are worried about your own safety, when your friend has died?”
“Why didn’t you see more of John whilst he was alive?”
“Why didn’t you or your father God send angel’s to release him?”
“If you are the son of God, why didn’t you stop John’s execution?”
“Go on ‘Son of God’, bring John back to life”.
“If your disciples can (Matthew 10:8) “heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons.” surely you can bring John back from the dead.”
“Oh! I forgot”, says the devil, “Herod thinks you are John, back from the dead, doesn’t he”
No wonder Jesus went for a cruise on his own! Well OK, he didn’t go for a lone cruise, but he did take a boat to the other side of the lake. Quite a large lake. So it would take a few hours.
It says in today’s reading - (Mat 14.13)
As soon as Jesus heard the news, he went off by himself in a boat to a remote area to be alone.
Has anything really good, and then something terrible ever happened to you?
Do you Remember earlier this month how the crowds in London were using all their energy in celebrating London winning the bid for the Olympic Games? The next day some of the same people were mourning the loss of loved ones from the suicide bombings.
Jesus had just faced the same emotional turmoil.
For Jesus, the need was ever present. There was always going to be the sick, the hurting, and the lonely.
Jesus knew that the need was great, and there was not going to be an end to it in this life, so he chose because of his own humanity to “chill out” for a while, alone.
His body needed rest. His mind needed rest. His spirit needed time with his father.
Jesus showed the proper perspective in taking time to get away, to refocus, before the demands of everyday living overwhelmed him.
On this occasion, of course, when Jesus saw the land ahead of him; there were vast crowds waiting for him, and he compassion on them. He chose to land the boat, step out, and heal the sick.
Having re-charged his batteries, to some extent, Jesus was filled with compassion for the people, and postponed the rest of, his rest period, until that evening. He had gained energy, for extra compassion, from his short rest. Then he healed more sick people.
But when it came to tea time and everyone was hungry Jesus didn’t personally feed the 5000 men, plus women and children. He said to the disciples -
"You feed them." (Matthew 14:16b NLT).
Jesus prayed and blessed the bread and the disciples did all the physical work of handing out the food and collecting the scraps. He delegated.
Once the work was done he sent the disciples off alone on a boat, then dismissed the people.
Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. (Matthew 14:23 NLT)
But there would have been days when Jesus did see the need around him, and yet chose to rest and pray. His human body, mind, spirit and emotions needed rest and time with God as much as ours do.
A few instances of Jesus just “getting away” are mentioned in the gospels. For instance after the feeding of the 4000 in Matthew’s gospel it says -
Then Jesus left them and went away. (Matthew 16:4 NLT)
On another occasion In John’s gospel, he went for a long walk.
Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. He went BEYOND the Jordan River. (John 10:39-40a NLT)
After one exhausting day, healing the sick and demon possessed, Jesus sneaked off into the desert. Luke’s gospel says. –
Early the next morning Jesus went out into the wilderness. The crowds searched everywhere for him. (Luke 4:42a NLT)
Even his disciples didn’t give him a break, and let him rest with God. As according to the same story, in Mark‘s gospel, it was Simon Peter who found him.
Later Simon, and the others, went out to find him. They said, "Everyone is asking for you." (Mark 1:36-37 NLT)
Why couldn’t people see that Jesus had needs as well as ordinary people.
On the occasion when Jesus’ friend Lazarus was sick, Jesus delayed visiting for a couple of days, and then was grumbled at by his disciple for choosing to go to a dangerous place.
When he arrived -
Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (John 11:21 NLT)
So some people complained to Jesus for going to see his friend, and other people complained to him for not going there sooner!!!
Jesus knows what you are going through in other ways too.
For instance, when Jesus was in the desert he was hungry. Hunger is bad for thinking clearly. That is probably why the devil chose then to tempt him. Jesus could have thought to himself, “If I turn a couple of stones into bread, I’ll be able to think clearer, and resist the devils words”. It can be so easy to do the wrong thing with the right motives can’t it?
Jesus had non-stop demands from people who wanted healing. Trying to heal as many people as he could in the time he had would be a good thing to do. Wouldn’t it? But a good thing to do is not necessarily sensible, the best or most appropriate.
Jesus had people who really disliked him. Hated him and meant him harm. In fact wanted him killed. That didn’t make Jesus in the wrong.
His best friends let him down so badly that one even handed him over to executioners for money. The others weren’t much better as most ran away and denied they knew him. Thanks for the support friends!
Did he manage to communicate how he felt and what was happening in his life to others? NO!
For instance when he was trying to explain future events
Peter took him aside and corrected him. "Heaven forbid, Lord," he said. "This will never happen to you!" Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get away from me, Satan! (Matthew 16:22-23a NLT)
Do you feel like this sometimes or even NOW? Unable to fully explain to people something that is going on in your life? Jesus understands, and he doesn’t just watch over you. He enters into the problem with us.
Sometimes he seems to leave it to the last possible moment despite our prayers; other times we know he is present all along, and sometimes he is there before we get chance to shout help, because he knows, what is coming, and we don’t.
Here are some examples from the Bible of God answering need, apparently at the last moment:
1. Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego - only after they were thrown into the furnace did the Lord appear in the furnace with them. Non felt the heat.
2. Daniel in the lions den. Again he was actually in the den with lions that hadn’t been fed. God kept him safe.
3. The disciples were in two storms on a lake. One when Jesus was in the boat asleep, and the other when Jesus walked on the water out to the boat.
4. Stephen at his stoning - as he was about to be martyred, he looked up and saw the Lord Jesus. He died feeling the presence of God.
5. Peter’s rescue from jail – Peter thought he was having a dream when God was really getting him out of jail.
Two more recent examples are :-
1. Myself when my car plunged 60 feet off the road. 60 feet down a cliff after hitting black ice. After receiving a feeling of total peace from God, I got out without a bruise. Unlike the car!
2. Martin Luther King, Jr., Who throughout his ministry was continually afraid. Even as he spoke and marched and carried out his work. He became unsure of himself at times. He had limits, he couldn’t give up smoking. He become physically and mentally exhausted due to the stress.
Martin Luther despite his understandable fears and doubts trusted God and acted.
He once said, “We are not really alive until we have something to die for.” He died a martyr for equal rights in April 1968
Martin Luther King followed his master, Jesus’ example when the need of his people continued to present itself.
In today’s reading Jesus had two rest periods with God, lasting for only a few hours each, but at other times he kept the Jewish Holy Days, and Festivals. Times of relaxation. fun, music, food and time with God.
"Each year . . . celebrate these three festivals: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters. Appear before the LORD your God at the place he chooses on each of these occasions, and . . bring a gift to the LORD. (Deuteronomy 16:16 NLT)
During the seven festival days . . . live in shelters. (Leviticus 23:42 NLT)
In today’s society Festivals and Holy Days have become know as holidays and with the change in name the meaning as changed too.
Many Christians have forgotten that Holy Days or holidays are times for spending extra time with God.
I first re-discovered this many years ago when investigating if Christians should tithe. Apparently God through Moses told the people to set 10% of their produce apart to provide for the Festival of Shelters.
The Old Testament equivalent to New Wine, Spring Harvest or the Keswick Convention.
Not only was Israel to give 10% to God, but also to spend 10% on worshipping and celebrating God’s goodness to them. (Deuteronomy 14:22-23 NLT)
But, they forgot what the week’s festival was for. In Zechariah it says -
"Say to all your people and your priests, `At the festival in early autumn, was it really for me? And even now in your holy festivals, you don't think about me but only of pleasing yourselves. (Zechariah 7:5-6 NLT abridged)
Many of us have times of rest and holidays this August. Let us not forget what this time of rest, fun and celebration means to God. They should be Holy Days spent with Him for real refreshment.
As Jesus puts it in Matthew : -
Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
God knows all about this life’s stress’ and your needs. True rest and comfort comes from him. Do as he asks and spend this holiday time, Holy Day time, with Him. You won’t regret it.
Amen