Mark 8:1-5: a reflection

1In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself and said to them, 2“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way.” 4His disciples answered him, “From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?” 5He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”

When a great crowd has been with Jesus for three days and has nothing to eat, Jesus is moved by their plight, and he says so: I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way. Jesus notices their real, physical need, their hunger, and is moved with compassion for it. He does not overlook their bodily need as beneath his concern; he sees that they are hungry, that they will faint on the way, and his compassion reaches to this practical, physical need. Christ cares about the real needs of people, even their hunger.

Notice that Christ's compassion reached to the crowd's practical, physical need. He was not concerned only with their souls, indifferent to their bodies; he noticed that they were hungry, that they had been long without food, that they would faint on the way home. Their physical need moved him with compassion. Christ does not overlook our practical, bodily needs as beneath his concern; he notices them, cares about them, is moved by them. The compassion of Christ reaches to the real needs of people, including their hunger, their weariness, their bodily struggles. He sees and cares about the practical needs that press on us, not only our spiritual state.

That is worth resting in, for Christ's compassion notices and cares about our real, practical needs. We can imagine that Christ is concerned only with our souls, indifferent to our practical, bodily needs, our hunger, our weariness, our struggles to get by; but Christ was moved with compassion for the hungry crowd, noticing their real need. Christ cares about the practical needs that press on us; they are not beneath his concern. When you are pressed by real, practical needs, do not think them beneath Christ's concern; his compassion notices and cares about them, as he was moved by the hunger of the crowd. Bring your real, practical needs to Christ, whose compassion notices and cares about them, as he was moved with compassion for the hungry crowd and would not send them away fainting; for Christ cares about the practical needs that press on us, our hunger and weariness and struggles, and his compassion reaches to the real needs of our lives, not only our souls.

Lord Jesus, when a great crowd has been with you for three days and has nothing to eat, you are moved by their plight, and you say so: I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days and have nothing to eat; if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way. You notice their real, physical need, their hunger, and are moved with compassion for it. You do not overlook their bodily need as beneath your concern. Show me that your compassion reached to the crowd's practical, physical need. You were not concerned only with their souls, indifferent to their bodies; you noticed that they were hungry, that they would faint on the way home. Their physical need moved you with compassion. You do not overlook our practical, bodily needs as beneath your concern; you notice them, care about them, are moved by them. Your compassion reaches to the real needs of people, including their hunger, their weariness, their bodily struggles. Let me rest in that, for your compassion notices and cares about my real, practical needs. I can imagine that you are concerned only with my soul, indifferent to my practical, bodily needs, my hunger, my weariness, my struggles to get by; but you were moved with compassion for the hungry crowd. You care about the practical needs that press on me; they are not beneath your concern. When I am pressed by real, practical needs, keep me from thinking them beneath your concern; your compassion notices and cares about them, Lord. Help me bring my real, practical needs to you, whose compassion notices and cares about them, as you were moved with compassion for the hungry crowd.