“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 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.'”
Matthew 14:14-16
Here is what happened in one twenty-four hour period: After a hot, dusty afternoon of preaching to the crowds, Jesus hears the devastating news about the death of John the Baptist. Rather than take time out to grieve, He attended to the needs at hand, feeding the five thousand. Long after sunset, there was the gathering of baskets of leftovers. Then setting sail, Jesus rescued His disciples when a night storm blind-sided their boat. By sunrise they reached shore, only to face more crowds.
And the Lord’s response? “They do not need to go away” was always His encouragement. Although Jesus had not slept in a full day, He kept on loving people. He tenderly held the wrinkled hands of old people. He kneeled to tousle the hair of children. He lifted the face-shawl of a prostitute to give her His smile.
The love of Jesus can never be exhausted.
There are days when you will know you are at the end of your rope, physically and emotionally exhausted. Jesus remind you, “Come to me, you who are weary and burdened…”
He is able to carry your load because His shoulders were once weighed down. Even when He was on His last legs, He never lost His spiritual footing. That’s why you can rest in Him and find strength to go on.
Lord Jesus, I praise you that Your love is tireless, infinite, always giving, always caring. May I find rest and refreshment in You.
