Matthew 14        Tuesday,  Jan 27

Evil people don't want to hear what God says to them through His people.  2 Corinthians 2:16 reminds us that we are the "fragrance of Jesus".   We spend enough time around Him that we begin to "smell" like him.   Just like you can tell if a person has been around a campfire recently.    In this case, the smell of Jesus on John the Baptist is making Herod angry.   He doesn't want to hear that his lifestyle is wrong, and he doesn't want to be told that there is a right and a wrong way to live.   He wants to make up his own rules.    So, when his mistress's daughter asks for something that she shouldn't get, and doesn't deserve....he gives it to her.     He has John the Baptist killed so that he won't be embarrassed in front of his dinner guests...    The man who would be described by Jesus in this way  "of men born of women there are none greater than John"  would be killed so an ungodly man wouldn't be embarrassed.

It just tells me that evil people will continue to do evil things, but they will not accomplish what they want.   The Word of God will still be preached and taught, and in the end those who have been treated unfairly will be rewarded, and those who have taken advantage of them will be punished.
Even though it seems unfair and terrible, John the Baptist accomplished exactly what he was supposed to in his lifetime.   His ministry objective was met, and God allowed him to go home.   The manner of his death is inconsequential, it was the Lord in charge of it.

The very familiar account of the feeding of 5,000 really needs little explanation.  It is one of the most popular stories in the New Testament.   Here are a few thoughts:
1.  This doesn't happen unless the little boy gives up his lunch.   We have to give up our little in order for God to bless it.
2.  The disciples didn't know what God was going to do when they went through the crowd, or even when the returned with one lunch.   Sometimes God asks us to do what is impossible for us...perhaps to see if we trust him enough to do it.
3.  This all happened because Jesus had compassion on the crowd
4.  Later we will learn that there were some in the crowd who followed Jesus just to see if they could get another free lunch.
5.  the 12 basketfuls left over might have been for the disciples.  They were probably small baskets, like an army mess kit size.

And of course, the other very familiar story,...Peter walking on the water.   You have no doubt heard that Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink.   Peter became afraid and began to sink.  Peter was brave in stepping out of the boat, but he began to doubt when he saw the wind and waves.  
We all know the theme here:  Keep your eyes on Jesus, don't be afraid to get out of the boat, ask for help if you think you're "going down"

Here's one thought that I heard sometime ago that was new to me:   In another account of this same story it says that "Jesus was about to pass them by, when they saw him and cried out in fear"  they thought they were seeing a ghost.  Only when they were afraid did Jesus stop and encourage them.    After Jesus fed the 5,000 he told his disciples to go to the other side of the lake.   He went a high place alone and prayed.   There is no doubt that he could see the men struggling in the boat.   From the hills around Galilee you can see the entire sea of Galilee.  So Jesus saw them struggling, and was going to walk past them....allowing them to struggle.

Well!   At first I find myself offended at the idea.  If Jesus sees me struggling, shouldn't He stop and help?   Not necessarily.  The men were never in any danger...until they became afraid.   Jesus never wants us to be afraid, so when that happened He changed His plans.
Jesus never guaranteed any of us an easy path, only that it would be worth it in the end.   He never promised that there wouldn't be struggles and disappointments, or that we would be spared setbacks.   He only says that He will be with us forever.  Even though the men in the boat felt they were on their own, they really were never out of his sight, or apart from His care.....it just felt like they were.

I suspect that  each one of us has had times when we were struggling that we felt alone.   Just remember that you never really are.   God will never leave or forsake you.   He knows what's happening in your life, and is allowing it for a time.

Hang in there!

PR