Pack a Lunch

We were discussing the middle of the 6th chapter of Mark, the hungry crowd, the remote place, the normal human condition; hunger and no food. At first read it appears the disciples were concerned about the crowds, they urged the Master to dismiss the crowd so that they could all go and get food before it got any later. On second and third read I believe that they wanted the crowd to go away, it was not a problem they wanted to deal with and it was late. There are times when it is late and someone needs help and it is easy to give them a map showing the way to the nearest town. I think that the disciples really thought they were doing the right thing but Jesus, plain and simple, tells them to give the crowd food. Right away they thought about the money. Maybe it was Judas who did the math and stated that it would cost eight month's wages. That is the normal, human response, what will it cost me? The second concern they had was Jesus had told them to give the crowd something to eat, not sell it to them. It is difficult to give away things that cost a great deal, like eight month's wages worth but Jesus was not even concerned with the money worry that they had. He just simply asked what do we have right here, right now. They hadn't thought to check. The big, costly solution isn't always the right one. Often he asks us what we have available right now and to give it to him. They find five loaves and two fish. In all that crowd just one boy with some food. I thought about this. My grandson just started school this fall and one of the things he was looking forward to about going to school was packing his lunch and then, of course, eating it at school. He brings home an empty lunch pail. He can't wait for lunch time so when I read that it was late (probably about 6pm) and this boy still had some food left I see the Lord's working here. A boy, some food left over from lunch and Jesus feeds everyone there with 12 basketfuls left over. He did all this just to feed them knowing that in the morning they would all be hungry again. He met their needs at that moment and many wanted to make him king right there because he fed them. People have "right now" needs and he wants to work through us show his love and compassion for the people we meet in the "remote" places.