Jesus has withdrawn from the crowds in a boat on the Sea of Galilee to be alone and pray. He probably wants to come to terms with the violent, unjust, and untimely death of John the Baptist. But the crowds follow him, leaving their villages in search of Him. Some of them bring sick friends and family members, hoping Jesus will heal them. Many people are waiting for Him at the edge of the sea, a great crowd in search of Him. He could have pushed the boat back out and avoided them. He could have been exasperated and rebuked them, thinking to Himself, “Don’t I have enough on my mind? Don’t I deserve time apart to pray and think? Why must you follow me?”
But, instead, what do we see? When Jesus saw the crowd, He had compassion on them, and He cured their sick. He responds with deep kindness and warmth. “Compassion” is our translation of a Greek word which really suggests “guts.” Jesus felt so moved to his core, so gut-level moved to pity and kindness, that He felt compassion viscerally. This feeling is not one of whimsical emotion; it is deep, profound compassion.
Jesus cures their sick, He understands their physical hunger, and He acts to satisfy it — all at a time when He had deep needs and worries of His own.
I think about this incident when I feel overwhelmed with my own worries, with the needs of family and friends, colleagues and church members, and with the burden of caregiving. Jesus did set aside a time and place to be alone, to think, and to pray, something all caregivers need.
But when God sent Him people who needed care, Jesus cared for them in every way. He healed their sick, He fed their hungry bellies, and He spent time with them. He allowed them to come into His heart and was deeply moved at gut-level by their needs. Jesus was “all in” for them.
Because Jesus was all in with those who sought them, I need to be all in, too, as I work with His people in His name. After a time to rest and reflect and pray, God will send me people who have deep needs. And like Jesus, I need to let them in, let their needs move me, and then show that same deep compassion and provision.