Daily Word - They Put Them At His Feet, And He Healed Them - Matthew 15:29-39

Scripture:
Matthew 15:29-39 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Healing Many People
29 Moving on from there, (A) Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee. (B) He went up on a mountain and sat there, 30 and large crowds came to Him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, those unable to speak, and many others. They put them at His feet, and He healed them. 31 So the crowd was amazed when they saw those unable to speak talking, the deformed restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. (C) And they gave glory to the God of Israel.
Feeding 4,000
32 Now Jesus summoned His disciples and said, (D) "I have compassion on the crowd, because they've already stayed with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry; otherwise they might collapse on the way."
33 The disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in this desolate place (E) to fill such a crowd?"
34 "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked them.
"Seven," they said, "and a few small fish."
35 After commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 He took the seven loaves and the fish, and He gave thanks, broke them, and kept on giving them to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds. (F) 37 They all ate and were filled. Then they collected the leftover pieces—seven large baskets full. 38 Now those who ate were 4,000 men, besides women and children. 39 After dismissing the crowds, He got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. (G) [a]
Footnotes:
Matthew 15:39 Other mss read Magdala
Cross references:
Matthew 15:29 : Mk 7:31-37;
Matthew 15:29 : Mt 9:8; 18:8; Mk 9:43;
Matthew 15:31 : Is 29:23; Lk 1:68; Ac 13:17;
Matthew 15:32 : Mt 14:14-21; Mk 8:1-10;
Matthew 15:33 : Mk 8:4; 2Co 11:26; Heb 11:38;
Matthew 15:36 : Mt 26:27; Lk 22:17; Jn 6:11;, 23; Ac 27:35; Rm 14:6; 1Co 10:30;
Matthew 15:39 : Mk 3:9; 8:10;

Reflection:
Just like these days, in Jesus' day no one who met him was left untouched. They were either attracted by his love and miraculous power or they were repelled by his claim to divinity. Jesus' miracles demonstrated the power of God and the magnitude of his mercy. Should we be surprised to see Jesus making what seemed to be impossible demands upon his disciples? When the disciples were confronted by Jesus with the task of feeding four thousand people many miles away from any source of food, they exclaimed: Where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them? The Israelites were confronted with the same dilemma when they fled Egypt and found themselves in a barren wilderness. Like the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness, Jesus, himself provides bread in abundance for the hungry crowd who came out into the desert to seek him. The gospel records that all were satisfied and they took up what was leftover. Are you satisfied with God's provision for you?
In the multiplication of the loaves and fishes we see a sign and a symbol of what God always does. God knows our needs and he cares. When God gives, he gives in abundance. The gospel account records that the leftovers from the miraculous meal was more than seven times the amount they began with. Seven is a symbol of completion and wholeness. When God gives, he gives until we are satisfied. When God works for his people he gives abundantly -- more than we could deserve and more than we need. He nourishes us with his life-giving word and with the bread of heaven. In the kingdom of heaven God will feast us at his banquet table. Do you hunger for God and his kingdom?

Prayer for the Day:
Lord, you alone can satisfy the longing and hunger in our hearts. May I thirst for your kingdom and find joy in your presence. Give me the true bread of heaven and nourish me with your life-giving word.