In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.” Mark 8:1-2
“The multitude is the object of Jesus’ compassion… It denotes not a mere sentiment, but a pity which expresses itself in active assistance… Jesus’ compassion for the multitude leads him to teach, too heal the sick, to feed the hungry… While [in Mark 6:34] the ground of compassion is the fact that the people are like sheep without a shepherd, here [in Mark 8:1-2] it is the fact that they have been so long without food.”
C.E.B. Cranfield in The Gospel According To St Mark (CGTC; New York; Cambridge University Press, 1959) 216, 217, 255.
Over the next week, since we are approaching 4,000 daily posts over the past 11 years, we will explore the deep nuances of the feeding of the 4,000. This miracle appears in Matthew and Mark and seems fitting to explore at this time because contains themes of compassion and generosity.
Today Cranfield reminds us that compassion is active assistance empowered by the Father. If people are lost, Jesus helps them find their way. If they are hungry, he perceives this with pity, then moves to action. What about us? Do we discern the needs of those around us and act using what we have?
This text is also relevant for my situation as president and CEO of GTP. I teach people all over the world to focus not on what they don’t have to change their situation, but to put to work what they do have. In this miracle, they had seven loaves and a few small fish.
What do you have? How are you using what you have with pity coupled with active assistance empowered by the Father? Father, fill us with the same compassion that Jesus exhibited and may we too have pity on those around us and actively assist them trusting you to supply by your Spirit whatever we need. Amen.