The Five Thousand and You

The Five thousand and You

“When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.  
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 
“Bring them here to me,” he said.  
And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.  
They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  
The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”
Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus always attracted a crowd such was his teachings that people wanted to hear him.
I always think of it in modern terms as Billy Graham being followed by the crowds he had in the arenas.
It must have been incredible to see.
The crowds that followed Jesus witnessed fantastic things. They seen him preform miracles and other things such as the feeding of the five thousand men mentioned here along with women and children.
Yet in the end these people were not around when it came to the crucifixion. There the mob whipped up by those who were against Jesus politically cried crucify him.
All the good Jesus did ultimately, come the day of his trial before Pilot meant nothing.
Pilot is recorded as saying,
“Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,  and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.” 
Luke 23:13,14
His wife advising him saying,
 “While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” 
           Matthew 27:19.
Pilot was in a bind. He couldn’t afford a riot. That would look bad in Rome so in the name of political expediency he gave in to the Jewish leaders and let him die.
Would it have been any different today. Who knows.
The one thing we all have to decide on however is Who is Jesus?
Is he a good man, a prophet, a teacher, or is He the One and Only Son of God who wants to have a personal relationship with you.
You dear reader are the one who must decide.
Please think carefully about it.