The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 15 Part 7 Jesus Did Mighty Works In Hopeless Situations

Jesus moved to a different location for ministry opportunities.

Matthew 15:29  And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 

With the words "And Jesus departed from thence" Matthew tells us that Jesus left from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, where He had sought some privacy.

Because of casting out the demon from the Canaanite mother's daughter, Jesus knew that they must move on to a different location. 

At the Sea of Galilee, Jesus went into a mountain which was a normal place for Him to pray and preach to the people (See Matthew 5:1; 14:23).

Jesus spent time healing numerous people from a wide array of physical afflictions. 

Matthew 15:30-31  And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 31  Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. 

As soon as the people in the surrounding areas heard that Jesus returned, they brought a vast number of people with serious physical ailments to Jesus for healing.

Jesus healed those who were blind and those who were "dumb" or unable to hear, which rendered their speech unintelligible.

Using the words "lame" and "maimed" Matthew tells us that Jesus healed people who lost a hand of foot, or were born without them. 

The words used also indicate Jesus healed those whose legs were twisted or deformed by a birth defect or by a disease.

Matthew tells us there were many others whose afflictions were too numerous to list.

What was the impact of Jesus' mighty miracles upon this multitude?

They were overcome with astonishment and amazement to see Jesus heal and cure so many afflicted people.

Christ's power as Creator was on full display because only God could restore missing hands or feet.

Only God could restore those whose legs were made useless by injury, disease or birth defect.

Only God could restore sight to a blind man and hearing to a deaf person.

Any of us present at that moment would certainly be overwhelmed by the reality of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, which means God with us.

A vast throng of people saw miraculous works and the persons whom Jesus healed, and they gave God the praise and glory.

Christ fully revealed God manifest in the flesh. He showed us the one, true God, the Creator and sustainer of all life. 

He is called the God of Israel, the God of Jacob, by whom God was known, and worshipped. 

Jesus, whose name means Jehovah saves, is the  Covenant God and Father manifest in the flesh to bring salvation to all who repent and believe on Him.

Jesus fed another vast group of people who came to hear Him preach.

Matthew 15:32-33  Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33  And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 

This miracle is introduced with the words "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him" because they were not close by Him at that time.

Our Lord desired to impart His mind unto them regarding the multitude that was with them.

We ought to pause and remember that Jesus is Creator and sustainer of all life and that He looked on people as individual souls to whom He imparted life.

Christ's disciples were His familiar friends and Jesus wanted to test their faith in order to prepare them for the miracle He was about to do. 

Jesus shared His motivation by saying "I have compassion on the multitude because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat."

Jesus' heart was filled with love, mercy and compassion for all those people. 

His consistent kindness toward others demonstrates how Jesus Christ, our high priest, is merciful because He experienced the feeling of our infirmities during His life on earth.

Jesus said "I will not send them away fasting." 

He could have sent them away and no one asked Him for food but Jesus could not bear sending them away since the multitude essentially fasted for three days.

Jesus said these things in order to show His disciples that they lacked faith. 

Remember, at this point in ministry, Jesus had healed vast numbers of people from a wide array of afflictions. 

He had cast out demons, exercised control over stormy weather and raised the dead back to life.

He previously fed 5,000 men plus women and children with a few loaves and fish.

Yet, His disciples expressed doubt about finding enough bread to feed everyone.

There were limited food resources available and the situation required a miracle of God.

Matthew 15:34  And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 35  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  

Jesus had His disciples take an inventory of what scant food supplies were at hand. They had only  seven small loaves of bread and a few fish.

When Jesus fed the 5,000, they had only five small loaves and two fish.

Thus, the food resources were meager and far too insufficient to feed so many hungry people.

Yet, as we previously noted, little is much when God is in it.  

To Christ's disciples it was very clear that there was not enough food to feed a vast throng of people.

To them it was very clear that the situation was utterly hopeless and futile to think about feeding so many.

Hopeless situations and dire circumstances are often the times when God does His mighty work on our behalf.

Why? Because He proves His faithfulness to us and does all things so that we learn not to boast of our own accomplishments or efforts.

Jesus said "with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (See Matthew 19:26).

Jesus was going to feed this crowd miraculously.

He commanded that His disciples bring Him the bread and fish.

Jesus then commanded to multitude to be seated in an orderly manner so that food could easily be distributed.

Like God did in old times, Jesus multiplied the food into an abundant quantity and fed them all.

Matthew 15:36-37  And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 

Jesus looked to heaven and gave thanks to His heavenly Father for the food provided.

Then, Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread and fish into smaller portions and gave the food to His disciples who distributed it to the multitude.

Just like when Jesus fed the 5,000, all the people here ate and were filled up so that their bodies received strength.

If that was not enough, there were seven baskets crammed full of leftovers.

Matthew 15:38-39  And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 39  And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. 

Thus, four thousand men in addition to women and children enjoyed plentiful food from the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was appropriate that Jesus dismissed the multitude now as they had sufficient strength to travel to their homes. 

What does this teach us about God?

It teaches us that God cares about each one of us, and that He shares our concerns for the small details of life as well as the big ones.

It teaches us that God is faithful and will never leave or forsake us.

It teaches us that we will encounter situations in our lives that only God can work out for us.

It teaches us much about the compassion, love and mercy God has for us.

May these truths encourage us as we begin this new year together.

Bob