METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA
DIOCESE OF OSOGBO
EIGHTEENTH (18TH)
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, 2ND AUGUST, 2020.
GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S
PEOPLE.
THEME: “Compassion.”
“Iyonu (Aanu).”
TEXT: Matthew 14:14.
“Jesus
saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them
and healed their sick”
“Jesu
jade lo, o ri opolopo eniyan, inu re si yo si won, o si se dida arun ara won”
Compassion
is a noun which simply means “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings
or misfortunes of others.” Among emotion researchers, it is defined as
"the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's
suffering." Though the meaning of compassion and empathy looks alike, but
their concept are not in any way related. Etymologically, the word compassion
is from a Latin word "compati" meaning "suffer with"
Compassion, therefore, in its original meaning is to say someone else's
misfortune becomes your misfortune or another person's headache becomes your
headache. It is obvious that stories of compassion filled the Bible, while that
of compassionate people occupy the Bible, and stories of Jesus Christ, as a
compassionate Saviour and Leader, inhabit pages of the gospel. Christ's
examples of compassion are indeed a call and challenge to all Christians today,
asking us to live and act compassionately like Jesus our role model. This is
the focus of our message this first Sunday in the new month of August,
2020.
When Jesus Christ heard the news of John
the Baptist's death (the cousin of Jesus) in Matt. 14:1-12, he withdrew with
his disciples to a remote place as seen in our gospel text for today, 18th
Sunday in ordinary time, Matthew 14:13-21. Knowing too well that the time of
his own death was also nearby, he focused his attention more on the training of
his disciples, preparing them for the taking over of the ministry. His aim was
probably to teach them in light of the fact that he would be leaving them soon.
His ministry was therefore primarily directed toward his disciples. Other
reasons we can suggest for the withdrawal of Jesus Christ with his disciples
from the crowd might be the growing hostility of his enemies (Jewish leaders),
perhaps to mourn the death of his cousin, John, and the need for physical rest
because of his human nature. These period of withdrawal, however, was not time
of inactivity, because the crowd never allowed him to be alone with his
disciples. The crowd always followed him to wherever he went and he as well
ministered to their needs inspite of his own need for rest and quiet time. (Mk.
6:31) Yes, Jesus needed rest and special time with his followers, yet the needs
of the crowd, the oppressed and suppressed, touched his heart more. He has his
inner being stirred toward the multitudes who walked with legs along the north
shore of the sea of Galilee only to wait for him at the other side. He was
moved with compassion when he saw the needy crowd and valued the efforts they
had made to join him at the other side of the sea (Matt. 9:36) He saw them as
sheep which had been brutally dealt with by the wickedness of human beings. He
also saw them as hungry sheep, torn, wandering and exhausted (Matt. 14:14,
15:32). That was not the first time of him being moved with compassion in the
gospel. He was moved with compassion when he saw how sorrowful the widow of
Nain was after the death of her only son in Luke 7:13. His inner being was also
stirred when he saw the two (2) blind men in Matthew 20:34 and the leper in
Mark 1:41. The importance of the word, 'compassion', in Jesus Christ's
dictionary can be seen at its usage in some of his parables such as:
a) Parable of the unforgiving debtor (Matt.18:21-35) where
the Master had compassion on his bankrupt servant and forgave him his debt.
b)
Parable of the good
Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 where the good Samaritan had compassion on the
Jewish victim of robbers and cared for him.
c) Parable of the prodigal son in (Luke 15:11-32) whose
father showed compassion to and celebrated his return after he had wasted all
his inheritance in a foreign land.
Obviously, the miracle of the feeding of more than 5,000
people by Jesus Christ, which appeared in both the synoptic gospel and the
gospel according to John (Matt.14:13-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John
6:4-13), was as a result of compassion. Truly, nobody comes to Jesus Christ and
goes back empty handed. Even when the disciples wanted to send the multitudes
who had come to Jesus away because there were no supplies to feed the people in
the solitary place where they were, Jesus Christ objected and ordered his
disciples to give them something to eat. Certainly, the disciples knew that
Jesus was powerful enough to provide food for the crowd, but they failed to
turn to him for help. Rather, they counselled Jesus Christ to send the
multitudes away, based on the result of the inventory of their own food supply
(two fishes and five loaves of bread) and their limited treasury. No one should
limit our God with whom all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). For reasons best
known to people nowadays, we limit and pegged God's power to perform miracles
or cause transformation most of the times. We even help to fix time and place
for God to work just like the disciples of Jesus, whereas our God is omnipotent
and omnipresent. The whole world is his parish and he is at work 24/7. He only
watches us as we try to solve life's problems with our own limited wisdom,
resources and little power, but he knows what he wishes or intends to do with
us, for us and through us at the time of our helplessness and hopelessness
(John 6:6). There were three major things that Jesus Christ did for the crowd
who came to him with expectation and faith in our text Matthew 14:13-21
1) He healed their sick (matt.14:14) likewise, every
Christian who comes to Christ by faith should expect healing, because our God
has power over all diseases, even COVID-19.
2) He provided spiritual food for them through his teachings
about eternal life and the bread of life (John 6:26-40). This is the last food
which everyone must desire.
3) He as well provided bread and fish for their physical
food. They all are and became satisfied with a lot of left-over (matt.14:20)
Jesus is here today to provide for our needs. He will not cast anyone who comes
to him away (Ps. 111:5, 34:10) Jesus's blessing is necessary upon everything we
have and do, so seek for it. Trust Christ and come to him by faith; and you
will never lack any good thing. (Phil. 4:19).
It must also be noted that Christians are
expected to emulate their Master and Lord by showing compassion to other people
around them. Let us note the following necessary steps to be taking from
today's message of ‘compassion’, faith and total surrender as we attempt to
solve life's problems as compassionate Christians in the household of faith:
i.
Every Christian must
start with what he/she has like the disciples of Jesus Christ, let us start to
show compassion to others with what we have with us now. Remember that the
disciples only had five loaves of bread and two fish, but when they released
them to the Lord it became plenty. God usually begins his work where we are and
uses what we have to accomplish his purpose (Matt.14:17-21)
ii.
Let us learn to give
whatever we have to Jesus. Clearly, the miracle of multiplication is in the
hand of Jesus Christ. He took the available little food, blessed it and shared
it. Note that every little thing is made big and much if God is in it. (John
6:9 & 11). Assist your church, pastors and less privilege people with what
you have as an act of compassion and Christian giving (Luke. 6:38; 2Cor.
8:12-14; 9:6-9)
iii.
Let us ensure we obey
what the Lord commands. The followers of Jesus Christ directed the multitudes
to sit down as ordered by their Master. They also shared the food to them, and
gathered the remnant (Matt.14:19 & 20; John 2:5; 1Sam. 15:22)
iv.
Do you know that
Christians are distributors and not manufacturers of God's graces and blessings?
If we surrender ourselves and what we have to God, he will add his blessings to
them and give them back to us for use in taking care of ourselves and others
(Gal. 6:2; 2Cor. 1:3 & 4)
"Finally, all of you should be of one mind.
Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tender
hearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate
with insult when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing.
That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it."
(1Pet. 3:8 & 9). Just as you receive mercy from God through his compassion
and by his grace (Ex. 33:19), you too should try as much as possible to show
compassion to other people. Jesus Christ is requesting us to give him all that
we have today so that he may use it as he dims it fit. Note that many people
are suffering in this wicked world, especially at this trying time of COVID-19
pandemic. People are now feeding in empty substitutes, because we Christians,
Pastors in particular, are depriving them of the Bread of Life (gospel of
Christ). Let us show compassion on the lost souls who are about to perish and
ensure we help to rescue them and make them fit for heaven.
Let us pray
Rt.
Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.
Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.
OS-CAN Chairman.
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