Filling Our Needs
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Key Verse: “The men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” Selected Scriptures: |
OUR LESSON IS IN TWO parts. The first deals with the wondrous power Jesus had over the elements of a storm. He had been very busy, and after he had preached to the multitudes he went up into a mountain to teach his disciples. Coming down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him and he healed the sick. He continued to perform miraculous healing for many. By evening he decided to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He was so tired that he fell asleep.
Meanwhile, a sudden storm arose, typical of that area. It was so furious that the waves generated by the winds swept over the ship. The disciples were afraid and awoke Jesus, saying, “Lord, save us: we perish.” (Matt. 8:25) Jesus said, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” And then he “rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” (vs. 26) The disciples did not hear his chiding them for their lack of faith. Instead, in great awe they said, ‘What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!’ (vs. 27) This was a fore gleam of the great power that will be employed in God’s kingdom to control the extremes of weather.
The second part of our lesson involves the miracle recorded in each of the Gospels, where Jesus fed five thousand men, besides women and children. He had learned of John the Baptist’s violent death by beheading, and wanted to be alone so that he could pray to the Heavenly Father. So he went by ship to a desert area. The people, however, would not let him be alone, and walked a long distance until they found him in the desert. When Jesus saw this great multitude, he forgot about his own feelings and had compassion upon them, and healed those who were sick.—Matt. 14:12-14
When evening came, the disciples came to Jesus and suggested that he send them away so that they could buy food in the villages. He responded by telling them, “They need not depart; give ye them to eat.” (vs. 16) In the other accounts of this incident, it appears that they did not have enough money in their treasury to buy the required food, and Andrew found a lad who had five loaves and two fish. These were then miraculously multiplied by Jesus so that the multitude was fed and there were twelve baskets full of fragments left over.
This event illustrates the power Jesus has to fill all our needs. We never should be concerned about our welfare. In God’s kingdom, no one will want. “Then shall the earth yield her increase.” (Ps. 67:6) As prophesied in this psalm, it will be a time when all the people will praise God because they will be the recipients of his salvation. God’s favor will be shown by his face shining toward them. “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.” (vs. 4) The psalm concludes by saying, “God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear [reverence] him.”—vs. 7
In our present experiences we are not to be concerned about getting the necessities of life. Jesus said, “Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? … But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”—Matt. 6:31-33