13 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. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.15 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.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 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. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.REFLECTIONSWritten by Jesse MorrisonIn today’s passage, Jesus has just heard about John the Baptist’s beheading and is going to a desolate place to pray and rest. I can imagine Jesus might have been grieving. But this passage isn’t about those difficult circumstances. It’s about who Jesusis, despite those difficult circumstances. Jesus is compassionate.I find it really striking that Jesus’ first response to the crowds wasn’t to tell them to go away, but to have compassion. Not only did he heal all the sick (from a crowd in excess of 5000), he also provided for their daily needs. It’s not until our next passage tomorrow that Jesus finally gets around to praying! Isn’t it amazing that Jesus’ natural disposition – even when he has lost a friend… even when he wants to have time with his Father in prayer – is to draw people to himself and have compassion?What is going on in our heart when a brother or sister stops us from getting on with what we want to do? Do we see them as an inconvenience? Amazingly, even the Son of God shelved his own immediate plans in order to love them. Interestingly, by doing so, he still ends up achieving what he set out to do as he thanks God in prayer for the food. Which brother or sister are we most tempted to view as an interruption? How might we show Jesus’ heart of compassion in that space? Pray with me now, in the quietness of our heart, that God would mould us to be more like his Son Jesus.ABOUT THE AUTHORJesse is a student minister with our of our Fairfield congregations.