The Send: A Life of Christ-Like ActionSample

Since the beginning of his ministry, people have been flocking to Jesus in droves, hungry for his word about God’s kingdom and desperate for his healing touch. Today, we’ll read about the first time that Jesus miraculously feeds a crowd. The key to understanding Jesus’ relationship to the people is in verse 34—Jesus has compassion for them because they were “like sheep without a shepherd.”

This description echoes throughout the Old Testament. When Moses was preparing the Israelites to enter the Promised Land without him, he prayed that God would appoint a leader over them so they would not be like sheep without a shepherd. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people are said to be scattered and vulnerable like sheep because their leaders had led them astray. God promised that one day he himself would come to shepherd his people (Isaiah 40:10-11, Zechariah 10, Ezekiel 34).

In this story, we find that Jesus is the shepherd who makes his people lie down in green pastures and guides them along the right paths (Psalm 23:1-3). This miracle points back to Israel’s history, when God guided the Israelites through the wilderness, providing them with bread to eat. It also points forward to the coming age of the Messianic kingdom, when all people will eat a giant feast together at the Lord’s table (Isaiah 25:6-9; Revelation 19:6-9).

Reflection Questions:

• How is God speaking to me through these verses?
• What does this set of verses teach me about God?
• What does this show me about the good news of Jesus?
• How can I apply what I read today?