The heart of Jesus; is it something of historical significance to recall and wish that we could experience it?  Or is the heart of Jesus a reality today.  I John 4:17 tells us that “…as He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.”  The first thing I notice is that it does not say as Jesus WAS…but as He IS!  This is not about ancient history, but the present day reality of Jesus.  If we are to know how we are to be in the world, we need to see how Jesus WAS, and NOW IS in this world.

            One of the best expressions of the heart of Jesus is revealed in the incident of the feeding of the five thousand.  This miracle is reported in all four gospels.  (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-13)  This in itself, gives the incident great significance.  Mark reports that the disciples had been invited to a little time of rest and relaxation.  No sooner had they arrived at the appointed place than a great crowd gathered.  The last thing any of the disciples wanted was more people…they needed a break, but it was not to be.  Jesus was there and His heart was to be revealed…not only to the people gathered, but to the disciples as well.  

            Jesus saw the plight of the gathered crowd as far larger than the need for a meal.  It was not a hunger for food that was evidenced but a hunger for being loved and cared for.  Jesus saw they were unshepherded, and that stirred up His compassion!  So He set about to teach them “many things.”  Jesus could only do that which He was and He was a shepherd, or rather IS the Good Shepherd.  A shepherd can not help but shepherd.  We have to do what we are.  As Lemieux says in the movie; BEAUTY AND THE BEAST---“It’s so unnerving for a servant who’s not serving.”  Jesus was not to be unnerved, so He does that which He does…care for the sheep!

            The disciples had had enough!  “Send these people away,” they said, “so they can take care of themselves and get something to eat.”  What is Jesus’ answer?  “You give them something to eat!” He said.  The disciples’ style of com- passion was to dismiss the people so they could tend to their needs.  Jesus’ style of compassion is to see that their care is OUR responsibility.  Jesus’ compassion involves everyone.  For the people gathered it was to make provisions for their care.  For the disciples His compassion manifested in a challenge for them to exercise their faith and be useful in the Kingdom.  His challenge to the disciples then (and to us now) is DO WHAT YOU CAN NOT DO BUT NEEDS TO BE DONE!  How often have we been like those disciples and let the care for our own needs overshadow the needs of others.  How we need to remember that whenever we care for the needs of a brother or a neighbor we are tending to the needs of Jesus.  We are desperately in need of developing the servant attitude of Jesus.  I have often felt that a fitting symbol of our faith would be a towel and washbasin.  Ours is not the task to order and direct as much as it is to kneel down and serve those who are around us. 

            There is a wonderful story of a king, a wise and good king who more than anything loved and cared for his subjects.  A group of people in one of the cities of his kingdom began to take advantage of the king’s freedom and pursued a life of self-centeredness and evil.  They profited greatly from their evil lifestyle. Fearing that the king would come and suppress them, these rebels developed a hatred for the king and convinced many in the city they would be better off if they declared their independence from the kingdom.  It wasn’t long before there was chaos and tyranny as each did whatever he wanted.  There was violence, murder, hatred, oppression, slavery, and fear. 

            The king was faced with the dilemma of what to do about this situation.  He could go to war against the city and conquer it, but what would the value be of that since so many of the citizens would be killed.  Those who weren’t killed would serve through fear and intimidation.  What sort of kingdom would that be with the people either dead, imprisoned or seething with rage!  That kind of action does not represent the kind of kingdom the king desires.  It did not fit with his character.  Yet he could not ignore the situation because they would eventually destroy each other.  The king’s heart was breaking to think of the pain and heartache they were causing.  What to do?

            The king decided to remove all his royal robes, and all that smacked of royalty and dressed in the rags of a homeless wanderer.  Incognito, he entered the city and began living in a vacant lot near the garbage dump.  He took up a trade of repairing broken pottery, tools, and furniture.  The people of the city would come to him with things to mend.  When they came to him, the people were taken by the kindness, respect and goodness they were accorded.  This homeless wanderer was so peaceful and loving, that people would come just to linger in his presence.  They would confide in him their fears and worries and ask his advise.  He told the people as they came that the rebels had deceived them and that the true king had a better way of living…which he, in disguise, was exemplifying.  Eventually the people of the city began to have confidence in the stranger and began to live his way.

            Their influence soon spread throughout the city, until the city regretted its rebellion and wanted to return to the kingdom again.  They were, however, afraid that the king would punish them severely for their open rebellion.  Then the homeless wanderer  told them the good news that he was indeed the king and that he loved them, and held nothing against them.  He welcomed them back into the kingdom, having accomplished by a gentle, subtle presence what never could have been accomplished by brute force and oppression.

            “As He is, so are we in this world…”  As heartwarming and genuine as that story is, the reality of Jesus in this world is far greater.  So how was He in the world?  From this incident of feeding the 5000 we learn some exciting ways how we are to be in this world.  There are three elements that I would like to underline for us…

            1.  COMPASSION ~ This is being passionate, not for passion’s sake, but an outflow of passion affecting other people.  It is caring when caring may not be convenient.  Compassionate people are caring people so inconvenience is not an issue.  Compassionate people are proactive, alert, their antennae are always up sensing situations that need attention.  Compassionate people are those who “stick their necks out” for others, without “sticking their noses in.”  

            2.  CORALLING ~ While Jesus spoke to the people en masse, He did not set up a cafeteria line for feeding.  They were corralled into small groups so that they might receive ministry on a more personal basis.  As they sat in their small groups, the disciples “WAITED” on them.  The Lord of the church has established His people in small handleable  groups like families, mentoring groups and individuals.  Here the leaders are servants “mending pots and furniture.”  Is this not what the Scripture declares, that the leaders are “…to equip (mend, outfit) the church to do the work of ministry.” 

            C.  CATERING ~ To feed, to nurture, to tend is to cater.  This is really about the exercise of faith.  It is about becoming profitable in the Kingdom.  When we do only what is expected of us, Jesus says that we are “unprofitable servants.”  There is no way that a business on earth can stay in business if it is unprofitable.  The Kingdom will not advance with unprofitable servants.    We must exercise faith, and remain in the place of stretching and maturing.  To be profitable is to become second milers, not occasionally but as a way of life.  The disciples became second milers that day.  Though they had hoped for a little R and R, they learned to be profitable in the Kingdom of God.