By R. Leslie Holmes
Apart from the resurrection of Jesus, only the miracle of the loaves and fishes excites all the gospel writers so that none of them feels Christ's story is told without it. An exciting missionary adventure of teaching and miracles was dashed by news that John the Baptizer was assassinated. In an effort to achieve some rest and relaxation, Christ and His disciples retired across Galilee. It was the backdrop for an incredibly timeless human story that many of us first heard as children. Of all the gospel writers, only John writes that Jesus, "already had in mind what he was going to do" (
John 6:6).
I. The Things We Have in MindAdvertisement
The disciples, even though they had witnessed many miracles in the preceding days, were frustrated when Jesus suggested feeding the multitude. They were a long way from any place to buy food and feeding five thousand people would be a costly exercise, they reasoned. As yet, they did not know what the sovereign Christ "had in mind to do." Life is full of far-fetched demands for which our resources seem inadequate. The disciples, according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, would have sent the people away hungry. Jesus, on the other hand, says, "Whoever comes to Me I will never drive away" (
John 6:37).
Still, in a variety of ways we say, "Send them away." Such is our mindset.
In
2 Kings 4 there is a telling account of a sick young prince who seeks his father's help. His father, the king, orders a servant, "Carry him to his mother!" "Send him away!" Too many men in our generation echo that when it comes to providing leadership at home: "Leave it to my wife," they say by their silent abdication; or worse, "Leave it to the media to teach them life's important values about morality, language, relationships, and absolutes."
Similarly, thousands call themselves friends of the church, yet do a naked nothing for her. They forfeit opportunities to make a positive difference in Christ's name, leaving others to carry the load. Their cry of non-involvement says, "Don't bother us. Send the needy away!" So, Christ's call still echoes, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (
Luke 10:2).
Abortion is not unlike that. It's attempt to quickly escape a difficult situation at the cost of a child's life, to, "Send it away," so to speak, misses something wonderful Christ "has in mind." Imagine how different the history of Europe would have been in this century had Churchill's unmarried mother chosen to abort him.
Suicide, the second highest cause of death among U.S. young people, is the ultimate wishing away. Curt Cobain and Margeaux Hemingway are but two well-known examples. Others wish themselves away. David, forsaken by a fair weather friend, wanted out: "Oh, that I could fly away" he exclaims, (cf.
Psalm 55:6). Jeremiah's congregation nearly drove him crazy and he wept, "I wish I could get away from them" (cf.
Jeremiah 9:2). Jonah, called to preach in Nineveh, ran away.