Get up!

Introduction:

Pledge

Title - Get Up!

Passage:

English Standard Version Chapter 14

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”

17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”

18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.”

19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

As we look back on last weeks message we walked away understand that ...

Herod was afraid of what he heard about Jesus.

He believed Jesus was JTB

So as we move into this pericope we find Jesus getting into a boat with His disciples and leaving.

Segway:

What we find interesting is that Jesus goes off to a desolate place.

The Word “Desolate” - (Eremon) from the root word (Eremos) which means “wilderness”

These two words are very close in definition: interchangeable!

We first read about Jesus going to a wilderness/desolate place when he goes to be Baptized by JTB

In In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.

We know that Jesus comes to Him.

We next read about Jesus going to a wilderness place in Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

The next time we read about Jesus going off to a desolate place is here in 14:13.

The reasoning behind this is not due to the fact that Heron Killed JTB and Jesus was emotionally upset about that.

Verse 13 pick’s up from Verse 2.

He leaves due to Herod’s reaction to His Ministry.

PAUSE

What astounded me in this pericope was found in the latter part of Vs 13 ......

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

But when the crowds heard it (Jesus leaving), they followed him on foot from the towns.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Let’s talk about this for a minute ........

Let’s paint the picture:

In reference to the crowd, we are talking close to 10,000 people (Vs 21 about five thousand men, besides women and children)

They physically follow Jesus (ON FOOT) around the Sea of Galilee

People who were sick, handicapped, lame, etc.

They GOT UP, walked for miles, at a rapid pace, to meet Jesus at the shoreline.

I am not sure your getting the same feel I was getting when I read this.

Those from the local towns (All the Sick, healthy, young, old) GOT UP and Followed Jesus.

“Akeluthe” - same word we read about when Matthew got up and followed Jesus.

Some may ask, “How did they know where Jesus was going?”

I have 2 theories ........

(Theory #1)These are folks that live on the shore lines. They knew because of the direction he was heading.

(Theory #2) They could have overheard Jesus or one of the disciples say where they were going.

Whatever the case may be, when Jesus arrived to shore, there they were, WAITING.

Mind you, they had to take the long way to get there.

But the scripture tells us, “When He went ashore he saw a great crowd ....”

Why did he see this great crowd? THEY GOT UP and followed Him.

I asked myself, “WHY did they GET UP and follow Jesus?”

Some of you might be saying “DUH, Its Jesus!”

I get that, but they GOT UP, left their homes and towns to traveled around the Sea of Galilee to meet Jesus!

Why did they leave their homes and towns to follow Jesus around the Sea of Galilee?

WHY?

Because, for many in that region, Jesus had been meeting many of the Basic desires of Life. EVERYBODY ELSE WANTED THIS AS WELL.

They were willing to GET UP and go to the farthest extreme to be healed, to see miracles take place, and/or just to be with Jesus.

We can relate to this right?

If we have an aliment, a sickness, a handicap and we know that there is a place or a person who can heal us, we are going to do whatever is necessary to get there.

EXAMPLE: Lucas and his club foot.

We lived in WV, Referred to the best Pediatric Orthopedic Doctor, He was in Columbus (3.5 hour drive - one way).

We did what it took to get the best for our child. We GOT UP and went so that one of the basic desire of life (walking) was going to be healed!

Body:

I believe this, we all have wants in life!

But we all would prefer our needs met first.

In this pericope we find 3 Basic desires of life being met ....

Health, Nourishment, and extended Love

This is not an exhausted list but I would rank them as the top 3

Health

The scripture tells us, “When he went ashore ...... he .... healed their sick.”(14)

Why were these people healed?

Because they got up and followed Jesus. “Akaluthe auton”

Nourishment

Verses 19-20 tells us Jesus met the basic need of nourishment.

Jesus does this with a couple of loves of bread and fish.

One of the greatest miracles EVER!

I am not sure who was hungry.

The Disciples were the only ones concerned about food at the time.

Whatever the case may be, Jesus provided food for them.

Why were these people in need of food?

Because they got up and followed Jesus.

It seems that they were not concerned about where their food was going to come from.

No body packed a lunch!

When we are following Jesus, he will provide the BASIC needs of Life!

Love

We read in Verse 14 “When he went ashore ...... he had compassion on them” (14)

The Greek word for compassion means .... to be deeply moved, to be affected deeply in one’s inner being, especially in that aspect (the bowels) characterized by sympathy and compassion.

This can only be brought forth by LOVE!

Jesus Showed them Love.

PAUSE

To sum this up ....

When we are following Jesus, he will provide the ALL the BASIC needs of Life!

Climax:

We conclude with the idea that Jesus was meeting the basic desires of life for the people.

I would be safe to say Jesus longs to meet all the basic desires of life.

Let me ask us the question then .....

Do you long to be healed (from whatever it maybe)? GET UP!

Do you need spiritual nourishment today? GET UP!

Do you want to experience LOVE like you have never experienced? GET UP!

Conclusion:

You might be thinking, “I want healed, I need nourishment, i desire Love, BUT ......

“At this time in my life, I’m in this place where I feel all alone!”

For others .... “At this time in my life, I’m in this place where I feel like God has left me!”

and For some .... “At this time in my life, I feel so unworthy for even a visit from Christ!”

Let me point something out to you in this pericope ......

Where did Jesus heal these folks, give them nourishment, and had compassion on them (showed them Love)?

IN THE DESOLATE PLACE!

I’m hear to tell you this morning, Jesus will do all these things in your desolate place.