LEFTOVERS
Are They Being Wasted?
~ He is the God Who salvages all things and allows nothing to go to waste ~
January 23rd, 2023
No Good to be aHead
Matthew 14:6-14, ‘On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so muchthat he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.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. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.’
Even Jesus had leftovers.
The Bible says He drew away to a lonely place, I imagine, to mourn what was left over of the memories made with His cousin who was also His dear friend, John the Baptist. They had had quite a run together, a journey earmarked for ministry. They had paved the pathway one for the other; they had recognized one another even in inertia, and suddenly, John was gone. So senseless, a murder employed by the enemy to not only end John’s ministry, but also, an attempt to silence and thwart the Savior of the world.
Jesus unraveled the remembrances; His life with John. John was Jesus’ servant as well as family. He introduced Jesus to the world. Can you imagine being the one to baptize the Son of God? Wouldn’t it give you goose flesh to have heard a Holy God’s voice boom from the heavens, “This is My Son in Whom I am well pleased” as a dove descended from the sky like a sign. John was old-school. He was one of those ‘hell, fire and brimstone’ type of guys, reigning judgement, no room for error in his eyes. And there before him, stood the Christ, Who embodied compassion and gentleness, holding grace in one hand and extending mercy with the other.
In the midst of Jesus’ grief, as He sorts through the leftovers of the life and ministry he and John shared, He is overtaken by crowds in hot pursuit of Him and the hope He had been delivering. That’s why He is Jesus, and I am not. I don’t know about you, but when I’m hurting, tired, needing space, the last thing I feel is benevolence toward someone else. Holding His own anguish close to Him, His eyes cover the mass of lost humanity, and He is overcome with compassion for what stands before Him, so much so that He lays His own leftovers down, picks up theirs and begins to speak peace to the storm and calm to the chaos and hope to the downtrodden and crushed in spirit.
John 6:12-13, ‘When the people had eaten their fill, He said to His disciples, “Gather the LEFTOVERS so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with LEFTOVERS from the barley loaves.’ (MSG)
