When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

— Mark 6:34

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

— Matthew 14:14

2 A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick.

3 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”

6 But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.

— John 6:2-3; 5, 6

But Jesus answered them, “To this very day My Father is at His work, and I too am working.”

— John 5:17

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Bountiful grace and mercy from Christ to you.

In all four Gospels, we see the same account that approximately 5000 men and many women and children, eager to hear Jesus and to be healed, earnestly followed Jesus to a mountain in the wilderness. Jesus grasped that opportunity to open His disciples’ eyes while providing for the gathering crowd. Jesus asked Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Jesus’ question was to test His disciples and gave them an opportunity to recognize that He could and would provide. Everything Jesus said and did through His earthly ministry meant more than people, even His disciples, could realize.

Likewise, we barely comprehend a fraction of what God—the Father, the Son and the Spirit—constantly work together to accomplish. The works done by Jesus, God incarnate, are with far deeper purposes than we recognize. Here Jesus was to meet the physical needs of a large crowd on the mountain to demonstrate His unlimited power and generous compassion. His miraculous signs and authoritative words united His divine, eternal agenda with His earthly steps of carrying out God’s plan.