Lent Sermon Series: “Jesus and The Crowds”

We are going to look at how Jesus ministered to a series of crowds over a period of about a day. Despite being fully God, Jesus was also fully human and would have the same needs for rest we all do; but often put those aside for the needs of others.

“When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to In Matthew 14: 1-12; the story is told of the death of Jesus’ cousin, friend and forerunner: John the Baptist (who had been imprisoned for speaking out against King Herod and his wife, Herodias). “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.” (Matthew 14:13a)

Matthew 14: 13b-14 13 “… Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

Mark 6: 32-34 32  “So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 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.”

Matthew 9:36 “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Jesus Miraculously Feeds the 5,000 Men (Plus Women & Children) * Matthew 14: 15-23 * Mark 6: 30-44 * Luke 9: 10-17 * John 6: 1-15

John 6: 14-15 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Matthew 14: 22-33 Jesus walks on water, in the middle of the night, out to the disciples’ boat…invites Peter to do the same. He succeeds, until his faith falters. Jesus catches him and the group worships Christ.

Mark 6: 53-56 53 “When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 …They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.”