30 jThe apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Jesus looks at the crowd and sees they are like sheep without a shepherd. These people are lost and in need of someone to lead them. Jesus teaches them about who God is. He teaches them many things. But even in this desolate and isolated place he gives them food to eat.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He leads sheep to green pasture lands. He provides them with food to eat. But more importantly he instructs these people. He tells them how they are to lead their lives. He tells them what they are supposed to be doing. He probably even talks about how they have been lead astray in the past.
How did these people get to a desolate place? These people are lost. They are in need of someone to teach them. They are in need of someone to provide for their needs. They are in need of someone to save them from their desolation. They search for this man in the wilderness.
They come to him not expect food nor perfection, nor probably thinking about their stomachs. They come in search of a Shepherd. They are in search of God. Jesus notices their need. He notices they are lacking not only food, but wisdom, and a shepherd. They are lacking someone to proclaim to them the Good News of God.
Jesus provides this same thing for each of us. He goes to a desolate place. He goes to a dark place. He becomes separated from his Father and all by himself. He suffers death upon the cross for you and these people. He lays down his life for his sheep. He provides for them much more than just bread from heaven. He provides you with life in all your desolate places.
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