The Big Story

The Big Story Week 27: Jesus Shows Compassion

Bible Truths

  • God provides for us. (Week 4)
  • God wants a relationship with us (Week 15)
  • God cares about us.
  • God does more than we can imagine.
  • Keep our focus on God.

Bible Verse

My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

Focus

Our study this year is about God’s story. In the first lesson we learned that God is the creator of everything. The next week we learned that God created people and loves us. Many years later God sent his son Jesus to earth. Jesus would grow up and begin teaching. Jesus was different than other teachers. Jesus had power and authority other teachers didn’t have. That’s what we are going to see in this week’s lesson.

Day 1

Jesus learned that his cousin John had died. He wanted to spend sometime alone. Wherever Jesus went crowds followed him. That is where we start today.

13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

Matthew 14:13-21 NLT

Day 2

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Matthew 14:22-33 NLT

Day 3

There are three very important truths I want you learn from this week’s lesson.

First God loves us and cares about us. If something hurts or upsets us he is concerned. When we have good things happen he celebrates with us. In verse 13 Jesus is upset when he hears about John. In verse 14 even though Jesus wants to be alone, he has compassion for the crowd and helps them. He will even feed the people because they are hungry and in the middle of no where. Jesus takes time to meet their needs. Later in verse 26 the Disciples are terrified when they see Jesus walking on the water. It was during a storm. That was scary. Jesus reassures them.

So here’s the cool thing. God cares about you. He wants you to tell him when you have a problem, have fear or have something to celebrate. He wants to have a relationship with you.

Is there something you are struggling with, scared about, need help with or want to celebrate? Take time to talk to God about this. Next, read our Bible verse this week.

My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

God wants to meet our needs. Even if we think it is something small. Instead of worrying pray or talk to God.

Day 4

The second truth is when we give things to God he can do more than we can imagine.

17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.

Matthew 14:17-20 NLT

Jesus feed thousands of people with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. They didn’t just get a small serving of food either. It was an all you can eat buffet. There was so much food had to send home doggie bags. T Nothing is too big or hard for God.

God can do more than we can imagine. When something seems hard or impossible instead of worrying, giving up or panicking. Tell God. Now is the hard part for me. Trust him to handle it. It can be hard when it doesn’t seem like anything is happening to solve a problem to trust God. That is called faith.

Day 5

The last truth is to keep your eyes or focus on God.

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

Matthew 14:22-33 NLT

What happens when Peter first gets out of the boat? That’s right he was walking on water. That had to be amazing. What happens next? Peter begins to notice the storm around him. Instead of focusing on God he focuses on those big waves. Even though the storm was powerful and the waves were big. Jesus was stronger and bigger. He was in control. Peter just needed to keep his focus on God and not other things.

When things get hard or challenging, remember to keep your focus on God.

Remember God loves you and he is bigger than any challenge.

Keep growing in grace.

Dee.