Did Jesus Have Boundaries? - Matthew 14

13 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. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.15 As evening approached, 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 themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

This story takes place right after Jesus learns that John the Baptist had been killed violently.  Jesus was related to John. John played a special role in his life, so I am sure Jesus was mourning his loss. But instead of having to time to mourn, he is met with crowds who followed him on foot.  They must have really wanted to see him. 

"Jesus had come to find peace and quiet and loneliness; instead he found a vast crowd eagerly demanding what he could give. He might so easily have resented them. What right had they to invade his privacy with their continual demands?” (Barclay)

Instead of rebuking the people, he spent the day with them and healed their sick.  By the end of the day, his disciples were hoping to get him away from the demands the people were putting on him.  But instead of heeding the disciples' advice, he tells them to give the people something to eat.  I am not sure I would have wanted to hear that if I were one of Jesus' disciples.  Then follows the feeding of the five thousand with a few fish and loaves.  

We see here the tremendous capacity Jesus had to meet the needs of others both physically, spiritually and emotionally.  One wonders how healthy it was of Jesus to not have the ability to say "no".  After all where are his "boundaries"?  So this passage sets up an interesting dilemma for his followers.  When is it okay to say "no" when the needs around us seem endless.  Is it unspiritual to say, "Yes I know there are a lot of people here to be fed, but I really need to go to bed!".  

In the context Jesus was using this as a teachable moment to the disciples.  He was teaching them how to show compassion and put other's needs as above their own.  He was teaching that even if you have little resources when you offer them up to God he can multiply them to meet the needs of others.  Even in our weakness He is strong!  

But still what about boundaries?  Like anything I don't think it is black and white.  After all God instituted a Sabbath Day where we are called to rest. Part of the reason for it is that we would not idolize work or overestimate our own importance.  We cannot be all things to all people, but we are called to go the extra mile to help those in need.

I don't think there is an answer to thIs question.  I think we need to avoid black and white thinking.  We are not Jesus, but we are called to follow him and do the things he did.  We are called to show compassion on the sick and the hungry.  We are called to offer our limited resources freely and allow God to bless others with them.  At the end of the day we are not called to judge anyone else's work.  We are only accountable only for what we have done with what we have been given.  

I think the key is openness, willingness and obedience.  As we are open to see the needs around us, are willing to offer ourselves, and obedient when God calls us to act on behalf of the marginalized, we honor God.  We fulfill our calling as Christ followers.  Okay that's about it, I need to get to bed!