Mark 6:30-44

The itinerate preacher was spent. Jesus and his disciples had clocked a lot of travel miles, and He had preached a lot of sermons to many crowds. And let’s not forget his cousin had just been executed. I imagine Jesus really needed to be alone to rest, recharge, and even mourn.

He invited his disciples to go with Him to a remote place. So they got in a boat and set sail for a much needed get-away. What did they see when they came ashore? Thousands of people clamoring for His attention! Put yourself in Jesus’ shoes. How would you have reacted?

You parents probably have an idea what that’s like. Your precious babies don’t consider what kind of day you’ve had. When you walk through the door they only know, “Daddy’s home!” They don’t understand the weight of trying to feed a family on a budget when the washer breaks down and the car insurance is due. It’s still “Read me another story, Mommy.” “Fix this.” “Find this.” “I’m hungry.” “She hit me.” “I want…” “I don’t want…”

Calgon, take me away! (Google it, young ones)

Here’s where Jesus’ kindness is on display. He looked at those people and had compassion on them. Instead of demanding, “Me time,” he taught them. He set aside His needs, didn’t scold or complain. He didn’t even just smile and pat them on the head. He taught them until late in the day.

Then He did the most talked about miracle in Scripture… He fed 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves of bread and a couple of fish. They ate until they were satisfied. (Didn’t say Jesus needed to feed Himself before He could feed them. Just sayin’)

Jesus served them despite a bone-tired, mentally exhausted, emotionally drained reality. His compassion was expressed in kindness because that’s who He is.

That’s the kindness aspect of the Spirit’s Fruit. It’s Jesus in us who acts and reacts out of kindness, who considers others before self, who just does the right and good thing out of a right and good heart. It’s being kind. Thinking kind. Reacting kind. Doing kind. Because kindness lives in us who know Jesus as our Savior.