We have all heard the stories about doctors, nurses, fire fighters, and many others that worked many long hours during the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, nurses were working 12-hour shifts, and the physical strain made them weary in well-doing.

Sometimes, weariness doesn’t come from physical work but from mental or emotional efforts. I remember my exhaustion after sitting a full week, day and night, watching my mother die. The hours drug by in the hospital as I watched her body deteriorate. Though totally exhausted, I couldn’t sleep, though sleep seems to be the answer to a weary body. A warm, comfortable bed and a night of sound sleep do wonders for our physical bodies and often relieve the emotional strain of day-to-day living. But sometimes sleep has to wait.

I think we sometimes fail to recognize that characteristic in our Savior’s time on earth. What a schedule He kept, walking the countryside, healing, teaching, consoling, even rebuking. When one of the scribes came and declared that he would follow Him wherever He went, Jesus told him He had nowhere to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). He wanted this man to understand the kind of life he would live, if he took up this way of life.

I am reminded of the weariness of Jesus reading the story of His feeding the 5,000. This story is recorded in all four of the gospels, Mathew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; and John 6. As far as I know, this is the only miracle recorded by all four writers. It must have made an impression on all of these men.

Reading and telling this story rarely takes into consideration what Jesus’ state of mind must have been. In the first part of Matthew 14, we read about Herod being informed of the fame of Jesus and his concern that John the Baptizer had returned from the dead. Since Herod had been responsible for the death of John, his concern was well founded. Jesus’ disciples had the task of going to claim John’s body, burying it, and then having to inform Jesus that John was dead. Jesus’ reaction was to want to withdraw to a desolate place and pray. The crowds would not leave Him alone, and Mark says that they had not had time to eat. So, Jesus found Himself faced with a huge crowd of people wanting more from Him than He probably felt like giving.

Put yourself in the place of Jesus, just for a moment. Close your eyes and see yourself tired, hungry, and grieving. You just want to be alone, but there are more than 5,000 people standing before you, some sick, some dying, and all of them waiting to see what you are going to do. What would you do?

Jesus couldn’t turn them away. Luke says that Jesus welcomed them, taught them about the kingdom, and cured those that needed to be healed. He just couldn’t turn them away. Sheep need to be fed, and these sheep needed both spiritual and physical food.

Jesus fed these people abundantly. With five loaves and two fishes, He fed more than 5,000 people; and they gathered 12 baskets of leftovers. Notice that Jesus involved the disciples in this process. Philip found the young man with the food; they distributed the food; and they retrieved the leftovers. I would suppose they ate as well.

Do you ever get tired of doing good? There always seems to be someone sick, someone who needs money, someone who needs to talk, a family to be comforted in the death of a loved one. There are also those wedding showers and baby showers to buy for and attend.

When we feel like we can’t bake another cake, make another casserole, listen to one more complaint, sing at one more funeral, send one more card, teach one more class, buy one more shower gift, think about Jesus. Sheep need attention. Sheep need feeding, tending, doctoring, and even loving. Remember that God gives abundantly; therefore, we cannot become weary in well-doing.

Sandra Oliver