Feeding of 4000
Today’s text is from Mark 8:1-13
8:1 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.
1. Jesus’ compassion. (Mark 8:1-10) Jesus had compassion for those who went for three days without eating. Would followers do that today? Would our bellies scream at us after a few hours? It’s amazing that our bellies demand to be fed after a short time in a church service for the noon meal – yet there were plenty of people who followed for days. Yes – they have been following for some wrong reasons, maybe not – but the point is – they had stamina in following. I know people who will get up and walk out of a church service if it goes past 12:00. Jesus had utmost compassion for these individuals. He did not send them away to faint in the wilderness. The fact is also, He was in Gentile country at the time as well – so these were probably Gentiles.
2. Signs from heaven. (Mark 8:11-13) It is REAL easy for me to condemn these Pharisees. BUT – in many ways, I have been like them, “Show me a sign, Lord – then I’ll believe!” This is the essence of what is going on here. No sign would be given because they would not see it to believe, even when done right in front of their noses. One of the biggest miracles there is is regeneration itself. The fact that one is born again and is changed from death to life, darkness to light is a HUGE miracle. People choose not to see it though. They’ll say a person “turned over a new leaf”, or something like that. This reflects a misunderstanding of what a sign from heaven is, and it reflects a misunderstanding of the nature of a sinner.
Meditation: Do I test God?
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