The Gospel of Mark 8:1-9

 

Brian Hirvela

6/29/2024

"In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and said to them, “I feel compassion for the crowd because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” And He directed the crowd to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them. And He kept giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the crowd. And they also had a few small fish; and after He blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. Now about four thousand were there, and He sent them away.”

Time has passed since Jesus was near the Decapolis and healed the deaf and mute man from what was ailing him. The man, healed, proclaimed what Jesus had done and despite Jesus telling him to not do so, Jesus still became known throughout the land of Israel and coastlands.

And in those days, there was again a large crowd that was following him and listening to Jesus. Jesus had compassion on them for they had followed Him for three days and would have continued until they were faint from the lack of food available.

Those who devote themselves to Jesus follow Him without expectation for they find their joy in every word that comes from the mouth of God. As our friend Calvin likes to say, “Man does not live on bread alone.” But man does need sustenance for the body to continue and not perish.

Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “I feel compassion for the crowd because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.”

Many have followed Jesus for a long time and have been with Him through His ministry to the Jews. Some may have been prepared but after three days their food had been depleted. And the long days and walk can beat hard on person and Jesus saw this.

God sees our every need and His compassion is mighty toward those who love Him, but even for those who don’t, His love for His creation still provides for all mankind whether they hate Him or love Him. “for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Mt 5:45)

Here, Jesus poses the question, as He did before He fed the 5000 in Mark 6:33-44 and similarly they say. “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” I wonder about moments like this in scriptures. Jesus had demonstrated His power, and His disciples have been by His side.

I don’t fault them though, even as a believer, it is possible to forget what God has done or even presume that if He had done it once He won’t do it again. This is a lack of faith and understanding. A partial blindness to the truth of who Jesus is really to them and the World. And in their ignorance, Jesus asks them “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.”

Jesus fed 5000 with five loaves of bread, I suppose He would only need 4 loave for 4000, but seven loaves is an abundance. God can use what little stock every believer dedicates to Him for His wonderous works.

Jesus “directed the crowd to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them. And He kept giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the crowd. And they also had a few small fish; and after He blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well.”

Charles Spurgeon writes, “Christ is the great Master of the art of multiplication. However small is the stock with which we begin, we have only to dedicate it all to him, and he will multiply and increase it until it will go far beyond our utmost expectations, and there will be more left after the feast is over than there was before it began”

4000 men plus women and children were present and ate until they were satisfied. The disciples “picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces” And Christ sent those following home, back to where they could get rest for their hard travel.

Jesus said, “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, set His seal.” And “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (Jn 6:27,29)

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” (Jn 6:35,40)

We like junk food; it is sweet and hits that spot that drives us to be devoted to it. Some might say addicted as the flavor permeates our mouths and our tastebuds are a light with pleasure. But it never satisfies us, It keeps us craving for more and more and if you can’t afford it, you beg, borrow, or steal it.

This is a metaphor for your heart. We have spoken of it before. Your heart rejects the bread which comes from heaven that does satisfy you, but you desire your junk food over that which is good for you. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”

Jesus feeds you every week with the words of life. These words that come from The Father through Jesus, who is the living word of God, and it testified by the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit and is proclaimed by the mouths of His children for your hearing.

Jesus is the bread of life that satisfies “and the one who comes to Jesus will never cast out.” Remember you can pray and ask the Father for the Holy Spirit, for to have the Sprit mean you believe upon Jesus, the Messiah. Believe in Jesus and repent and you will be saved.

Jesus came to save sinners. Sinners suppress the truth and hide in their darkness because they love darkness. They are unbelieving, vile, foolish, rebellious, haters of God who have adopted the ideologies of this world and the doctrines of men. They have become slaves to their sexual desires, perverting the flesh and mind, and rebelling against the created order of God. They are doomed to condemnation and will be judged by Jesus and sent to Hell where they will burn for eternity in the lake of fire.

However, God so loved His creation, mankind, that He sent His Son Jesus, who can forgive you of your sins and redeem you because He has the authority and power. Jesus brings eternal life to all who repent and believe. For Jesus bore all our sins; He bore all the sins of all who believe in Him. Jesus was born and lived a perfect life of obedience to God as a man. Jesus was condemned to be executed and die in the sinner's place. He suffered the totality of God's wrath upon Himself on the Cross, which every sinner deserves, so that those who believe in Jesus may have peace with God. Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death, and lives, and ascended to the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and He is in your midst with us offering you salvation.