Mark 8:1-13
Did you know Jesus fed 9,000 people with 12 loaves and four or five fish? Lots of us have heard the story of feeding 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, but not everyone realizes that Jesus does it again, this time feeding 4,000 with seven loaves and a few more fish.
In the 8th chapter of Mark, Jesus is worried about the crowd that has followed him for three days with nothing to eat. He doesn’t want to send them away hungry. He’s afraid they’ll collapse on the long journey home. While Jesus is obviously concerned with their physical needs, a parallel can be made to him not wanting to send them home spiritually hungry. He wants them to “taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).
He also wants to give them spiritual strength for the long journey ahead. In today’s passage, Jesus uses the disciples to distribute nourishment for the body. After his death, these same disciples will go out and continue Jesus’ ministry of filling people’s spirits. They will distribute the love of God and the people will be satisfied.
But in every crowd, there are doubters and naysayers. The Pharisees fill this role when they approach Jesus and begin to question him and ask him for a sign. Jesus replies, “Truly I tell you; no sign will be given” (v. 12).
Those who believe have seen the wonders that Jesus performed and recognize him as the one true God. They have followed him for days, asking nothing in return. Jesus rewards their loyalty with a sign that nourishes their body and later nourishes their soul.
Jesus wants us to share in the awesome wonder of watching him turn seven loaves and a few fish into a meal that satisfies thousands. Jesus won’t let us go hungry. He will fill us up and send us out, so we can share the blessings of his love.
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