JESUS FEEDS THE 4,000

Mark 8:1-13 / Keywords 8:2

I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.

8:1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

1. Jesus’ compassionate shepherd heart (1-3)

Again, another large crowd gathered and remained for 3 days with no thought on how to feed themselves. In one way, they were great, and in another, they were so dependent and burdensome. However, Jesus had compassion on them. He decided out of his shepherd heart that he would feed them because if he sent them away, many of them would not make it. As a compassionate shepherd, he made their problem his problem.

 

2. Jesus feeds the 4,000 with his disciples (4-13)

The disciples again questioned how this was possible. This time, Jesus asked them to give up the dinner of 7 loaves. The disciples brought what they had to Jesus. Then he co-worked with the disciples to feed the 4,000. Where there is a heart of a shepherd, a miracle happens: the bread multiplied! Suddenly, they produced some fish they were keeping safe, and Jesus blessed and multiplied them. Afterwards, there were 7 basketfuls leftover, more than enough for Jesus’ band. Again, the Pharisees reappeared to test him. Jesus rebuked their stubbornness to believe, though he had fed the 4,000.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to learn your compassionate heart of a shepherd and offer to you what I have.

One Word Jesus is the compassionate Shepherd