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And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. Mark 8:6 (NAS95S) He gave thanks for the food and started breaking bread into pieces and
asked the disciples to distribute the food. The disciples also found
some fish. Jesus blessed them and distributed those fragments as well.
They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. Mark 8:7 (NAS95S) Seven loaves of bread and some fish were enough to feed the enormous
crowd when it was in our Lord’s hands. Otherwise, it would not
have fed more than twenty or thirty people. But in Jesus’ hands
there was food left over. And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. About four thousand were there; and He sent them away. Mark 8:8-9 (NAS95S)
They
started with seven loaves of bread and some fish and ended up with seven
large baskets full. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus made extra?
He met their need and then provided more. God can do the same for us.
God is never unable to help us. He is God. He will do the same for us
if we ask and if it is in our best interest (James 4:3; 1 John 5:14).
After the people had been fed, Jesus sent them away. He then got into
a boat and left the region.
And sending away the crowds, Jesus got into the boat and came to the region of Magadan. Matt 15:39 (NAS95S) Mark 8:10 adds that He and the disciples went to the “district
of Dalmanutha.” The exact location of the “district of Dalmanutha” is
unknown today. However, ruins have been found on the western shore of
the Sea of Galilee with the name of Dalmanuth.[1] It appears that Dalmanuth
and Magadan were located close to each other. Magadan was the home of
Mary Magdalene. It was located south of Capernaum.
Claim of the Critics. Some claim that the miracle of the feeding of five
thousand and the feeding of four thousand are the same miracle. But a
quick comparison of both miracles reveals that during the feeding of “five
thousand,” the people were with Jesus for one day. During the feeding
of the “four thousand,” they were with Him for three days.
The number of fish is different, and the number of baskets full of food
is different. One group sat on grass and the other group sat on the ground.
The Holy Spirit had Matthew and Mark record the events. To conclude that
either did not really occur is to imply that God is a liar since He wrote
both accounts. The goal of the critics is to discredit the Bible and
consequently our God. No, both accounts are real. It is only speculation
that the accounts are different perspectives of the same event. In fact,
we will discover shortly that Jesus will tell us that both events actually
did occur.
Seekers of Signs. Jesus and the disciples have just had a wonderful experience. The crowd was magnificent.
The miracle is incredible. They must have been on an emotional high. So we should not be surprised
at what happened next. As soon as Jesus arrived in the region of Magadan, the Pharisees and Sadducees
came to Him once again and accused Him of performing His miracles and wonders by the power of Satan.
That must have been a discouragement to the disciples and maybe even for Jesus.
The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, “It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.” And in the morning, “There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.” Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away. Matt 16:1-4 (NAS95S) Please note that we have quoted Matthew since Mark 8:11-12 is a shorter
summary of the encounter. About three to four months ago, the religious
leaders had accused Jesus of using the power of Satan (Matt. 12:24-32)
to perform His miracles and wonders, and they will do it again in the
future (Luke 11:14-23). It is probably reasonable to conclude that they
were constantly accusing Him of this over and over again as they tried
to discredit Jesus to the people. It is important to note that this is
an objective admission by Jesus’ enemies that He really did perform
miracles. He did heal people and perform wonders. They just disagreed
as to how He accomplished the miracles and wonders. It is truly amazing
that this accusation was made of Jesus after such an incredible miracle
had just occurred.
When they challenged Jesus, He reminded them that they were able to forecast
the weather reasonably well by watching the color of the sky, but they
were not very good at realizing the truth of who He was. In response,
Jesus made a prophecy that came true in less than one-half year. I wonder
how many of them remembered, repented later and turned to God in sorrow
with belief? After that encounter, Jesus left the region and went back
to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
This episode reminds us that even when we are doing what God wants and
when some very wonderful things are occurring in the ministry that God
has given us, we will still be criticized. The evil one is relentless
and hopes to discourage us and knock us off course. The Holy Spirit reminds
us in 1 Corinthians and Hebrews 6:10 that our labor is not in vain and
that God remembers what we have done.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor 15:58 (NAS95S) For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. Heb 6:10 (NAS95S) If you are discouraged in the ministry, be encouraged.
You are working for God and He has not forgotten you. He will not
forget. He is still on the throne.
A Spiritual Lesson. After they arrived on the eastern shore of the
Sea of Galilee, the disciples discovered that they had failed to
bring along any food. This is an amazing section of scripture. Food
has been the underlying issue. And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. Matt 16:5 (NAS95S) Most likely a conversation followed when they mentioned that they had
forgotten to bring food, but it is not recorded for us. Then Jesus attempted
to use the conversation to communicate a spiritual truth.
References:
 1. Merriel C. Tenny. Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Zondervan Publishing House. 1976. p. 6. |
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