When reading chapter 8, what stuck with me was Mark’s account of Jesus feeding the thousands. He describes a large crowd who has gathered to witness miracles, seek healing, and hear the teaching of Jesus. These people had been there for three days and were without food. Knowing that some would not make the return journey home without fainting, Jesus shows compassion on them by multiplying the few loaves of bread and fishes and feeds them all. (As a side note did you know that bread being a carbohydrate gives us energy, while fish being a protein gives us endurance? A perfect analogy of the Word of God!)
Before when reading the gospels, I would glance over this particular miracle Jesus performed. After all it isn’t as exciting as raising people from the dead, or walking on water. But it is just as important. It was important enough, that twice when Jesus feed the masses, both times were recorded. But other than the lesson of showing love and compassion what else could I glean?
My first thoughts were of the similarities of the two feeding miracles. The first account happened in the Jewish area of Galilee where Jesus fed five thousand. This second account as told in Mark 8, happens in a different part of the country among the Gentiles where Jesus feeds four thousand. In both situations, Jesus took the little amount of fish and loaves, and multiplied them greatly. He shared the same blessing with both the Jews and the Gentiles. And then it hit me. That’s why Jesus came! To be a blessing to all, and the living bread that nourishes our souls. Jesus Himself says in John 6:35 says, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
For me this is also a lesson in trusting Him completely. When Jesus shares His plan with the disciples to feed the people, they once again doubt His ability by asking, “Where would anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” (v. 4). They still didn’t understand the power of Jesus to overcome all difficulties. But instead of admonishing them for their lack of faith, Jesus takes the small morsels of food from the disciples, “And He directed the people to sit down on the ground, and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and starting giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people.” (v.6).
Jesus didn’t need the paltry seven loaves and few fishes the disciples had. He could have spoken into existence a feast fit for kings. Instead He wanted to show what we can gain by trusting Him with everything we have. And when we do, the Lord will reward our trust and faith by providing a bountiful of blessings in our lives. And He will keep on providing.
Instead of making a big pile of bread and fish and telling everyone to go for it, Jesus handed out a little at a time and kept doing so until as verse 8 tells us, “…they ate and were satisfied…”. That’s how God acts in our lives, always loving and always providing for our every need and sustaining us with the power of His word.
What do you do in times of hunger? Do you, like the disciples, focus on the problem instead of on God? We can trust in Him in even the most difficult of circumstances. For there is nothing He can’t overcome!