Jesus Always Provides!

¹ About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called His disciples and told them, ² “I feel sorry (compassion, pity) for these people. They have been here with Me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.” ⁴ His disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?” ⁵ Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” “Seven loaves,” they replied. ⁶ So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to His disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. ⁷ A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them. ⁸ They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. ⁹ There were about 4,000 people in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten. ¹⁰ Immediately after this, He got into a boat with His disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha. Mark 8:1-10 (NLT)

Mark 8 begins with the continuation of Jesus’ ministry in predominately Gentile (non-Jewish) territories. Jesus was Jewish, and He was called to minister to “the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). However, He did not limit His ministry only to the Jewish people. During His public ministry, Jesus revealed that God’s loves and compassion is for all people (e.g., Matthew 9:35-36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41; Mark 6:34; Mark 8:2). The Gospel message came first to the Jews (John 4:22; Romans 1:16), and then to all people who call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:21; Acts 10:34-38, 43; Romans 10:13). God found in Jesus Christ loves ALL PEOPLE – Jews, Gentiles, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, homosexuals, men, women, young, old, etc. (John 3:16)! The Kingdom of God is embracive of ALL PEOPLE. From the beginning, God’s redemptive work for Israel had in view the redemption (salvation) also of the Gentiles (Genesis 12:1-3; see also Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 42:5-7; Isaiah 49:6; Luke 2:10; Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 13:47).

The Holy Bible reveal God’s love and care for all people (e.g., Luke 4:24-27; see also 1 Kings 17:7-24; 2 Kings 5:1-19). In particular, the New Testament reveals God reaching to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles to unite the people into one church body headed by Jesus Christ (e.g., see Romans 10:12; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 4:13, 15; Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13). The church is the community of believers who trust and obey Jesus as Lord and Savior (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:21-24). The church is part of God’s sovereign plan to bring everything in heaven and on earth under the authority and power of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:9-10). Racism, ethnic hatred, bigotry, and separation have never been God’s desire! These divisive issues have come from the sins of men and women. Jesus rejected such sin wherever He found it. As Matthew shows, His heart is for all the nations (see Matthew 28:16-20). God’s grace was and still is available for all who would receive His Son, Jesus by faith (see John 1:11-12; Ephesians 2:8-9).

As Jesus was in Gentile territories, once again large crowds gathered around Him (Mark 8:1). Even in Gentile territories, Jesus’ fame had spread (see also Matthew 4:25; Mark 3:7-8; Luke 6:17). However, Jesus noticed that people had run out of food (Mark 8:1; see also Matthew 15:32). Jesus discussed this dilemma with His disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing to eat” (Mark 8:2, ESV). Jesus knew if He sent the crowd home without feeding them, they would faint along the road for some of them had come a long distance to see Him (Mark 8:3; see also Matthew 15:32). However, Jesus’ disciples said, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness” (Mark 8:4, NLT). The disciples once again failed to recognize that Jesus was God incarnate (in human flesh) and Jesus alone could feed the people (John 1:1-5, 14; John 6:22, 35, 48, 51, 58; see also Exodus 16:12). Then, Jesus turned to His disciples and patiently asked, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” (Mark 8:5, TLB). Jesus’ disciples told Him they had “seven loaves” and a “few small fishes” (Mark 8:5, 7; see also Matthew 15:34). Jesus instructed the large crowd to sit down on the ground (Mark 8:6; see also Matthew 15:35). Then, Jesus took the seven loaves, gave thanksgiving to God for the food, broke them into pieces and passed them to His disciples to feed the people (Matthew 15:36; Mark 8:6; see also 1 Timothy 4:3-5). Next, Jesus took the few small fish and He thanked God for the fish before feeding the people (Mark 8:7). As with the feeding of the 5,000, this miraculous feeding took place in Jesus’ hands. Afterwards, the whole crowd was well feed and fully satisfied from the “seven loaves” and a “few small fishes” (Mark 8:8; see also Matthew 15:37). The people ate as much as they wanted. The superabundance of food shows the gracious nature of God’s Kingdom (Mark 8:8). With our never ending faith in God, God supplies all our needs (Philippians 4:19; see also Ephesians 3:16-20)! Jesus fed over 4,000 men, in addition to all the women and children (Matthew 15:38; Mark 8:9). As with the separate feeding of the 5,000 Jewish people in Jewish territory, Jesus’ disciples gathered the leftover food after the meal. There were seven very large basketfuls left over (Mark 8:9). We must never waste God's gifts!

⁷ At this, they (disciples) began to argue with each other because they had not brought any bread. ⁸ Jesus knew what they were saying, so He said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? ⁹ Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? ¹⁰ Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?” Matthew 16:7-10 (NLT)

Many critics of the Holy Bible call the story of the miraculous feeding of the 4,000 recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark (Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-10) just another version of Jesus’ miraculous of feeding 5,000 recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15). However, these critics fail to recognize the first feeding of the 5,000 occurred in Galilee, near Bethsaida, and involved predominantly Jews. However, the miraculous feeding of 4,000 occurred near Decapolis — ten Gentile communities east of the Jordan River (see also Mark 8:19-21). The miraculous feeding of the 4,000 Gentiles and the 5,000 Jews have striking similarities but these feedings are two separate miracles (Matthew 16:9-10; Mark 8:19-21). In fact, Jesus Himself refers to two separate feedings in the New Testament (Matthew 16:9-10; Mark 8:19-21). The feeding of the 4,000 was the further expansion of Jesus’ compassionate heart to the Gentiles (non-Jews). The miraculous feeding of the 4,000 once again reveals the Lord Jesus Christ’s mercy and compassion for all people – Jew, Gentile, men, woman, and children. Jesus is still the same and all we need do is trust Him, give Him our whole hearts, and obey Him. The true and living God cares for all our needs (Matthew 6:30, 32; Luke 12:28). So, seek God first, walk humbly with Him, live righteously, love mercy, and flee evil as God cares for you (see Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:5-6, 14-15; Micah 6:8; Matthew 6:32-33; 1 John 1:5-7). God wants all people to walk holy and blameless (2 Timothy 2:22).

Jesus:  ²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life — whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Is not life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They do not plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And are not you far more valuable to Him than they are? ²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? ²⁸ And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They do not work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? ³¹ So do not worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. ³⁴ So, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)

References

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

NLT Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008).

Word In Life Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).