JESUS FEEDS THE FOUR THOUSAND

Passage: Mark 8:1-13

Key verse: 6

NIV

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand(A)(B)(C)

8 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;(D) 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.(E) 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.(F) 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.(G) 12 He sighed deeply(H) 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.

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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

8 (A)In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 (B)“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” 4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” 5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, (C)“Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and (D)having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And (E)having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And (F)they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, (G)seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into (H)the boat with his disciples and went to the district of (I)Dalmanutha.[a]

The Pharisees Demand a Sign

11 (J)The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, (K)seeking from him (L)a sign from heaven (M)to test him. 12 And (N)he sighed deeply (O)in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And (P)he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 8:10 Some manuscripts Magadan, or Magdala
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus is the Bread of Life for the whole world. Again, Jesus miraculously provided food for a large crowd. This time, however, the crowd was mostly Gentiles. They had been with Jesus for three days and had nothing left to eat. Jesus saw their need and had compassion on them. He was concerned that some of them might collapse on their way home. In the same way, Jesus sees our physical and spiritual needs and has compassion for us. He knows that our needs are very real and he is faithful to provide whatever we need. The disciples had no solution to this problem, but Jesus did. Jesus took the seven loaves and gave thanks for them. Then he broke them and gave them to the disciples to distribute. He did the same with two fish. After four thousand men and numerous women and children ate their fill, there were still seven large baskets of food left over. This demonstrates how abundant the blessings and provisions of the Lord are. In Jesus, we can be truly satisfied.

Jesus and his disciples traveled to Dalmanutha where he was met by some Pharisees who sought to test him by asking for a sign from heaven. They dismissed the numerous miracles he had already performed and all the fulfilled scriptures that indicated that he was the promised Messiah. Another sign would not cure their hard hearts, so Jesus got back in the boat and left.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you alone are the source of life.

One Word: Jesus satisfies our hungry souls.