Mark 8:1-10 They Ate and were Filled
About Mark: It is unusual to find similar stories told twice in Mark's abbreviated Gospel. Obviously it is important to Mark's message. While there are similarities between the feeding of a crowd recorded here and the earlier account, there are enough differences to believe it is a different event. The locations are different, this one occurring in the Decapolis region (Mk.7:31) on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Here the crowds have been with Jesus for three days (8:2), not merely a long afternoon. Jesus is the first to mention their need of food (8:2) not the disciples. But Mark's record of Jesus' comment about the two incidents at Mark 8:19-21 removes any possibility of doubt. There, Jesus refers to two distinct but similar incidents.
1 In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, 2 "I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way--and some of them have come from a great distance." 4 His disciples replied, "How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?" 5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." 6 Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. 7 They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. 8 They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
Comment: THEY ATE AND WERE FILLED
Similarities in the two incidents of feeding the thousands underline the repeating features of how Jesus' related to people. In both situations Jesus had compassion on the crowds (6:34, 8:1). Jesus was deeply touched by human situations of need.
His compassion is shown in the first incident by teaching the people. Sometimes that is what people need most. Not merely bread for the moment, but guidance for life. However, on this second occasion, where the people had been with him for three days, his compassion is directed to their physical needs.
Exactly the same form of taking the bread, giving thanks, breaking it, and giving to the disciples to distribute is observed (6:41, 8:6), and in both cases they "ate and were filled" (6:42, 8:8) and "took up ... baskets full of broken pieces" (6:43 8:8). But the numbers are different; a point strongly made in the review in 8:14-21.
Throughout this section of Mark's Gospel we visit one place after another. We have viewed incidents in Tyre (7:24) and Decapolis (7:31) where this second feeding miracle is thought to happen (8:1ff). Later we go to Dalmanutha (8:10), Bethsaida (8:22), and Caesarea Philippi (8:27) where Peter finally confesses Christ.
We were reminded of the shepherd motif in the first story. Here we may be reminded of another word of Jesus, "I have other sheep that do not belong to this (Jewish) fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd" (John.10:16). The phrase "from a great distance" (Mk.8:3) is often used to indicate Gentiles. This may be Mark's way of making it clear that Jesus is the Messiah of the world, for Jews and for Gentiles (people not of Jewish blood), and he has compassion and bread for both.
Discipleship today: You might wish for an individual encounter with Jesus so direct and convincing, that all room for doubt is removed about his reality and his personal concern for you.
And although such incidents sprinkle the New Testament story, we have just observed the second of two incidents where individuals are part of huge nameless crowds of thousands. There can be no mistaking his compassion, or that he fed them. But he did so indirectly, through the hands of his disciples.
For hundreds of people, it is just like that. They are loved, spiritually fed (often through the Lord's Supper), and nourished by participating as one in a crowd of others. Swallowing the offered food, is an enormous act of faith if the provider is not yet fully known. Receiving from Jesus is a similar act of faith. Would you trust him? Do you trust him? That is much more the issue, than whether you prefer to meet Jesus in the crowd with others, or on your own alone. Once more, then, answer the question. And see for yourself where you stand with Jesus. Would you trust him? Do you trust him?
And although such incidents sprinkle the New Testament story, we have just observed the second of two incidents where individuals are part of huge nameless crowds of thousands. There can be no mistaking his compassion, or that he fed them. But he did so indirectly, through the hands of his disciples.
For hundreds of people, it is just like that. They are loved, spiritually fed (often through the Lord's Supper), and nourished by participating as one in a crowd of others. Swallowing the offered food, is an enormous act of faith if the provider is not yet fully known. Receiving from Jesus is a similar act of faith. Would you trust him? Do you trust him? That is much more the issue, than whether you prefer to meet Jesus in the crowd with others, or on your own alone. Once more, then, answer the question. And see for yourself where you stand with Jesus. Would you trust him? Do you trust him?
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