Another Feeding
| During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance." His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied. 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 set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; He gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand men were present. (Mark8:1-9) |
We'll start with the SIMILARITIES:
- A large crowd has gathered again. Even among the Gentiles, people are attracted to Jesus. They travelled far and long in the hot sun to listen to Him.
- Jesus has compassion on them again. In the first feeding, He sees the crowd as shepherdless sheep, and even now He is deeply moved with compassion. (The Greek word for compassion implies deep feeling.)
- The disciples are stretched as Jesus shares the problem. It seems that, in both feeding events Jesus very deliberately pushes the disciples to think about the problem and not just shrug their shoulders.
- Jesus instructs the crowd to sit down in an orderly fashion, and He gives thanks. This is very important in that it encourages dignity, respect and gratitude.
- The miracle happens. Many people are fed with very little food.
Now we look at the DIFFERENCES:
- There are few small fish but seven loaves instead of five. This is not a significant material difference, but it does emphasise that these are two separate events and not just a repetition.
- Jesus is on the other side of the Sea of Galilee - among the ten cities ("Decapolis"). The last time He was here, he cast the legion of demons out of the Gerasene Grave Guy (GGG) (See EmmDevs of 6-9 May) and people asked Him to leave. Mark tells us that the GGG went all through the Decapolis telling about what God had done. So now, when Jesus returns, the Gentile crowds are hungry for His compassion and love. And although it's a different context and different circumstances, Jesus treats them with the same love and the same grace.
