The Bread of Life

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

THE BREAD OF LIFE

Mark 8:1-10

8:1 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; 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 set before 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. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

NIV

This is the second time Jesus feeds thousands with such a small amount. Is he trying to show his disciples something, or is this just a simply case of compassion by Jesus? Three days of setting listening to Jesus teach them is a long time to go without food. The people must have been very hungry, not so much for food, but for what Jesus had to say. To stay and listen for three days without eating any food is a little strange to our way of living. Do we hunger after the words of Jesus enough to give up eating? Of course they did not have a bible they could sit down with refreshments in a nice shady place on our deck or in a nice easy chair and read to our hearts content. But it might be something else here which defines the truth we should learn from this second time Jesus feeds so many with so little. He asks his disciples the same question when they respond by asking him how is this going to happen. He asks them how much do they have. He asked that the first time and they had to go see, but this time it seems they knew they only had seven loaves. Did they figure Jesus was going to do the same thing as last time? It wasn’t that long ago they would have forgotten about it. Yet they still were asking how was this going to happen, after all they were in a remote place, no supermarket to run off to and buy food. How many times must Jesus do something miraculous before they get the truth about him? But again that may not be the main truth we should glean from this passage either. It might be the simple truth that what we give to Jesus that is ours, he will multiply it, use it for his kingdom purpose and there will be enough left over that is more then we gave in the first place. Could this be an example of give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over? The disciples had to give up their supply of food, in a remote place, so that others could be feed. Now maybe they remembered and knew there would be more left over then when what they gave. But they couldn’t be sure Jesus would do exactly the same thing he did last time. So they had to give because Jesus asked them to, give in faith that something wonderful was going to happen. Maybe we need to learn that truth more than we think we know it. Maybe we need to see that we need to give what we have in order that others are cared for, feed, maybe not so much physical food, but spiritual food. Although giving in the material way helps the church function, and supports certain missionary operations and may actually feed some people needed meals, it may not be the type of giving Jesus is teaching about here. What if it is all about the truth, all about the word of God? Jesus told his disciples once that he had food they did not know of, and that was to do the will of his Father. The true food is the very Word of God which we have and which we should be giving to others so they can eat, and they will be more left over then when we started, more believers, feeding more in need of feasting on the Word of God, if we give it out, it will return to us overflowing. Sure Jesus did a miracle again, but look at the miracle of people being saved by us giving the Word of God to them, the bread of life.