The Gospel of Mark: Feeding 4000

In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. 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.” His disciples replied, “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 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. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. ~ Mark 8:1-10


Jesus is still in the land of the Gentiles and has just been called out by a Gentile woman, so what does he do?

He feeds 4000 in Gentile territory. He has expanded his ministry after his encounter with this woman.

Jesus has changed his direction and expanded it.

But his disciples?

They still seem stuck, don't they? After everything they've seen - including 5000 people fed previously - they still ask how this can be done.

Why are the still stuck?

Why don't they get it?

Of course, if I ask that of the disciples, I suppose I need to ask myself about why I don't always get it.

What have I seen that I've dismissed?

What have I heard that I forget?

What is it that I still don't get no matter how many times I've seen it or heard it?


Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen


Engagement Questions:


What are the hardest parts about being a follower of Jesus? What are the promises of God that you need to be reminded of more often than you wish.

 

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