LESSONS FROM A BIG MEAL

Mark 8:1-8 NKJV 

8 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar." 

4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?" 

5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" 

And they said, "Seven." 

6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 

More than just a miracle, we can learn from this important event of Jesus feeding the 4000. 

Jesus was moved by compassion for the people's physical needs. This is an encouraging word. Jesus did not say that the people had been fed spiritually for three days, so they were good to go. Instead, He was concerned with their welfare as they walked home. He did not want them fainting and dropping out on the road. What I do find to be intriguing is that Jesus waited three days to be concerned. He was not concerned on day one. He was not sending the disciples out days earlier to plan on a meal. And the fact that He was okay with people going three days without eating says something about the culture of that day. Can you imagine that happening today? People would get upset today if they got to lunch late. It's not a stretch to assume these people were not used to three meals a day. 

Jesus worked with what He had. He asked what was available food-wise and worked with what the disciples brought Him. Jesus was not concerned with the amount of loaves available. God had done a miracle with five loaves and fed 5000. Jesus asked what they had, not what they did not have. 

Jesus had the people get ready to eat before any miracle took place. He did not create a huge mound of food and have everyone come and take some. He broke the loaves and passed them out. As the people broke and passed the loaves, they never ran out, and the same was true with the fish. 

And I love the fact that not only was there enough to feed a multitude but there were also leftovers. They took up seven large baskets after people ate to the full and most likely put some away for the trip home. There were no Buck-ees in that day. This is a classic example of an abundance mentality. Everyone eats, and there is plenty left over. 

APPLICATION 

In Hebrews 13:8, the Scripture states, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." He has not changed and never will. 

So Jesus is still moved with compassion for people. He did not stop His flow of compassion when He ascended back up to heaven. He has not lost touch with the sense of what it means to be human. He cared then, and He cares now. So, we have someone on our side in the challenges of life. 

He still works with what we put into His hands. Whether that be money, our efforts and time, or our life. Whatever we give to Him, He can do something with it. And that something will be good. 

A principle of faith is that we get ready before we see anything change or happen. So, we get ready for answers before we experience answers. Remember that Noah started building the Ark before he ever saw rain. 

God is not cheap. He is still a God of abundance. He is still an amazing God of more than enough. 

PRAYER 

Thank You, Lord. You never change. Thank You for Your help, your compassion, and abundance in my life.