Mark 8:1-21
There was much wild, grassy land on the sides of the mountains near the shores of the sea of Galilee, where the Lord Jesus taught the people, who came in great numbers from the villages around to hear His words, or to be healed. They may have gone to their homes at night, but they returned the next day, for Jesus said,
“They have now been with Me three days.”
Jesus knew they had no food with them that evening, and He was very sorry for them, He said, “If I send them away fasting (without eating) to their houses, they will faint by the way: for divers (many) of them came from far.”
The disciples had a few loaves of bread, and a few small fish, but there was no place near to get more. Not long before this Jesus had made the few loaves and the fish one boy had become enough to feed more than 5000 people. This probably was not the same place, or the same people, but Jesus supplied their need in the same wonderful way.
He said for the people to sit down on the ground: He took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God, broke them in pieces, and gave to the disciples to pass to the people. By His power, that bread and fish was not only enough for all the big company, but more than enough, showing His power could not all be used, however much was needed.
The people who ate that meal must have sat in great surprise, and later, as they walked to their homes they must have talked together and wondered. How well they were repaid for their long walks over the rough ways: they had listened to One from Heaven, and been fed by Him! Many believed He was a very great Teacher and Prophet, and about this time the disciples said they believed He was the Christ, who was the One promised to come to earth.
Later those who believed the scriures, and the words of Jesus, learned that He who took so humble a place on earth, was the One Who in the beginning, had created all things, and was also the Giver and Sustainer of life. One disciple afterward wrote: “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life.” John 1:3,4; see also Colossians 1:16,17.
A few days after the miracles of the loaves, Jesus told some of the people that He was “the Bread of life.”
The bread He supplied the two meals, satisfied them only a short time; the next day they must have more. But all who believed Him should be satisfied with life forever (see John 6:35).
It is nice for us to notice in these miracles, that Jesus used the food which someone had, to make more. That showed His kindness, and that it is His way to bless even a little that is given to Him, making a very great blessing for others.
Althought Jesus had done as no one of earth could, He soon after had to remind the disciples of the two miracles, for them to remember Who He was. (vss. 19,20.)
ML 03/05/1944