Mark 8:1-21
Introduction
In today’s passage we find that Jesus is still in the Gentile region of Decapolis. As on a previous occasion He finds Himself confronted by a large hungry crowd. And it should be noted that the key verse in this passage is verse 21.
Bear all of this in mind as we examine today’s passage.
Verses 1 to 9
What does the feeding of the four thousand remind you of? The feeding of the five thousand. In this course of study, we have already looked at the Feeding of the Five Thousand in chapter 6 verses 33 to 44.
Some scholars have said that the Feeding of the Five Thousand and the Feeding of the Four Thousand are two versions of the same event. But is that true? Let’s put it to the test.
Firstly, what are the similarities between the two stories?
• There was a large crowd.
• There was a similar number of people in the crowd.
• They were in a wilderness.
• Jesus had compassion for them.
• The disciples could not see how they were going to feed the crowd.
• There are only a few loaves and fishes to feed them.
• The loaves and fishes were multiplied and everyone ate to their satisfaction.
• There were basketfuls of left overs.
So, there are plenty of similarities between the two stories. However, there is another way of comparing them.
So, what are the differences between the two stories?
• There was a big difference in the numbers of people in the crowd. Five thousand men alone in one story. But only four thousand men, women & children in the other.
• In one version, the crowd was Jewish (feeding of the five thousand) and in the other they were Gentiles (feeding of the four thousand).
• In one version, there were five loaves and two fish and in the other, there were seven loaves and a few small fish.
• In one version, they had general fish (feeding of the five thousand) and in the other version they had sardines (feeding of the four thousand).
• In one version, there were twelve basketfuls of leftovers (feeding of the five thousand) and in the other version there were seven basketfuls of leftovers (feeding of the four thousand).
Although there are similarities there are also some significant differences. But the deciding factor on the matter is what Jesus said in verses 19 and 20 of today’s passage. It is clear from what Jesus said that they were two separate events.
That’s all I’m going to cover in today’s study of the Feeding of the Four Thousand story. The lessons from the Feeding of the Four Thousand are the same as the Feeding of the Five Thousand.
Verses 10 to 12
Verse 10 tells us that they went to the district of Dalmanutha. This is a Jewish district. And then in verse 11 we see the Pharisees coming after Jesus again.
The Pharisees began to argue or dispute with Jesus. The Greek word translated as argue is, ‘syzeteo’ and it actually means to harangue or harass. The Pharisees came with hostility towards Jesus.
The Pharisees wanted a sign from heaven to test Jesus. What kind of sign do you think they were looking for? I suggest that they were looking for God’s voice to come from heaven confirming that Jesus has been sent from heaven and that He is the Messiah. Bear in mind that they have already had many signs confirming who Jesus is. Jesus refuses to give them what they want.
When Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit it showed that He was exasperated. He had run out of patience. God’s patience is not infinite as some might think. It has a limit. In Genesis 6:3 God said, “My spirit shall not strive with man forever…” When God runs out of patience, He gives people over to their sin. Think about that.
Verses 13 to 18
Jesus leaves the Pharisees and goes back across the Sea of Galilee with His disciples. However, the disciples had not taken enough bread with them and this concerned them.
In verse 15 Jesus gave the disciples a warning. He told them to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. But what is the leaven of the Pharisees? It is their false teaching and hypocrisy which could harm the disciples. Using the idea of leaven, Jesus is saying that just a small amount of false teaching can radically change or alter anything that it is mixed with. It can cause corruption and destruction.
So, what do we learn from this for us today? Have nothing to do with even a small amount of false teaching and keep away from those who peddle it.
Notice in verse 16 that the disciples do not understand what Jesus is talking about. And in verse 17 we see how Jesus responds to this. The key word in verse 17 is the word ‘yet’ and this applies to both the question about their understanding and the one about their hardened heart. In the last question Jesus is really saying, “Do you still have a hardened heart.”
The questions that Jesus puts to the disciples tell us that the disciples at that time were not saved yet. Unsaved people are by nature deaf and blind to the things of God. Their hearts are hardened. Until someone is born again, they are impervious to the truth of God. This explains why the disciples did not learn from the feeding of the five thousand.
Notice how Jesus says at the end of verse 18. “And do you not remember,”
Verses 19 to 21
In verses 19 and 20 Jesus reminds the disciples about what happened when He fed the five thousand and when He fed the four thousand. Having reminded them, Jesus then asks a very important question in verse 21. ‘Do you not yet understand?’ So, what is it that they do not yet understand? The disciples do not understand that Jesus is the bread of life. I got this from John’s Gospel where Jesus is talking about the feeding of the five thousand. In John 6:26-35 we read, Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the father, God, has set His seal.” Therefore, they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” So, they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe you? What do You perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
When Jesus says that He is the bread of life, He is saying that we can feed on Him and be satisfied. Like bread itself Jesus is essential for life. We are to rely on Him and His work. The life that Jesus gives is eternal. If we hunger and thirst for righteousness we will be satisfied.