Mark 8:1-13
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
1During 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. 3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance."
4His 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.
6He 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. 7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
11The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." 13Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
During the days of Jesus, He had large crowds following Him and listening to Him...Jesus often traveled to places outside of cities to remote places and still the crowds came...The crowd that followed Him out and away from the city, had nothing to eat going on three days..
Jesus tells His disciples that He has compassion for His followers and knows after three days they are hungry...He knows if He sends them away hungry that they will have a difficult time traveling back home, especially the ones who have came the farthest...
The disciples have seven loaves of bread and a few small fish... Jesus asks the crowd to sit down on the ground...He takes the seven loaves of bread and gives thanks...He breaks the bread and asks that His disciples distribute the bread to His followers... He then takes the few small fish and He gives thanks for them, and then tells the disciples to distribute the fish..
There are four thousand men there...We are not told how many women and children there are...
The people ate and were satisfied...After the people ate, He sends them away...
In a place, away from everything the disciples and people see a miracle...Maybe this remote location, helps His disciples and followers better understand who He is...
The verses of eleven through thirteen, seen to be verses that should be included in the next section, but they are not...The Pharisees show up and want a miracle, and Jesus refuses...The miracle is done and over... Now the Pharisees come and ask to see a miracle (another one)...I am not sure of many things, but feeding several thousand people with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish is a miracle...Apparently, the Pharisees did not just hear about what happened, did not believe it (what had happened), were wanting another miracle, or something else...
Jesus was/is greatly followed...Jesus does not do miracles for the sake of miracles...Jesus has a compassion for us...Jesus is abundance...In His Father's house in much bread, and bread to spare...He gave thanks to God for what He had, the seven loaves and the few small fish...Jesus provides...Jesus has no doubt about His faith, and trust in the Father to see things happen...