FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE FED
[Mark:8:1-26 [1] In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, [2] I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: [3] And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. [4] And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? [5] And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. [6] And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. [7] And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. [8] So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. [9] And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away. [10] And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. [11] And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. [12] And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. [13] And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. [14] Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. [15] And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. [16] And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. [17] And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? [18] Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? [19] When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. [20] And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. [21] And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand? [22] And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. [23] And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. [24] And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. [25] After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. [26] And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. ].
"He careth for you" (I Peter 5:7).
Following Jesus
Great crowds followed Jesus when he was upon earth. Many people brought their sick unto Him to be healed. Some who came unto Him could not see; some could not hear; some could not talk; some could not walk. But Jesus made them all well. Others came to listen to what Jesus had to say. He taught the people about Heaven, and told them about God, His heavenly Father.
Four thousand people gathered around Jesus – they stayed with Him one day; they stayed two days; they stayed three days. It seemed that they had forgotten they were tired and hungry. But by the end of three days Jesus called the disciples to Him and said that if the people went home without eating they might faint, as some had come from afar. He asked the disciples how many loaves they had. They answered, "Seven."
Many Fed
Just as He had done once before when He was up in a mountain and the crowds followed Him, Jesus took the bread and gave thanks. Then He broke it and gave to the disciples, and they gave it to the people. There were also a few fishes and Jesus did the same with the fishes. All the people ate and were filled, and there were seven baskets of food left.
Jesus then sent the people away. No doubt they went back to their homes loving Jesus more than ever. We read in the Bible, "He hath filled the hungry with good things." That does not mean only the food which Jesus fed the people but also the saving of their soul. The most important of all is to be saved and to be ready to meet Jesus. If we are saved, He has promised to take care of us and all our needs.
The Same Jesus
Jesus is still working miracles today. He still gives food to the needy and starving people who trust in Him. Many mothers and fathers have trusted God to send food to them when they had nothing to eat and nothing to feed their children. No so very many years ago a Christian family who trusted God saw Him answer their prayer. While the mother worked, the grandmother cared for the children. One evening after supper the grandmother said to the children's father, "Son, do you realize that there is nothing in the house to feed the children in the morning?" The father replied, "But, Mother, it isn't morning yet." His faith and trust were in the God who never fails. In the morning they found a box of groceries on the porch!
Grace at Table
Since Jesus gave thanks before He fed the people, we should also remember to return thanks before we eat our meals. After all, it is from Him that we receive everything. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He told them to say, "Give us this day our daily bread." If we remember to be thankful to Jesus for the good things he gives us every day, He will continue to give us everything we need. We should give "thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" [Ephesians:5:20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
]).
Sometimes parents will let the children return thanks at the table. Here are a few short prayers which may be taught to children:
" Be present at our table, Lord;
Be here and everywhere adored.
Thy creatures bless, and grant that we
May feast in paradise with Thee."
---------------------o---------------------
"Thank You for the world so sweet,
Thank You for the food we eat,
Thank You for the birds that sing –
Thank You, God, for everything."
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"Father, bless the food we take,
And bless us now, for Jesus' sake."
1. How many days had the people been with Jesus? [Mark:8:2I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
].
2. How many loaves did the disciples have? [Mark:8:5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
].
3. What did Jesus do before He fed the people? [Mark:8:6And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
].
4. How many people were fed? How much food was left? [Mark:8:8-9 [8] So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
[9] And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
].
5. How many people were fed at another time? How much food was left? [John:6:10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
];[John:6:13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
].
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