The feeding of the 4000 (Mark 8:1–10)

Those who try to find contradictions in the Bible often confuse this miracle with the feeding of the 5,000 which is recorded in all four Gospels. Only Matthew and Mark record this event, and it is not difficult to distinguish it from the other miracle of the multiplying of bread and fish. The first miracle took place in Galilee, near Bethsaida, and involved predominantly Jews. This miracle took place near Decapolis and involved mostly Gentiles. In the first miracle, Jesus started with five loaves and two fish, while here He had seven loaves “and a few fish.” The 5,000 had been with Him one day, but the 4,000 had been with him three days. Twelve baskets of fragments were left over after the 5,000 were fed, but only seven baskets after the 4,000 were fed. There were even two different kinds of baskets used: for the 5,000, small wicker lunch baskets (kophinos); for the 4,000, large hampers, big enough to hold a man (spuris, see Acts 9:25).

I. This miracle had a special purpose for His disciples.

A. The Twelve were perplexed.

We are amazed that they had forgotten the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. Why were the the disciples perplexed when they should have been saying, “Jesus is able to multiply loaves and fish, so we have no need to worry!”

Of course, it may be that they thought He would not perform that kind of a miracle in Gentile territory. Or, perhaps the fact that the previous crowd had tried to make Him King would cause Jesus to avoid repeating the miracle.

B. Jesus showed his compassion; and, the disciples showed their helplessness.

Their thinking was still the thinking of this world; they had left Jesus out of their calculations. Once again Jesus patiently asked them how much bread they had, and they reported a pitifully tiny amount.

Once again, he gave thanks to God and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to give to the crowd. Once again, God’s provision for their needs was more than enough.

II. This miracle took place in Jesus’ hands.

A. The feeding of this crowd occurred much like the feeding of the 5,000

As Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, the bread multiplied. Everybody ate and everybody was satisfied. Again, Jesus ordered the fragments to be collected so that nothing be wasted. The ability to perform miracles does not grant the authority to waste God’s gifts.

This audience had proved their right sense of spiritual values by three days of eager listening to the Lord’s preaching. It is not just that they were hungry, but that they were hungry for God.

B. Jesus had probably gone without food for this time as well.

But it was for his flock that he was concerned and felt compassion. He was also concerned about sending them home. Many of them had traveled great distances and might not make it home without fainting or becoming ill.

This location was more remote than the location of the previous feeding miracle. In that place, there had been nearby towns where the people could buy food if necessary. This place was too desolate. As in the previous miracle, Jesus asked the disciples to determine the amount of food they had. Again, it was inadequate, but in Jesus’ hands, there is no such thing as inadequate.

III. Jesus did not preach a sermon to this crowd on “the bread of life”.

A. Jesus knows his audience.

Jesus did not preach a sermon to this crowd on “the bread of life” as He did to the Jews in Capernaum, following the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:22ff). The facts about the Old Testament manna and the “bread of God” would have been foreign to these Gentiles.

Jesus always adapted His teaching to the needs and the understanding of the people to whom He ministered.

B. Let’s review several spiritual lessons from this.

The enemies of truth are often religious people who live according to man’s traditions. Satan often uses “religion” to blind the minds of sinners to the simple truths of God’s Word.

We must beware of any religious system that gives us an excuse to sin and disobey God’s Word.

We must also beware of worship that comes from the lips only, and not from the heart.

If we major on the inner man, the outer man will be what God wants it to be. True holiness comes from within.

It is difficult to break free from tradition. There is something in us that wants to hold to the past and make no changes. Even Peter had to learn his lesson twice!

We dare not limit Christ to any one nation or people. The Gospel came “to the Jew first” (Rom. 1:16), but today is for all men in all nations. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13).