Trinity 7 (Feeding 4,000)

Mark 8:1, in those days… the structure of Mark is that its first major section is in Galilee. As chapter 8 wraps up Jesus Galilean ministry, We believe it to be a ministry to the Gentiles or non-Jews. If you look up the page to chapter seven you see that there are two significant healings performed for Gentiles. So the phrase…in those days probably means that we are about to see a miracle performed among a non Jewish Audience. At first blush this might feel insignificant until you realize that this is the second feeding of a crowd by Jesus recorded in Mark.

The feeding of the 5000, the only miracle to make all 4 gospels, is 2 chapters before this in Mark 6. This begs the question why does mark feel the need to record a 2nd smaller miraculous feeding? Let’s consider a few of the details between the two

So just as in chapter 6 Jesus sees the crowd and has compassion on them. He sees that they have had nothing to eat in 3 days. BTW in Chapter six is was they had not eaten at all that day.

In verse four we see again that the disciples can not conceive of how to get everyone food without any logistical support. They are in a desolate place. There are 4000 men, probably times 2 women and children so around 12,000 people all hungry. And this is important…no modern conveniences. No groceries stocked with bread, ham, and ind. bags of Cheetos. Even if there was a town near by, what would it be. A collection of 40 houses. Probably the people there struggling to keep fed. Not enough extra for 12,000 people. Yes the disciples had seen the miraculous healing of the 5,000 after a day, but this is 4,000 and its been three days. Maybe they thought if Jesus was going to do something he would have already.

Jesus ask them to take stock of the supplies, seven loaves instead of the 5 they had last time. But Jesus took what they had, had the crowds sit down and he took the break and gave thanks. He broke it and gave it to his disciples. They gave it to the crowd. Every one ate till they where satisfied.

In the previous event they all at and there where 12 baskets left over, this time. 7. Then the crowd that had eaten was sent away and Jesus goes on his way.

God has called the church to feed the sheep both near and far.

Alright we have seen what happens in this particular text we should attach it all with some meaning.

First, Jesus if fulfilling a significant ministry among Non-Jewish people or the Gentiles. I know I often mention it, but the people of Israel had come to see their own ethnic group as God’s special people. God had in-fact set them apart to receive his covenantal promises, but the purpose to be a people who blessed all the other nations. Instead they had come to see themselves as a superior.

To this we see Jesus not only bringing good news to these folks but also he is bringing his ministry of signs and healing among them. He is expanding the participation in God’s covenantal life to them.

The Second bit of meaning I would connect to this text is that Jesus intends the disciples to be the mean by which the people are blessed. In both the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000 the disciples are the folks who take this bread to the people to eat. The disciple not only do the feedings they are also the means by which Christ builds his church. Yes the miracle belongs to Jesus, but the disciples play a significant role. We Pray every week, thy kingdom come thy will be done, it would make sense to assume that we are the means by which God intends to bring that kingdom here. But we will have to be faithful to what Jesus is calling us, the care of people who you would not expect, in this case, gentiles.

The third bit of meaning I would attach and its related to the second is this. Look at the structure of the sentences, And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples

If you didn’t know I was talking about this particular miracle what would you assume I was referring to? Communion. And just like in communion the bread comes from Christ, and goes to the disciples, from there to the people. I know in the lower church setting in which I previously worked there was a believe that all Christians had an apostolic ministry that any body could do communion.

But we are a church that sees a set apart ministry for those called into the clergy, that this group of God’s people are there to hear God’s word and to be fed by God’s bread, and yet they are served by the 12. And so between the Bishop, father David and I we are here to fulfill this calling to feed God’s people that none would be faint for lack of sustenance.

God has called the church to feed the sheep both near and far.

So what are the applications to our own spiritual lives from Mark 8?

The church is a ministry for all people not just its membership. I know this is obvious as many of us have some evangelical roots in our backgrounds. But we can loose sight of this. The OT scriptures were clear about Israels roll to be a blessing to people outside the community and they often lost sight of that creating an us verse them. We cannot fall into the same trap. When we come Sunday morning to our smaller gathering knowing there are 1000 people at the soccer fields we must remind ourselves that it is a field and a lot full of people God loves, and sent his son to go and preach to and to feed, and we are his means. This can never become us verses them. Remember that this whole section starts with this saying of our Lord... “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”

A second application God takes our insufficiencies and expands their reach beyond anything that would have been logical and reasonable. 7 loaves became food for 12,000 with 7 baskets left over. Do not morn that you bring only so much capability to the table God will extend its reach beyond anything you can imagine.

The church is the Body of Christ, she is an institution of God’s intention. Its self serving for me to say so but this is a time where we have to protect the apostolic ministry. The Western church continues its long slow anti institutional march. It sees all forms of hierarchical leadership as inherently bad. There is a romanticism of small egalitarian house churches, movements instead of institutions. There can be great community and life change that happens in small groups meeting in houses. And movements of passionate people are not bad. But they do not replace the church that has been sent by God among sheep without a shepherd to feed them the bread of heaven. Again I know its self serving to say so but I do think its biblical, and needs said.

God has called the church to feed the sheep both near and far.

The failure of Adam and Eve in the Garden was that they gave into their appetites for counterfeit food. God had offered them to eat a bread that would lead them to life eternal. The serpent offered them to indulge an appetite for different food. They could have their own authority, they could judge right and wrong apart from God’s intention. Instead of feeding on what God had given he offered them to become like God.

Jesus Christ the second and better Adam instead of taking the Garden deal says “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

So on the cross hangs Jesus taking on-himself our broken appetites and giving us a commitment to the food of God’s great work.

Today as we do every Sunday we will gether to eat this food. The Altar, the place where we join with the 4000 of Mark 8 the 5000 for Mark 6, Eat bothers and sister and be satisfied, put aside the broken appetites of this world. Put aside the appetite for greed, for lust, for power, for vengeance, for pride, eat of the son, who has defeated those sins and gives us everlasting life.

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