How can we feed these people?
Mark • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 11 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
How can we feed these people?
How can we feed these people?
Children, young men, fathers - children, young women, older women - are words often used together in the New Testament to explain the spiritual growth and maturing that should happen when people confess their sin and receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
The Apostle John spoke of those three stages of maturing.
I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
The Apostle Paul reminded Titus, a young pastor those three stages of growth - .
In addition to reminding Titus that believers needed to mature, he also reminded Titus of what he as a pastor needed to do.
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Titus 2:
Paul had left Titus in Crete to put things in order.
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
Titus 1;
Paul’s command was clear. Preach what accords with, consistent with, leads to sound doctrine.
Maturing in Christ involves more than good teaching. Those who are being taught need to hear and understand what was being taught.
In the Letter to the Hebrews the writer referred to those who not maturing. In fact, the words used suggesting that they were regressing, dull of hearing, unskilled in the word of righteousness and unable to distinguish good from evil.
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Heb 5:11-
By now, some of you are probably wondering what maturing in Christ and teaching have to do with the feeding the 4,000. They are much more connected than most of us might initially see.
Wh
To be sure, there is no way that we can get into the heads of the disciples and understand all that they were thinking. From Mark’s record it would seem that the disciples are not grasping what they should.
but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Mk 6:
And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
Mk 7:18
In the portion before us, the feeding of the 4,000 that should have served as a gentle faith reminder to how Jesus had fed the 5,000, they asked a question making it very clear that they did not understand.
And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”
Because of the similarities/parallels in feeding of the 2 large crowds, some of suggested Mark must have made a mistake in what he recorded. To those who suggest that it is clear that Mark and Peter who was probably his first hand source, they are painfully honest and transparent. They did not make the connection. That is even more obvious later when Jesus warned them of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. He then asked them 8 pointed questions dealing with their lack of understanding.
Feeding the 4,000 is a huge challenge! We are tempted to echo the disciples’ question,
And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”
Mk
Giving to Jesus what we have and doing what He commands is a excellent place to begin.
Feeding the 4,000 and feeding the 5,000 - ; - similarities & differences.
Similarities:
Much in common but then there are also many similarities between two healings - deaf/mute man - ;31-37 and healing of blind man - Mk 8:22-26
Settings
Rural deserted areas far from where anyone lived.
Both locations desolate - 8:4; 6:32, 35
Far away from homes, might faint if sent home with no food - 8:3
Jesus’ compassion
Jesus’ compassion recorded in the first person with the suggestion that is the framework for the feeding of the 4,000.
“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
What do you have?
And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”
Mk
And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Mk 6:
Commands, process, results, follow-up
And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.
And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.
Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.
Mk 6:
Results
And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
Mk
And they all ate and were satisfied.
Mk 6:
Ate and satisfied - same word used in - fed = eat all they want and are satisfied
Leftovers gathered after both meals.
In both instances Jesus dismissed the crowd and a boat trip followed - here - all of them - after 5,000 disciples in the boat, Jesus praying, storm, walking on water.
While there are similarities, there are also differences.
Numbers: family units
4,000 people plus = 12,000 to 15,000
And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.
Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
Mk
Matt 15:
5,000 men = 15,000 to 20,000
And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Mk
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
Jn 6:
What Jesus blessed:
4,000 - 7 loaves & few small fish - better translated sardines
And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”
Mk 8:
And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.
5,000 -
5,000 - 5 loaves & 2 fish - word for fish different in both accounts
And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Difference in bread fish source
4,000- probably the disciples - what do you have?
And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.”
And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.
5,000 - SEND THEM AWAY - Cost if go and buy, how many loaves do you have? - they found young lad with a lunch
Mk 6:
Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”
Leftovers:
4,000 - 7 baskets full - word for baskets differs
And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
5,000 - 12 baskets full broken pieces and fish
Mk 6:
And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
4,000 - Jesus much more prominent
Jesus directs rather then respond to events
4,000 - missing
less help from disciples
5,000
Jesus’ exact dialogue - 1st person - cc Last Supper - - Etched by Holy Spirit in Peter’s mind and heart.
Being first person, Jesus declares his compassion on this Decapolis/Gentile crowd and indirectly on Mark’s Gentile readers.
2. Jesus feeds the 4,000 -
During those days AGAIN- region of Decapolis - 7:31 - in those days - 8:1
Jesus’ compassion for the crowd - 8:1-3
Background/reason - great crowd gathered - Gentile - remained/abide - prosmenein - suggesting a special adherence and commitment to Jesus
prosmenein - stronger abide - than - meno - whoever abides in me - used one other time in NT
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
Conveys remain with as compared to abide - not suggesting in Jesus but strong pull to remain with Jesus so much so that had been with Him for an extended time.
Although not mentioned, it is safe to assume that Jesus taught them as He had the 5,000 - Mk 6:34
Have been with me 3 days - 8:2 - nothing to eat - no place to be without provisions
Mark’s first point, which was probably what Peter remembered most, was Jesus’ statement and explanation for His compassion.
Called/summoned the disciples - special explanation
COMPASSION - root word - entrails and vital organs - heart, lungs, liver, kidneys = gut wrenching emotion on behalf of the crowd.
“Mark never used this word of people for whom one would naturally feel compassion - friends, comrads but for those who were more removed and perhaps even offensive - lepers - 1:41, revolutionaries - 6:34, Gentiles - 8:2, demon possessed - 9:22
Remembering that the disciples had wanted to send the 5,000 plus away and knowing that they still did not understand, Jesus took the initiative and explained why - some will faint.
The disciples’ question - 8:4
Betrays lack of understanding - How can one - not you - feed these people - with bread - in this desolate place?
HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THEY HAD BEEN THINKING AND PRAYING AND HAVING AFFIRMED THEIR OWN COMPASSION, EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAD 7 LOAVES PLUS 2 SMALL FISH AND ARE TRUSTING THAT WITH JESUS BLESSING AND HELP, THAT WILL BE MORE THAN ENOUGH TO FEED AND SATISFY EVERYONE.
Jesus’ question - the disciples’ answer S- 8:5, 7
How many loaves do YOU - not someone else.
Immediate answer - 7 loaves - later 2 small fish.
Jesus’ directives & actions - 8:6-7
Jesus:
Directed the crowd to sit down
Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.
Mk
Took the 7 loaves, having given thanks - looking up to heaven - follows Jewish custom, broke them.
Gave them to the disciples to set before the people
Disciples:
Set the loaves before the people
Jesus:
Blessed the small fish and said that they should be set before the people
Jesus’ results results & Jesus’ actions - 8:8-9
The people ate and were satisfied
We do well to remember the disciple’s question and only Jesus can satisfy the people.
And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”
Mk
And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
Mk 8:
God/Jesus alone satisfies the heart.
The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
May your hearts live forever!
Ps 22:2
The disciples took up the left overs - 7 baskets full
Huge baskets - sphuris - the kind of basket used to let Paul down over the wall -
Re the 5,000 - kophinos - used of a Jewish basket used to carry foo
Jesus sent the people away
Post script - Jesus & the disciples - 8:10
And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
Mk 8:
Discipleship and ministry reminders from Jesus’ feeding the 4,000:
Compassion primes ministry and recognizes real present needs.
Compassion focuses first on people and their needs rather than the problem/challenge in meeting those needs.
4,000 Gentiles, some of whom might driven them from the nearby Gerasene area
Jesus would have us not only recognize needs but more so what He can do with what we entrust to Him.
We need to see and respond to those who are more open to Jesus.
Even as we see Jesus working in the hearts of people through His Word and by His spirit, we can trust Him to meet the needs to those who without Jesus’ help are vulnerable.
ONLY JESUS CAN SATISFY
For fruitful lasting ministry we must see others as Jesus does and do as He commands.
Compassionate disciples see people through Jesus’ eyes and trust Jesus to bless and multiply what they have for His glory.
Compassionate disc
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.