The Satisfier of Starving Souls: Mark 8:1-9

Introduce

Last week we learned of a door unlocked and a river unblocked. We saw Jesus unlock deaf man’s ears and unblock stammering mouth. You were reminded from this story that Jesus makes sinners, so trust in and take others to him. The story we just read is another example of Jesus’s ministry to the crowds and another great miracle of our Lord. In fact, it is a similar miracle to one he performed in chapter 6 when He fed over five thousand people with five loaves bread and two fish. In our story we find the answer to a question: Who can satisfy starving souls? See if you can find the answer as I retell the story.

Retell

Right of the bat, Consider the Compassion Conveyed: Mark 8:1-3

We might assume that Jesus is in the same location as the previous miracle, for there is no mention of him traveling until verse 10. So our Lord was in the mostly gentile Decapolis. He was famous here, as He was in Galilee. A great crowd gathered around him as insects do around a lights at night. The great crowd had nothing to eat. Observing this need, Jesus called His disciples to Himself as a general calls his lower-ranking officers to himself to consult with them and give them instruction. He said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have far away.” Jesus feel deeply for this starving crowd for they have been with him for days, have no food, they would faint if He sent them away, and some live far away. Jesus see the need and conveys compassion, which naturally includes a desire to see the need met. Consider a time when you observed someone, maybe your own child get seriously hurt. Have you ever felt compassion for them? Have you desired to take away the hurt? If so, you experienced a feeling similar to Jesus. You have considered compassion conveyed.

Moving along, Consider the Doubt Displayed: Mark 8:4-5

A discussion ensues between our Lord and the twelve. The disciples ask, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” What a dense question, right? I mean it is like asking a skilled auto mechanic in his shop, “Who could possibly change my oil in a place like this?” I mean the disciples had already witnessed Jesus feed a crowd with sparse resources. They just don’t get who it is that they are talking to, at least not yet. However, I digress. Jesus reply isn’t a rebuke, but a simple question. He said, “How many loaves do you have.” The disciples replied, “Seven.” I’m sure the disciples are still puzzled at this point, looking at the vast crowd and their seven loaves. Their question displays doubt, which we have now considered.

Next, Consider the Direction Declared: Mark 8:6-7

Jesus directed the crowd to sit down. He took the seven loaves, gave thanks, and broke them. He gave the broken loaves to the disciples to give to the people. The disciples like waiters served the people the feast the Lord had provided. He, likewise, blessed what few small fish they had. He then told His disciples to give these to the people. In considering the direction declared, we might ask, “Would all these people be feed with seven loaves and a few small fish?” The disciples were likely thinking as they recieved this instruction and looked at the crowd, “Well, Jesus has lost it.” The compassion was conveyed, the doubt was displayed, and the direction was declared. What happened after all this?

To wrap it up, Consider the Starving Satisfied: Mark 8:8-9

Read verse 8, “And they ate and were satisfied.” Not only did they have enough to satisfy this large crowd, but they had left overs. Read the rest of the verse, “And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.” As Yahweh provided Israel with Mana from heaven in the wilderness, Jesus provides the crowd with bread in the desolate place. As Yaweh gave provision for the the sixth and seventh day on the sixth day, Jesus provided more than what was immediately necessary. He provided in abundance. Mark practically begs us to draw connections not only between this story and the feeding of the five thousand, but between both and the wilderness provisions Yahweh made for Israel. Indeed, Mark wants us to see Jesus is Yahweh incarnate. He is the God the Son, who became man to establish God’s reign in the redemption of His people. Mark ends this story by telling us that there were about four thousand people present. Matthew specifies that this number is men, so the number is likely higher. Jesus then sent the people away. The starving were satisfied.

Transition

You have considered the compassion conveyed, doubt displayed, direction declared, and starving satisfied. All of Jesus miracles including this one point beyond themselves to the one performing them. Who is Jesus, according to His miracles. He is a prophet, but more than a prophet. He is God the Son incarnate. He is the bringer of God’s good reign to earth in the salvation of sinners. So, how should we answer the question I asked at the beginning? Who can satisfy starving souls? The answer is Jesus. Jesus satisfies starving souls. With this truth being said, consider three responses we should have to the satisfier of you starving souls.

Apply

1. Jesus satisfies starving souls, so trust Him

Here is where the disciples seem to fail. They doubt Jesus in the question they posed to Him: “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”

Christian, you still need Jesus. You need Him every hour. So long as you hold onto Him in faith, you may know that even through highs and lows, He satisfies. Even in the deserts of life, Jesus is the source of spiritual nourishment. 

Quick question: Does the way you operate as a family demonstrate trust in Jesus? Here are some diagnostic questions: 

Does prayer have a prominent place in your times together? Is it regular? 

Is the Bible read, memorized, and studied in your home? 

Do your children know that they are sinners in need of salvation? 

Do they know that it is only by faith in Jesus that they are saved? 

Do they know what God expects of them? 

Is the local church a priority in your household? Do you regularly assemble with a true church of Jesus? Do you receive the ordinary means of grace? Do pray for your church? 

Does your family schedule and budget reflect the fact that you trust Jesus? 

Unbeliever, you are a starved individual. You try to fill your souls with inadequate substitutes and serve the false gods erected in you heart. The gods of self, money, family, convince, safety, sports, politics, and the like all leave you more empty. They are like candy. They are sweet to the taste but destructive to the body. There is only one who can satisfy your hungry soul. He is a savory steak that never ends. His name is Jesus. As Jesus satisfied this crowd, He can satisfy you with glories incomprehensible. He is able to save you from your sins. He is able to give you ever lasting life. His holy life and substitutionary death make possible your salvation. His resurrection confirms acceptance of His work. His ascension declares His worthiness of His Kingship and the completion of His sacrificial work. Do you see that you are a sinner? Do you see your need for salvation? If so, then I offer Christ to you know. Trust Him and be satisfied and saved. 

2. Jesus satisfies starving souls, so serve Him

The disciples of our Lord, though they had doubts, they still served the food and obeyed his orders. It is similar for us who are the Lord’s disciples now. We may doubt from time to time, but like the disciples we must do what the Lord commands. That is you must serve Him.

You serve Jesus by joining His mission. Like the disciples you must serve bread and fish to starving souls. The bread you serve is the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation. People need to hear about God, His Law, their sin, His judgement, Christ and His salvation, and the response of faith and repentance required for salvation. People are hungry for the truth and salvation. 

Of course you should seek as best as you are able to meet the physical needs of those you are responsible for and works of charity are worthy endeavors. The emphasis on spiritual needs, should never lead to the ignoring of physical needs. 

That said, pray for the spread of the gospel. Pray for sinners to be converted. 

Also, proclaim the good news with intentionality and spontaneously. Consider who you might share the gospel with, pray about it, and do it. Also, pray for opportunities to share the good news. Pray for sensitivity to see and boldness to take those opportunities. 

May God help you serve the Lord, who served you in giving Himself as a ransom for your salvation. 

You should look at your work as an opportunity to serve Jesus. Even the mundane or annoying parts of your work are to be done to the glory of Christ. You should work to serve your family. You should work to serve your community. However, your ultimate goal in work should be the glory of Christ. This will not necessarily require a change in how you work, but rather it will change what motivates it. It is a change of outlook. 

We are to serve Christ as a church. Our worship, polity, and mission must be regulated by His Word. We are a local outpost in the Lambs army. This war is not primary against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers and forces. The weapons we wield are not swords, guns, or government. Not the weapons we wield are also spiritual. We wield the weapons of prayer and the Word. Let us wield them often and well. Our gatherings, ministries, and programs must be saturated with both. 

3. Jesus satisfies starving souls, so imitate Him

Compassion is the trait of Christ that we see most clearly displayed in this story. Jesus explicitly states He has compassion. Christian, are you compassionate to those who are needy? Are you compassionate with do you feel compassion for the lost? We must give those in darkness the light. We must give those who are starving manna from heaven. We must give those who are thirsty living water.

If you aren’t compassionate, then pray for God’s help. If you are, press on. 

Christians should look different than the world around us. Our culture is a culture of hate. Hate for difference of skin color, age, politic, economic status, or any other myriad of issues. The Christian should be one who is known by their likeness to Christ. We should be known as compassionate people. Now, in our world compassion is seen as tolerance, acceptance, and agreement. That is not compassion, according to Scripture. Compassion is feeling deeply for people who are hurting and have need. Compassion is a desire to meet that need. People need truth. Compassion gives the truth in love. People need Jesus. Compassion gives people Jesus. 

Conclude

You have considered the compassion conveyed, doubt displayed, direction declared, and starving satisfied. You have been told and reminded that Jesus satisfies souls, so trust, serve, and imitate Him. Again the Gospel of Mark gives us a glorious portrait of our compassionate Savior. Their are none who come to Him who leave hungry. So, come to Him. Let us pray.