During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance." His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked.
"Seven," they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. -Mark 8:1-10*
In this account of the feeding of the four thousand, the second feeding of a multitude, we see the depth of compassion that Jesus had for the people who were following after Him. They had been with Jesus for three days without eating and He is concerned. I love Eugene Peterson's translation, "These people are breaking my heart." This passage highlights Jesus' miracle of feeding a multitude and His deep love. But there is more. Jesus asks his disciples, "How much bread do you have?" and they answer seven loaves and a few fish. Even though this situation has occurred once before, the disciples are focused on the impossibility of getting bread for 4,000 people in the desert. But Jesus takes what they do have - just seven bread loaves and a few fish, and meets the need.
How often I have looked at a situation and thought, "I do not have what it takes. This situation is out of my control. If only I had more faith." But Mark reminds us that in a difficult or seemingly impossible situation, the Lord takes what we do have regardless of how little or inadequate and uses it if we but bring it to Him.
Katy Kiser serves on the Staff Parish Relations Committee. Additionally, Katy serves the wider United Methodist Church as District Lay Leader.
How has Jesus made a difference in your life? "Without Jesus, my heart was empty then with Jesus everything came clear." -Caroline Workley, 4th grade
*Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
