Getting Enough Bread
Mark 8:1 – In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. So Jesus called his disciples and said to them, 2 – “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days, and they have nothing to eat. 3 – If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.”
verse 4 – His disciples answered him, “Where can someone get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” 5 – He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” 6 – Then he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples to serve. So they served the crowd. 7 – They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well. 8 – Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 – There were about four thousand who ate. Then he dismissed them.
Another large crowd with nothing to eat. They had been with Jesus listening to Him for three days and Jesus was concerned about sending them away hungry. He didn’t want them to faint on their way home. Jesus spoke His mind to the disciples. He didn’t approach them as He did the last time they were with a large crowd of people. Remember what He said to them? He had said: “You give them something to eat.” He didn’t say that this time. He waited to see if the disciples would remember how He handled the problem the last time. The disciples didn’t catch on – wondering how they could get bread in that desolate place to satisfy so many people?
The solution to the problem was already there! Jesus was there in that desolate place. With Jesus they would have no problem getting enough bread – no matter when and no matter where.
We may find ourselves in desolate places again and again. Do not forget that if Jesus was the answer in the past, He’ll be the answer today and He’ll be the answer in the future. With Jesus there will always be enough heavenly bread for everyone. Notice what Jesus did! He did the same thing He did the previous time. He took what bread and fish they had and gave thanks. Then He broke them and gave them to the disciples who served the crowd.
Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” – John 6:51.
Let’s give thanks for what little we have – and we’ll always have enough!
Where two are gathered 