Mark 8:5-10

Passage

Once more Jesus asks the disciples how many loaves of bread they have.  This time, they have seven loaves.  Once more Jesus seats the people, blesses the bread, and has the disciples pass out the bread.  He also blessed a few fish and set them before the people.  They ate and were satisfied.  When they collected up the remaining pieces, there were seven baskets full of pieces.  There were about 4,000 people fed.  Once they were fed, Jesus sent them away in peace and turned with His disciples to head into the region of Dalmanutha.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Seven loaves.  More bread than before – and remember that this is involving predominantly Gentiles.  Could this be symbolic that the ministry to the Gentiles would be larger than the ministry to the Jews?  Perhaps.  Actually, I think the number is symbolically chosen (although I don’t also doubt it literal nature of actually having 7 loaves).  7 is the Jewish number that symbolizes completion.  After all, on the seventh day God completed creation.  Now that Jesus is going among the Gentiles and demonstrating that He is not being made unclean, the breadth of His teaching is complete.  The Gospel of salvation would go out to both Jews and Gentiles alike.  That is the true fulfillment of scripture.

Have you ever thought about the feeding of the 4,000 as a symbolic act of the completion of God’s work with respect to the Gentiles as well as the Jews?  How does this understanding help you differentiate between the feeding of the 4,000 and the feeding of the 5,000?

Second Thought:

Seven baskets.  Fewer baskets than before.  However, this is actually still more bread.  In the feeding of the 5,000 the disciples pick up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces.  Again, that number was symbolic.  But those baskets (kophinos, κόφινος) were the smaller baskets that Jews would use to keep their “purified” items that they might need during the day – especially if they were going to come in contact with unclean places.  These baskets in this story are far larger (spuris, σπυρίς).  These are the large baskets that you typically see strapped to the back of a donkey or atop a woman’s head as they walk along the road in third-world countries.  The reality is that since they were in Gentile land, they didn’t have access to the specialized Jewish baskets.  So they use the common basket and God even fills up the common baskets to the top.  God provision for us is not limited by who we are.  God’s provision is not defiled by being placed in common containers.  God’s provision – as the number indicates – is complete.

How neat is it that we actually can see God’s completeness and His provision to a greater detail by looking into the Greek language and realizing that these are different baskets in each of the feeding stories?  How does this focus on God’s abundance help you understand God’s position on going and working among the Gentiles and not being worried about being defiled by them?

Third Thought:

Again the people were satisfied.  The people went away in peace.  Jesus satisfies both the physical need and the spiritual need.  He is the complete savior.

How has Jesus met your physical needs?  How has Jesus met your spiritual needs?  Who are you willing to tell this to in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 8:11-13