Adequate for the Task
TRANSLATION
(1) Again in those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, (2) “I feel compassion for these people because they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. (3) If I send them away hungry, they may faint on the way because some of them have come from far away.” (4) His disciples answered, “Where in this desolate place could anyone find enough bread to feed them?” (5) “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
(6) He directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he had taken the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. (7) They also had a few small fish. He gave thanks for them and told the disciples to distribute them as well. (8) The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (9) About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, (10) he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
OBSERVATIONS
This passage contains the second account in Mark’s Gospel of Jesus feeding a huge number of people, two very similar miracles found within the space of two chapters (cff. Mk. 6:30-45). That this was no scribal error on the part of the Gospel writer is seen in the key word, “again” (vs. 1). Note the similarities in both accounts. In each case a large crowd numbering in the thousands had gathered to hear Jesus teach. Neither group had brought anything to eat to a remote area where food was unavailable. In each instance Mark tells us that Jesus felt compassion for the multitude and then challenged his disciples to take responsibility for feeding them. In each case, the disciples expressed frustration at the difficulty and cost of feeding a huge number in such a desolate place. Each time, Jesus took what little they had, a few loaves and a couple fish, and miraculously turned a small lunch into enough food to feed everyone with a large amount left over. Repeated words in this segment include four uses of “disciples” (vss. 1, 4, 6, & 10), four occurrences of “crowd” (vss. 1, 2, & 6), “nothing to eat” (vss. 1 & 2) and “seven loaves” twice each (vss. 5 & 6).
Why did Mark, like Matthew, choose to include both accounts of miraculous feedings in their Gospel records? We find an important clue leading to the answer in the next paragraph where Jesus rebuked his disciples after this second miracle for having failed to learn important spiritual lessons from the first miracle he had performed (Mk. 8:11-21).
OUTLINE
I. The problem: how do we meet the needs of those to whom we are called to minister? (1-4)
II. The solution: we learn to trust that Jesus will make us adequate for any task he assigns us. (5-10)
IDEA STATEMENT
Those who desire to serve Jesus must learn that he will make us adequate for whatever task he has given us to carry out.
APPLICATION
In raising a family, good parents endeavor to teach their children how to be resourceful, to have a spirit of self-reliance. Fathers and mothers should hope that by the time their offspring launch out on their own, they will be ready to live independently rather than returning constantly for reassurance and resources. In training the twelve, Jesus likewise sought to lead them to a greater sense of self-reliance. However, he never taught them to depend entirely on themselves. Instead, his statement in the Upper Room Discourse summarizes what he was trying to help them grasp: “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).
The two similar miracles of feeding the multitude found both in Matthew’s and in Mark’s Gospel accounts skillfully communicated this crucial principle. In each case, Jesus challenged his disciples to meet the needs of those who had gathered to hear him teach. In each case they expressed their frustration with the impossibility of doing so on their own. In each case he took what little they had and made it sufficient to meet the needs of all with plenty left over.
Those who desire to serve Jesus must master this vital lesson. Operating independently of the Savior never works in spiritual ministry. We will never have enough resources, enough wisdom, or sufficient strength for the tasks he sets before us. Only when we turn what little we have over to him and trust in his sufficiency will we see him work both in us and through us to minister to those whose needs we could never meet on our own.