In Mark chapter 6, verses 7 and 12, we read that Jesus called His twelve disciples together, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. They went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
After receiving this power, we come to the two stories of how Jesus provided food for the massive crowds that were following Him.
The first is recorded in Mark 6:33-44, and the second is in Mark 8:1-10.
However what I want to point out about His power to sustain is not found within the stories of how He provided the physical bread. It’s found in the events that took place following each of these miracles of feeding the crowds.
Looking at Mark 6:45-52, we see that the disciples were on a boat in the middle of the sea. Jesus had gone to the mountain to pray. A storm arose in the middle of the night. Verses 48-51 say that Jesus saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. When they saw Him, they didn’t recognize Him. They supposed He was a ghost and they were troubled. He talked with them though and said, “Be of good cheer ! It is I; do not be afraid.” Now it says here that they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. What caught my eye was the next verse, 52: “For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” That means that they did not understand.
Next, let’s look at the circumstances taking place after the second miracle of feeding the masses. In chapter 8:13-21, we see that they are in a boat again. Verse 14 says, “Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat.” Jesus now begins to speak to them about the spiritual aspect of bread. He was warning them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. He was referring to the mental and moral corruption of these people, that would have a tendency to infect others.
Still, they did not understand. If we read His response to their reasoning, in verses 17-21, we can see that He’s amazed at how their heart was still hardened. “Why do you reason because you have no bread ? Do you not perceive nor understand ? Is your heart still hardened ? Having eyes, do you not see ? And having ears, do you not hear ? And do you not remember ?” He said to them, “How is it you do not understand ?”
As I have asked Holy Spirit to enlighten my understanding in this, I see the two situations the disciples found themselves in, after the miracles. I begin to understand how we can relate with this and find out what He desires for us to glean from it; Remembering that they witnessed the miracles of sustaining power:
1. They were in a storm. It was dark. They were striving. Fear gripped them, and they didn’t recognize Jesus when He walked by.
2. They were in a situation where they didn’t have much. They had not planned ahead to take plenty of provisions.
3. Jesus wanted them to understand the spiritual application of His sustaining power, not only in the physical sense, but in the spiritual realm. He warned them of the importance in knowing the difference between His bread and the leaven of the religious leaders and government authorities. Herod was the name of four Jewish kings, a name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ.
Questions we can ask ourselves:
1. When my circumstances are like that of a storm, where darkness abounds, am I going to be busy striving, so much so that when Jesus walks by, I don’t recognize that it’s Him ? Or will I remember that He brought sustaining power and fed the masses, so when I need it, He will show up, feed me, and I’ll recognize it is Him, and not my striving efforts ? Is His Word not my spiritual food ?
2. When circumstances are such in my life that I have little in the way of spiritual food, and He wants to talk to me about more, will I be reasoning in my heart that it’s about what’s happening in the natural rather than a spiritual lesson He desires to show me ? Will I go deeper with Him so that He can teach me to discern what His true bread is, and not be deceived by the false leaven ?
Prayer: God, Your Word tells me that You will supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory. That not only includes my physical needs, but spiritual as well. When the storms of life come, and false doctrines are prevailing in the midst of a perverse and crooked generation, help me to keep my eyes fixed on You. Forgive me God for all the times I was busy striving to get through the storm rather than remembering Your sustaining power to overcome. Help me to see the spiritual lessons You want to show and teach me in and through every situation. I choose to be of good cheer, recognize You , and not be afraid. Enlighten the eyes of my heart and spiritual ears to hear, by Your powerful sustaining Word, which is my daily bread. I will remember what You’ve already done and glean Your spiritual truths from those circumstances. As I feed on Your Word, You will help me to feed Your sheep. There will be the miracle of abundant sustaining power, multiplying Your bread, with plenty to go around. Amen.
John 6:32-35 “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ Then they said to Him, ‘Lord, give us this bread always.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”