Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” - John 6:35
Hello everyone! 2 weeks ago we began a trio of messages that detail some of Jesus’ travels outside the borders of Israel. First, He went to Phoenicia where He healed a demon possessed girl. Next, He moved on to the Decapolis where He healed many afflicted people including a deaf man with a speech impediment. In both places, Jesus was interacting with and performing miracles upon and among the Gentiles.
In today’s sermon, Jesus is still somewhere in the Decapolis. He has gone up on a mountain with the disciples and large crowds have come to Him. As we are about to discover, Jesus is going to perform a miracle very similar to another that we studied about a month ago. This story is recorded in both Matthew and Mark, but for the sake of time we will use Matthew’s rendition as our focal text.
I. 3 DAYS (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:1-3)
Jesus had been teaching and healing the crowd for 3 days. They had remained with Him continuously and had not eaten. Jesus wanted to conclude His teaching and dismiss them, but He was concerned that they might faint on their way home. Thus said to His disciples, “I feel compassion for these people and don’t want to send them away hungry.”
While uncertain, it is possible that this crowd was the same group that we studied last Sunday who were bringing the blind, lame, deaf, and others to Jesus to be healed. Whether it was the same occasion or not really doesn’t matter. What stands out is that they were interested in hearing what Jesus had to say. They had been with Him, listening intently, for 3 straight days. This was clearly a much warmer reception than Jesus received during His first visit to the Decapolis. These Gentiles seemed genuinely intrigued by His message.
II. 7 LOAVES (Matthew 15:33-34; Mark 8:4-5)
Hearing that Jesus wanted to feed the large crowd, the disciples asked where they could get enough bread for everyone in such a desolate place. Jesus then asked how many loaves they had. The disciples and, “We have 7 loaves and a few small fish.”
Is any of this sounding familiar? Earlier Jesus had used 5 barley loaves to feed over 5,000 people in the countryside near Bethsaida. A few months later, He now had 7 loaves of bread to feed the hungering crowds in the Decapolis. That’s 2 more loaves than before, but still not nearly enough. No problem… Jesus can handle it.
When Jesus fed the 5,000, a young boy donated his bread and fish to the disciples. In this instance, the Bible doesn’t tell us where the 7 loaves and few fish came from. I guess if you're curious, you can ask when you get to heaven!
III. 4000 MEN (Matthew 15:35-37a, 38; Mark 8:6-8a, 9)
Jesus directed the people to sit down. Then He blessed the bread and the fish and began breaking them. He kept giving pieces to the disciples who then distributed them to the people seated on the ground. The food kept multiplying until everyone had eaten to their satisfaction. Those who ate were 4,000 men, besides women and children.
This miracle again demonstrates the amazing provision of God. Even though we may have very little, in God’s hands it always is more than enough. He can take our meager resources and supernaturally multiply them to meet our needs. I have experienced this personally in my life on countless occasions. Trust God will what little you have, give it to Him, be thankful, and watch as He provides the increase.
IV. 7 BASKETS (Matthew 15:37b, 39; Mark 8:8b, 10)
After everyone had eaten and was full, the disciples gathered up the leftovers. They collected 7 baskets full of scraps and broken pieces. Then Jesus sent the crowds away. He and His disciples got in their boat and returned to Galilee, coming ashore in the region of Magadan (also known as Dalmanutha).
Let’s compare. After the feeding of the 5,000, which took place in Galilee, the disciples collected 12 baskets of leftovers. After the feeding of the 4,000, which took place in the Decapolis, the disciples collected 7 baskets of leftovers. Some commentators have suggested that the 12 baskets represent the 12 tribes of Israel, that is the Jews, while the 7 baskets represent the 7 Canaanite nations that were driven out of the Promised Land, that is the Gentiles (Deuteronomy 7:1).
In Biblical numerology, the number 7 represents completeness, perfection, and sufficiency. We see this illustrated in God’s creative work. He created the heavens, the earth, and everything in them and then rested on the 7th day when His work was complete. As it pertains to this miracle, ultimately Jesus is the bread of life, who satisfies our hungering souls. His atoning sacrifice on the cross is complete, it is perfect, and it is sufficient for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. The salvation He has attained is available to everyone.
When Jesus departed, He crossed back over the Sea of Galilee and arrived in Magadan, presumably the area around the city of Magdala, on the western coastline. This region is also referred to as Dalmanutha. He and the apostles were now back in Galilee again.
CONCLUSION
The miracle we highlighted this morning was a natural miracle. Jesus multiplied a small amount of food until it was sufficient to feed the multitude. As for the manner of this miracle, although Jesus gave thanks before distributing the bread, His spoken words do not seem to be the catalyst for this supernatural occurrence. The bread multiplied progressively as it was passed out, so I am going to categorize this approach as “willed and obeyed”. Jesus simply willed this to occur as the disciples carried out His instructions.
This miracle was performed on behalf of over 4,000 gathered Gentiles. Jesus demonstrated His power over nature and showed Himself to be the Son of God. Although these people were not awaiting the Messiah as foretold by the Jewish prophets of old, nevertheless Jesus revealed His divine identity to them as the Savior of the world. I trust that some of them believed.
Next Sunday we will read about another remarkable encounter Jesus had with a blind man. It is an interesting story that is somewhat unique among the miracles of Jesus. It is 1 of my personal favorites. I’ll look forward to seeing you then. Have a blessed week.
Hello everyone! 2 weeks ago we began a trio of messages that detail some of Jesus’ travels outside the borders of Israel. First, He went to Phoenicia where He healed a demon possessed girl. Next, He moved on to the Decapolis where He healed many afflicted people including a deaf man with a speech impediment. In both places, Jesus was interacting with and performing miracles upon and among the Gentiles.
In today’s sermon, Jesus is still somewhere in the Decapolis. He has gone up on a mountain with the disciples and large crowds have come to Him. As we are about to discover, Jesus is going to perform a miracle very similar to another that we studied about a month ago. This story is recorded in both Matthew and Mark, but for the sake of time we will use Matthew’s rendition as our focal text.
I. 3 DAYS (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:1-3)
Jesus had been teaching and healing the crowd for 3 days. They had remained with Him continuously and had not eaten. Jesus wanted to conclude His teaching and dismiss them, but He was concerned that they might faint on their way home. Thus said to His disciples, “I feel compassion for these people and don’t want to send them away hungry.”
While uncertain, it is possible that this crowd was the same group that we studied last Sunday who were bringing the blind, lame, deaf, and others to Jesus to be healed. Whether it was the same occasion or not really doesn’t matter. What stands out is that they were interested in hearing what Jesus had to say. They had been with Him, listening intently, for 3 straight days. This was clearly a much warmer reception than Jesus received during His first visit to the Decapolis. These Gentiles seemed genuinely intrigued by His message.
II. 7 LOAVES (Matthew 15:33-34; Mark 8:4-5)
Hearing that Jesus wanted to feed the large crowd, the disciples asked where they could get enough bread for everyone in such a desolate place. Jesus then asked how many loaves they had. The disciples and, “We have 7 loaves and a few small fish.”
Is any of this sounding familiar? Earlier Jesus had used 5 barley loaves to feed over 5,000 people in the countryside near Bethsaida. A few months later, He now had 7 loaves of bread to feed the hungering crowds in the Decapolis. That’s 2 more loaves than before, but still not nearly enough. No problem… Jesus can handle it.
When Jesus fed the 5,000, a young boy donated his bread and fish to the disciples. In this instance, the Bible doesn’t tell us where the 7 loaves and few fish came from. I guess if you're curious, you can ask when you get to heaven!
III. 4000 MEN (Matthew 15:35-37a, 38; Mark 8:6-8a, 9)
Jesus directed the people to sit down. Then He blessed the bread and the fish and began breaking them. He kept giving pieces to the disciples who then distributed them to the people seated on the ground. The food kept multiplying until everyone had eaten to their satisfaction. Those who ate were 4,000 men, besides women and children.
This miracle again demonstrates the amazing provision of God. Even though we may have very little, in God’s hands it always is more than enough. He can take our meager resources and supernaturally multiply them to meet our needs. I have experienced this personally in my life on countless occasions. Trust God will what little you have, give it to Him, be thankful, and watch as He provides the increase.
IV. 7 BASKETS (Matthew 15:37b, 39; Mark 8:8b, 10)
After everyone had eaten and was full, the disciples gathered up the leftovers. They collected 7 baskets full of scraps and broken pieces. Then Jesus sent the crowds away. He and His disciples got in their boat and returned to Galilee, coming ashore in the region of Magadan (also known as Dalmanutha).
Let’s compare. After the feeding of the 5,000, which took place in Galilee, the disciples collected 12 baskets of leftovers. After the feeding of the 4,000, which took place in the Decapolis, the disciples collected 7 baskets of leftovers. Some commentators have suggested that the 12 baskets represent the 12 tribes of Israel, that is the Jews, while the 7 baskets represent the 7 Canaanite nations that were driven out of the Promised Land, that is the Gentiles (Deuteronomy 7:1).
In Biblical numerology, the number 7 represents completeness, perfection, and sufficiency. We see this illustrated in God’s creative work. He created the heavens, the earth, and everything in them and then rested on the 7th day when His work was complete. As it pertains to this miracle, ultimately Jesus is the bread of life, who satisfies our hungering souls. His atoning sacrifice on the cross is complete, it is perfect, and it is sufficient for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. The salvation He has attained is available to everyone.
When Jesus departed, He crossed back over the Sea of Galilee and arrived in Magadan, presumably the area around the city of Magdala, on the western coastline. This region is also referred to as Dalmanutha. He and the apostles were now back in Galilee again.
CONCLUSION
The miracle we highlighted this morning was a natural miracle. Jesus multiplied a small amount of food until it was sufficient to feed the multitude. As for the manner of this miracle, although Jesus gave thanks before distributing the bread, His spoken words do not seem to be the catalyst for this supernatural occurrence. The bread multiplied progressively as it was passed out, so I am going to categorize this approach as “willed and obeyed”. Jesus simply willed this to occur as the disciples carried out His instructions.
This miracle was performed on behalf of over 4,000 gathered Gentiles. Jesus demonstrated His power over nature and showed Himself to be the Son of God. Although these people were not awaiting the Messiah as foretold by the Jewish prophets of old, nevertheless Jesus revealed His divine identity to them as the Savior of the world. I trust that some of them believed.
Next Sunday we will read about another remarkable encounter Jesus had with a blind man. It is an interesting story that is somewhat unique among the miracles of Jesus. It is 1 of my personal favorites. I’ll look forward to seeing you then. Have a blessed week.