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FEEDING OF THE 4000 (MARK 8:1-13)
REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is ” feeding of the 4000.” According to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus fed 4000 people with seven loaves of bread and an unknown number of small quantity of fish. Key lesson is that Jesus is able to move us from a situation of scarcity to satisfaction. In other words, Jesus is not limited by our the scarcity of resources. Scarcity means the insufficiency of an item to meet its demand or something which is in short supply. Satisfaction, on the other hand, means the fulfilment of a need or a want. Jesus performs the miracle of feeding over four thousand people with just seven loaves of bread and a small number of fish.  “His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” 5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 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.” (Mark 8:4-9)

Beloved in the Lord, when we follow Jesus, He moves our situation from scarcity to satisfaction. We shall recall that the people Jesus fed did not initially come to Him because they were physically hungry, initially, they simply followed Him because they perceived Him to be a man filled with the Spirit of God. The people yearned to hear the Word of God and to experience the power of God through Him. Indeed, Jesus assured us, “⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) They had hitherto experienced spiritual drought and scarcity, therefore, they followed Him to listen to Him, “…Jesus called his disciples and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” (Mark 8:1-3). Dear friend, Jesus understands our needs, therefore, when we follow Him with faith, He takes care of our spiritual and physical needs. Jesus greatly encourages us that our lives shall be moved from scarcity to satisfaction when He said in Matthew 6:33, “…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Following Jesus means seeking first God’s righteousness. When we follow or seek first His righteousness, He shall satisfy all our needs just as four thousand people followed Jesus and their and nutritional and spiritual needs were satisfied by Him. Are you also ready to follow Jesus regardless of your state of scarcity and wretchedness? Do have faith in Him that when you follow Him you will be moved from a state of scarcity or spiritual hunger to physical and spiritual satisfaction?

Dear friend, in times of scarcity, we become anxious or worried. Currently, some of us are worried and restless because of financial and health challenges. Again, some of us are greatly worried because of the scarcity of jobs and opportunities in the country which has rendered us unemployed for a while now. Some of us are deeply troubled because of our inability to find a befitting partner to marry after all these years of searching. Some of us are disturbed and disappointed because we have worked hard all these years yet our promotion has been delayed unduly. Some of us are frustrated because we have been hustling but the breakthrough does not seem to be coming. Beloved in the Lord, Our human limitations and lack of faith often lead us into a state of anxiety or depression. The disciples became worried when the crowd had been with Jesus for a long period.  Jesus said to them “If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” 4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” (Mark 8:3-4.) In other words, the disciples were worried that they will not be able to feed the crowd because they far away from town but Jesus proved to them that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). Jesus overcame the challenge of accessibility to food. In fact, He changed the situation of scarcity of food to that of satisfaction, “He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. “(Mark 8:6-8) Beloved in the Lord, when Abraham and Sarah’s child was not forthcoming, the Angel of the Lord said to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18:14 that “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). Whenever we invite Jesus into our lives, He takes away our anxiety or worries by moving us from our state of scarcity to satisfaction. In John 2:1-12 we are told that Jesus and his mother were invited to a wedding ceremony, unfortunately, there was a scarcity of wine at the ceremony. The couple did not experience any embarrassment at their wedding ceremony because they invited Jesus, the one who is able to move us from a state of scarcity to satisfaction. Jesus changed water to wine and solved the problem of scarcity of wine and truly everyone was satisfied! If you allow Jesus into your life He will turn your state of scarcity into a state of satisfaction. When the master of the ceremony tasted the water Jesus had turned into wine, he said “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” (John 2:10).

Beloved in the Lord, we become anxious, worried and frustrated in times of scarcity but Jesus restores our happiness and peace of mind by satisfying us in times of need or scarcity. Paul assures us that in times of scarcity and challenges, “… do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7). The Lord we serve will not put us to shame, it is for this reason Paul encourages us that “my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). When God was testing the faith and obedience of Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, “… ⁷ Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” ⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:6-8). My dear friend, Abraham’s faith teaches us that in our time of scarcity, God provides! Job also assures us that no matter our state of scarcity and challenges we should learn to say with faith that “I know that my redeemer lives, (Job 19:25). When we encounter scarcity, hunger, poverty or lack of resources in our lives, let us say with David that “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. (Psalms 23:1). Again, the Psalmist has thought us to pray in times of scarcity and challenges that “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalms 121:1-2). Indeed, our Lord, the creator of heaven and earth and the sustainer of our lives is able to move us from a state of scarcity to satisfaction. He is a miracle-working God. He is our life insurance and has got us fully covered. Shalom.

PRAYER

Thank you Jesus for Your ever-sufficient grace that always enables us to move from scarcity to satisfaction. May we never be overwhelmed with anxiety but always put our trust in You even when we find ourselves in a state of scarcity. Amen.