Climbing into the Honda

 These were amazing days for the First Church of Jerusalem.  Thousands were coming to faith in Jesus.  

It seems like every time you turn around God is doing great miracles through the apostles.  

These believers have stood boldly for Christ when challenged by the Sanhedrin. They are so united in the Lord that people are selling property to meet every need.  

And then there was that ugly Ananias and Sapphira "incident."

Luke tells us that "many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles" (v12).  "Signs and wonders" is an important biblical phrase.  

And it's not just limited to the NT.  It's the description given in the OT for the miracles/plagues God did through Moses while in Egypt.  

Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32 in his Pentecost sermon, noting that God said, "I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below..." (Acts 2:19).

In other words, these words are a signpost to let us know that the Third Person of the Trinity is at work.  Don't forget that the Holy Spirit is the star of the show in Luke's second volume.  

The phrase "signs and wonders" appears a handful of times in the Gospels, but begins making regular appearances in Acts (Acts 2:43; 4:30; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12).

What's the purpose of the Holy Spirit working these signs and wonders?  The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians.  "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works" (2Cor 12:12).  

In other words, these were God's stamp of approval on His apostles.  They were clear indications to the people that these men were God's official representatives.

Once again they gathered under Solomon's Portico.  This was a covered porch on the outside of the Court of the Gentiles on the temple grounds.  

Dr. Luke writes that "they were all together" there.  This is the Greek word ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  This adverb is sometimes translated as "in one accord" 

Did you know that all of the apostles could actually fit into a Honda?  In one Accord, get it?  When Dad Jokes meet Bible Jokes we know these are dark days.

One of Luke's absolute go-to terms is ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  He uses it eleven times.  It is only found once outside of Acts (Rom 15:6).  

It carries the idea of being united with one mind and with one passion.  We must ask ourselves if we are united with one mind and one passion with other believers.  

Or are we busy pushing our own agenda at church?  Are we "one issue voters?"  

We can be so full of...well, ourselves.  Instead, let's set aside our personal agendas and and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  

Remember, this is Jesus' new command "that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:34-35).  

And this is Jesus' prayer for us.  He asked His Dad "that they may be one, even as We are one" (Jn 17:11).  

It's Paul's plea to the church at Philippi, "being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Phil 2:2).

When we are submitted to Jesus and filled with His Spirit, we too are ‘ομοθυμαδον/homothumadon.  

This isn't up to anyone else.  It's up to you.  Yeah, I'm talking to YOU!  That's right, the one in the mirror.

One mind.  One passion.  One accord. 

Climb into the Accord.  There's room for one more!

©2011

Jay Jennings

Wants and Needs

 Wants and Needs

Minute by minute, we face a choice.  Our wants versus our needs.  Is what I desire simply something I simply want?  

Or is what I desire something I truly need to survive?  It sure sounds simple but it’s VERY difficult in practice.

Here in Acts 3:1-11, we meet a man who is certain about what he needs.  He is disabled and he needs to earn an income.  

But Peter and John take one look at him and correct him.  He thinks he needs money.  But what he really needs is Jesus.

Luke tells us that Pete and John were on their way to the temple to pray around 3pm (v1).  We already know that members of the first church made temple attendance part of the daily lives (Acts 2:46).  

The good doctor enlightens us to one reason they went: to pray.  Apparently first century Jews observed three times of prayer each day: 9am, noon and 3pm.  

How life had changed for these two men in what must seem like the blink of an eye.  Only three years ago they were commercial fishermen on Lake Galilee.  

Pete was the grizzled veteran angler.  Think of the guys you see on "The Deadliest Catch."  He worked for John's dad.  

By all accounts John was much younger.  Probably a teenager.  

That was all before the radical Rabbi/Carpenter changed everything (Lk 5:1-11).  They were no longer catching fish, but people.  They had left everything behind.  Everything. 

It was now 3 o'clock.  It was time for prayer.  So Pete and John do what good Jews do when they're in Jerusalem.  They head to the temple to pray.

While they were on their way, they saw "a lame man from birth" being carried (v2).  This man had never been able to work.  A birth defect left him disabled.  He had spent his entire life (40 years according to Acts 4:22) relying on others to carry him.  

They set the man down just outside the temple at Beautiful Gate.  This was his spot.  He went there everyday.  For someone who relying on the kindness of others to survive, it made perfect sense.  

People headed to worship were perfect targets.  They were loaded with both guilt and cash.  They had money for offerings.  

In my visit to Jerusalem in 1997, I was stunned to see much of the same.  The temple is obviously gone, but people crowd the gates of the Old City to beg.  

Some are disabled.  Some are simply panhandling.  It's a sad scene.  It's a grim reminder of Jesus teaching.  "You always have the poor with you" (Mt 26:11).

At this point, Pete and John make their way toward Beautiful Gate (v3).  The disabled man begs them for money.  The two apostles stop and look the man dead in the eye.  

Apparently he had discounted them and moved on to panhandle others.  Rocky gets his attention, "Look at us" (v4).  "Sweet!" the man must have thought.  

The disabled man probably got his wallet ready (v5).  He would get what he needed.  He would get what he came for.  He would soon find out it was only what he wanted.

But instead of handing him a few bucks, Pete gives him something else.  He gives him what he truly needs.  

"I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" (v6).

The man thought he needed money.  And why not?  He’d never walked.  Ever.  What he really needed was Jesus.  

Take a look over at Peter's first epistle.  He writes that we were not ransomed "with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ" (1Pet 1:18-19).  

Certainly this event at Beautiful Gate is exactly the kind of thing he was writing about in his later letter.  Jesus is so much more valuable than anything we could ever imagine.  He is truly our Greatest Need. 

The man had lost hope.  He didn't think he would ever walk.  It had been 40 long, frustrating years.  The thought of ever walking again had long left his heart.

Pete reaches down and lifts him to his feet (v7).  For the first time in 40 years, this man is walking!  

But he's not just walking.  "And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God."  

The once disabled man is literally dancing and skipping through the temple courts with his two new best friends.  All because they understood the difference between true wants and needs.

The people couldn't believe what they were seeing (v9-10).  They knew this guy.  He was a regular at the gate.  He was there everyday.  

But there he was running around the temple grounds like a kindergartner.  "And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

The miraculous healing was an important sign of the apostles' authority.  Such signs and wonders let the people know that they had the seal of approval from God Himself.  

This event is very similar to Jesus' healing of the man born blind in John 9.  And like that event, the story doesn't end here.  Soon the members of the Sanhedrin will stick their noses into things.

But on this wonderful and miraculous afternoon, we see an incredible example of the difference between wants and needs.

As a follower of Jesus, you may not have change in your pocket.  But you do have something (or Someone!) that can change everything.  Understand the difference between wants and needs.

©2011

Jay Jennings

Nobody Feels Sorry for the Pharisees

 
A Nightly Punching Bag

Nobody ever feels sorry for the Washington Generals. Who are they? So glad you asked. They’re the nightly punching bag for the legendary Harlem Globetrotters.

People don’t buy tickets to pull for the Generals. They have no rabid fan base. Folks come to watch them lose. And Washington doesn’t let them down. They lose. Boy, do they lose. Over and over and over.

A 2,495-Game Losing Streak

The Generals hold a record of 6-17,000 (plus) against the ‘Trotters. Yeah, you read that right. Six wins. More than seventeen thousand losses. Their last victory came way back in 1971.

That win broke a 2,495-game winning streak. It also broke the hearts of fans who came to see  them lose. The Washington coach said the crowd reacted “like we just killed Santa Claus.”

See what I mean? Nobody feels sorry for the Generals.

Wearing the Collar

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Pharisees are the First Century version of the Washington Generals. These knuckleheads continually make the mistake of challenging the sinless Son of God and lose. Over and over and over.

The only difference between the two? The Pharisees are winless. They’re wearing the collar. They carrying the goose egg. At least the Generals claim six victories. Oh, there was one time they thought they’d finally gotten the W on a Friday during Passover. But when Sunday rolled around, Jesus took the ultimate last second victory.

Like the Generals, nobody feels sorry for the Pharisees.

Could This Be the Day?

We pick up the action in the Gospel of Mark with game six of the schedule (Mk 8:11-13). Christ and His crew have just dropped anchor on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, somewhere near Dalmanutha (Mk 8:10).

When word gets out that the radical Rabbi/Carpenter is in town, the Pharisees scramble into action. Despite riding a five-game losing streak in Mark’s bio of Jesus, these guys think this will be the day. Gotta give’m credit for persistence.

Crashing the Party

Let’s review the highlights, or in their case, lowlights of the previous losses. There was the time the Pharisees crash a party and lose their ever lovin’ minds when they see our Savior hanging out with nothing but losers. Jesus tells these religious bullies that if they knew how truly sick they are, they would join the party (Mk 2:15-17).

There was the time they caught Christ and His crew grabbing a snack on the Sabbath. He gets in their pharisaical grill and tells them they’ve got the rules all wrong. God gave His people the seventh day as a divine day off (Mk 2:23-28). 

Throwing the Penalty Flag

There was the time at church back in Capernaum when the Pharisees got so upset when Jesus healed a man with an atrophied hand that they immediately begin plotting to shut Him down (Mk 3:1-6).

There was the time they teamed up with religious power brokers from the Hebrew home office to throw the penalty flag on Him for failing to follow their manmade rules. All the Lord did was call them out for being phonies when it comes to faith (Mk 7:1-13).

Here We Go Again

See a theme? Five confrontations. Five defeats. Well, buckle up, buttercup. Here we go again. Number six is about to go down.

“When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with Him. Testing Him, they demanded that He show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority” (v11).

Jewish Superstars

Just who are the Pharisees anyway? Did they always have such a terrible rep? I mean, two thousand years later, their name has become the equivalent of a four-letter word to most followers of Jesus.

Well it certainly didn’t start that way. Back in the day, the Pharisees are a very small but incredibly popular team of Jewish superstars. They’re super serious about God. Because of that, Hebrew parents dream of their sons growing up to wear the Pharisee jersey.

Fighting Greek Culture

About 150 years before the birth of Jesus, they began fighting the battle against what’s known as Hellenization. Greek culture was spreading like wildfire around the Mediterranean Rim. The Pharisees wouldn’t stand for it and fought the good fight for the good ol’ days in Israel.

They run the synagogues in the countryside, the equivalent of local Jewish churches. Meanwhile, another rival Hebrew party known as the Sadducees hold a death grip on the temple in Jerusalem. More on them in a moment.

Keeping God’s Rules and Regs

The Pharisees are lot like today’s conservative religious fundamentalists. They believe there’s only one way to God and that’s through keeping His rules and regs. Spoiler alert: only one Person in history has done that and they see Him as public enemy number one!

The Religious Liberals

Matthew tells the very same story but adds that the Sadducees are there too (Mt 16:1-4). That’s a critical bit of intel because they are the arch enemy of the Pharisees. The Sadducees are the religious liberals of the day. They run the temple because they’re more than happy to play footsie with whoever’s in power.

The Sadducees accept only the first five books of the OT. They aren’t buying the endless list of rules cooked up by the Pharisees. They also don’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. The way they see it, this life is all there is. Which is sad, you see. (That’s a preacher’s version of a bad dad joke.)

Gluttons for Punishment

This is the first time these two bitter rivals have ever teamed up to take down Jesus. Let’s just say it won’t be the last. The Galilean has become a threat to both and as a result is their common enemy.

As we mentioned, the Pharisees have had their share of run-ins with the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth already. But that doesn’t stop them from doing it again. They must be real gluttons for punishment.

Ganging up on the Son of God

Mark tells us “they came and started to argue with Him” (v11). The author uses a word in the original language (Gr. συζητεω/suzeteo) the NLT translates as “argue.” It means to question together as a team in a negative sense.

In other words, the Pharisees are ganging up on the Son of God. It’s like one of those scenes in a martial arts movie. You know, the thugs way outnumber and surround our hero. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Bruce Lee, Billy Jack or Neo from “The Matrix.” The result is always an epic beatdown of the bad guys. Same here.

Ready to Drop the Gloves

The same word shows up in similar ways throughout the NT. When Jesus and His lead team walk in on the religious leaders ambushing His other followers (Mk 9:14-16). Luke uses it to describe the time a truckload of angry Jewish folks surround Stephen just before they murder him (Acts 6:9).

The Pharisees really aren’t looking for answers from Jesus. It’s their way of getting in His grill and cramming their views down His throat. This isn’t about seeking a peaceful solution. This all about being right.

They’re like those old school hockey goons who constantly try to pester an opponent into dropping the gloves. They’re bullies who love to fight because they always win. Well, that is, until they challenge Jesus. Major mistake.

Wrestling with Pigs

Know somebody like that? It’s that person who’s always looking for a fight. They’re always ready to argue. Their hobby is never being wrong and always hoping for a chance to let everyone knows it.

Don’t take the bait. There’s an old saying that may come in handy. It goes a little something like this. Don’t wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it!

A Relational Thermostat

God jam packs His Word with all sorts of commands about how we should avoid pointless arguments. The wisest man who ever walked the planet writes, “A hot-tempered starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them” (Prov 15:18). You have the opportunity to be a relational thermostat.

The man who wrote a huge chunk of the NT pulls no punches with his friends in Philippi. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure” (Phil 2:14-15). Godliness and integrity has nothing to do with winning more fights than you lose.

Could It Be You or Me?

But what if the person who looks back at you in the mirror each morning is the problem? Yeah, I’m talking to you. Are you the instigator? Do you believe you’re smartest person in the room no matter where you go? Are you constantly correcting others during conversations? I know because I’ve been there.

Since you’re unable to interrupt me and tell me I’m wrong, do you mind if I drop a little wisdom? Take it from Paul. “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Eph 4:2). I’m just gonna leave this right here.

Messianic Magic Tricks

Mark lets us know these religious thugs have come with a very specific strategy to bushwhack Jesus. “Testing Him, they demanded that He show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority” (v11).

Maybe you think this is some sort of well intentioned pop quiz. Say Jesus, how ‘bout You show us what one of those handy dandy messianic magic tricks so we’ll know you’re the Real Deal. Not even close. These goobers are clearly up to something.

Poking a Hole

When we dig into the word the NLT translates as “testing” (Gr. πειραζω/peirazo), something curious happens. It means to see whether something can be done. It comes from a root word that describes piercing an object. Think of poking a hole in something in order to look inside.

Depending on the context, “testing” can be either positive or negative. I’ve give you three guesses as to what sort of test the Pharisees are giving Jesus and the first two don’t count.

An Ongoing Fight

They’re out to burst the bubble on this whole Messiah business once and for all. They hope to obtain info to use against Him. Trip the Lord up and expose Him. And what better way to do it than by publicly shaming Him here on the shores of Lake Galilee.

If that’s not enough, the grammar in the original text shows this is ongoing fight. These troublemakers are just getting started. They just won’t let up. As it says in the Message, “badgering Him to prove Himself, pushing Him up against a wall” (v11 The Message).

Some Divine Fireworks

The Pharisees demand a supernatural sign from our Savior. They insist He cough up a miracle right here and now. Preferably some divine fireworks in the Galilean sky. Apparently these goofballs missed out on the famous angel-laser-light-show the Father cooked up as a birth announcement for His one and only Son.

In doing so, they’ve made a huge mistake. Jesus isn’t some heavenly Netflix account that’s always on demand. He’s not sitting around twiddling His thumbs like our personal butler, hustling to give us what we want when we want it.

The Key to Ultimate Joy

The Lord doesn’t answer to us. He doesn’t obey us. It’s the other way around! Our willing obedience to His commands is His favorite love language (Jn 14:15, 21, 23-24). Consistently doing what Christ tells us is not only the key to ultimate joy but is a sign of an intimate relationship with Him. (Jn 15:10-15; 1Jn 2:3).

That doesn’t mean we can’t ask Him for anything. He loves it when we do. God wants us to bring everything to Him, including our worries, regrets, hurts, and pains. ESPECIALLY our worries, regrets, hurts, and pains! He trades that garbage for a peace that will blow our minds (Phil 4:6-7)!

A Long List of Miracles

The ironic thing is that Jesus has used a long list of miracles as divine signs to show He’s legit to this point. Driving out demons (Mk 1:21-28; 5:1-13; 7:24-30). Healing the sick (Mk 1:29-38, 40-45; 2:1-12; 3:15; 5:21-43; 6:53-56; 7:31-37). Calming storms (Mk 4:35-41). Feeding big crowds (Mk 6:30-44; 8:1-10). Water skiing without a boat and skis (Mk 6:48-52).

But Jesus isn’t some magician headlining in Vegas who’s come to dazzle the crowd. He uses each and every miraculous sign for the benefit of others. Christ doesn’t even do command performances for local royalty (Lk 23:8-9).

A Groan from the Gut

Check out the Lord’s immediate reaction to their ridiculous request. “When He heard this, He sighed deeply in His spirit” (v12). While Matt relates the same story in His bio of Jesus, we only find this little nugget in Mark.

This is not some insignificant exhale. Mark carefully selects a verb that only appears once in the entire Bible. Αναστεναζω/anastenazo means to draw a deep sigh from the bottom of the lungs. Think of it less than a sigh and more like a groan of intense grief from the gut.

Of All People

You know when a parent heaves a heavy sigh when their child should know better. You just don’t get it, do you? How many times are we going to do this? This exhale contains more than CO2. It’s loaded with a mix of frustration, exasperation, as well as deep compassion.

Jesus is offended and frustrated by the arrogance of these religious leaders. Of all people, shouldn’t they know EXACTLY who He is and what He’s come to do? Nobody but nobody knows the Scriptures like these guys. Come on, man!

It makes me wonder how many times my Savior shakes His head over my repeated bad choices. Dude, not again. It’s just one of the many reasons why I’m glad His mercies are hot and fresh each morning (Lam 3:22). I desperately need them everyday because I fail everyday.

They Just Won’t Let up

As the Pharisees just won’t let up and won’t stop their irritating insistence for an on demand miracle, Jesus puts an end to their nonsense. “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign” (v12).

Oh, they can ask all they want but it ain’t happening. Christ goes so far as to publicly promise they’ll never see the sign they want. He swears they won’t get want they want. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

A Smelly VRBO

According to Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord swears He’ll give them a sign…just not the one they want. “The only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Mt 16:4).

Just like the runaway prophet stayed three days and nights in the stomach of a fish like some kind of smelly VRBO (Jonah 1:17), Jesus will soon spend the same amount of time in a tomb. He’ll shock the world by taking a Sunday stroll straight out of the cemetery.

Another Embarrassing L

Oh, the Hebrew hotshots will get a sign alright, but it won’t be the sign they want. The next miracle they’ll see will be the one God wants them to see. And even then, they won’t buy it.

So just like the Generals, the Pharisees take yet another embarrassing L. Sure, there was no water bucket of full of confetti, basketball on rubber band, or shorts pulled down to their ankles. But these religious superstars certainly got caught with their pants down once again.

Make It Six in a Row

After dropping the mic on His opponents, it’s time to hit the road. Or in this case, the water. “So He got back into the boat and left them, and crossed back to the other side of the lake” (v13).

If you’re counting, that’s six defeats in a row at the hands of the Son of God. And you can bet they’re counting. Every. Single. One.

Not Throwing in the Towel

But you can be sure the Pharisees aren’t throwing in the towel. Mark tells us they challenge Jesus two more times (Mk 10:2-9; 12:13-17). I don’t need to tell you how those turn out, do I?

Kinda like the hapless Washington Generals. The owners of the longest losing streak this side of Wile E. Coyote.

Like I said, nobody for the Generals. Or the Pharisees.

©2018

Jay Jennings

The Miracle So Nice He Did It Twice

Let’s Play Two!

“What a great day for baseball. Let’s play two!” That’s a legendary quote from a legendary Mr. Cub. Ernie Banks loved baseball so much, he was ALWAYS ready to play a pair of games in a single day.

But long before Banks ever appeared on his first baseball card, Jesus played His first doubleheader. Okay, it wasn’t really a baseball game. It Mark tells us about the day our Savior serves up a second massive meal on the heels of the first (Mk 8:1-10).

Call it the miracle so nice He did it twice.

The Opening Game

The first thing we need to do is rewind a bit in Mark’s biography of Jesus to that opening game of the doubleheader, the first phenomenal feeding. It all goes down near the shore of a big lake in Galilee. The Twelve has just returned from sharing the love of God without the Lord at their side (Mk 6:30).

Christ wants to get His crew a couple of days off to recharge (Mk 6:31-32). There’s just one problem. A huge crowd spots Him, His heart breaks for them, and He teaches them (Mk 6:33-34).

An Awkward Conversation

At the end of the very long day, the disciples suggest to Jesus that they He send them home so they could grab some grub (Mk 6:35-36). But the Lord tells the boys to pump their brakes and feed the massive audience themselves (Mk 6:37a).

Suddenly there’s an awkward conversation about the cost of catering the huge crowd and how they can only scrape together five loaves of bread and a couple of fish (Mk 6:37b-38).

The Hot New Thing

The next thing you know, our Savior thanks His Dad for what they do have and suddenly transforms the handful of ingredients into an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet for almost 20,000 people (Mk 6:39-44).

Jesus and His team continually try to grab some downtime but it’s just not happening. His combo of awesome teaching and mind-blowing miracles have made Him the hot new thing in Galilee. Crowds gather quickly wherever He goes (Mk 6:54-56). Could He be the Hero from heaven the Jewish people have been waiting for?

More Miracles on Demand

They try heading north across the border into non-Jewish territory but they can’t outrun Jesus’ rep (Mk 7:24-30). They circle back south to another Gentile area call the Ten Towns (Mk 7:31). That just leads to more miracles on demand (Mk 7:32-35; Mt 15:29-31).

That sets the stage for the second game of the doubleheader. While the Lord and the Dirty Dozen are still hanging out near the Ten Towns on the east side of the Sea of Galilee, it starts happening all over again.

Here We Go Again

“About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again” (Mk 8:1). Feel like you’ve seen this movie before? That’s why some skeptics doubt it happened twice. But Mark makes it clear this may seem the same on the surface, but there are some very key differences.

Right out of the chute, the author and the NLT go out of their way to point out this is indeed the second time it happens. “About this time ANOTHER large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food AGAIN” (v1, emphasis added). Here we go again.

Goober from the Son of God

You can bet Jesus’ healing of the hearing impaired man had a lot to do with it (Mk 7:31-37). Folks are certainly buzzing about how the Son of God used supernatural goober to work His latest miracle.

A Punch in the Gut

Jesus and the Twelve huddle up. He lets them know what’s on His heart. “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with Me for three days, and they have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance” (v1-3).

I’m not so sure that “feel sorry” has the same oomph as the word we see in the original language. Σπλαγχνιζομαι/splagchnizomai describes have deep compassion. It literally means moved in the spleen. It’s like a punch in the gut.

Christ’s Deep Compassion

It’s not the first time this has happened to our Savior. He has deep compassion for folks who are harassed and abused (Mt 9:36). His heart breaks for a desperate leper (Mk 1:41). For a mom who’s burying her son (Mk 9:22). And it’s that same gut feeling which leads to the first feeding of the 5,000 (Mt 14:14; Mk 6:34)

Whether we realize it or not, Christ cares. Whether we feel it or not, He cares deeply about each one of us. About you. About me. About them. Christ cares. About what we’re going through. About what’s happened to you. About what you’re facing. He cares more than anybody on the planet.

Image Bearers of the Creator

As His followers, we should have that same compassion for others. We may not know someone’s eternal destination. But we can be sure one of thing. God made every person we meet in His image (Gen 1:26-27). Every. Single. One.

Yeah, I know. You’ve heard this tune before. But let that sink in. Every person we encounter is an image bearer of our Creator. The lady in front of you in the express line at the grocery store with too many items. The guy who cut you off on the highway. The politician you can’t stand. The annoying neighbor who talks too much. The homeless person at the exit ramp.

Our Holistic Savior

Christ cares for them. As a matter of fact, He cares so deeply for them that He died to save each one of them. Every. Single. One.

And Jesus cares about the whole person. He cares about what we need. Not just spiritually, but emotionally and physically as well. He left heaven on a mission to bring us overflowing life (Jn 10:10). He’s not just a holy Savior but a holistic one as well.

Three Whole Days

It’s actually the emptiness of the people’s stomach that punches Jesus in the gut this time around. “They have been here with Me for three days, and they have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance” (v2-3).

Did you catch that? They’ve hung out with Jesus for THREE WHOLE DAYS! We only find that little nugget in Mark’s Gospel. The last time the Lord served a miracle meal it was at the end of one very long day. If you’re wondering what’s been going on for three days, Matthew sums it up (Mt 15:30-31).

Long Past Hangry

Three days without anything to eat?!? This is like some crazy music festival where the organizers drop the ball all when it comes to concession stands and food trucks. How hungry would you be? I can tell you, I would have been long past hangry a couple of days ago.

Christ knows that nothing less than an encore to that whole five-loaves-two-fish feast back in Galilee will do the trick. But just like last time, His great compassion for the great big crowd confounds His disciples. “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?” (v4).

Not the Brightest Bulbs in the Box

The Twelve kinda feel like folks don’t have to go home but they can’t stay here. Despite all they saw before, these knuckleheads still don’t get it. It’s another reminder that Jesus has exactly handpicked the brightest bulbs in the box.

According to the ESV Study Bible, it’s not that the disciples forgot. They simply can’t wrap their heads around what Jesus is capable of. Maybe they don’t think He’s capable of doing what He did before. One thing for sure, they still haven’t figured out who He is yet. That’s one of the mega-themes in Mark’s story of our Savior.

Are You Kidding?!?

Check out their question one more time. “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?” (v4). Let’s focus on three words. How. We. Wilderness.

They start with a Greek term (Gr. ποθεν/pothen) the NLT translates “how.” Each time this word appears, it raises the question of where, how, what, or why? It always carries the element of surprise. It’s the boys’ way of saying, “Are You kidding, Jesus?!?”

God-Sized Assignments

When they say “we,” they clearly believe the Lord is dumping the responsibility for lunch squarely in their lap. There’s no way they can do that on their own. Jesus is forcing them to place their faith in Him. God continually gives us God-sized assignments in order to rely on Him.

The disciples clearly understand they’re in the middle of the “wilderness” (v4). Despite being called the Ten Towns, this isn’t exactly a major metropolitan area. It’s probably better know as the Ten Tiny Towns out in the Middle of Nowhere. There’s not exactly a Kroger around the corner.

Blanking on the Who

The Twelve are focused on the how and the where of the situation. They’re totally blanking on the Who.  And, no, I don’t mean Daltrey, Townshend, Entwistle, and Moon.

The Who I’m talking about here is One who calls Himself the “Bread of Life” (Jn 6:35). You’re gonna love this. Jesus introduces Himself by that name just after His first feeding of the doubleheader (Jn 6:1-14).

All We Ever Need

By claiming this title, the Son of God isn’t challenging those of us who’ve chosen to go gluten-free. It’s His way of saying He’s totally essential for life. Not physical life. But eternal life. He’s all we’ll ever need.

Most big time Bible experts believe there’s another reason for this supernatural second helping. Since this about to go down in mostly Gentile territory, Jesus will prove that He is the Living Bread for non-Jews too.

What They DO Have

Back in Mark’s story, Jesus gets back to the problem at hand. He asks His disciples if they’ve actually checked on their available resources. “How much bread do you have?” (v5). In other words, boys, go do what you did the last time we were in the same situation (Mk 6:38).

He doesn’t want them looking at what they DON’T have. He wants to understand what they DO have. And no matter what that number is, Jesus makes it more than enough. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The Perfect Number

We’re not sure how long this inventory takes but they come back to Christ with the answer. “Seven loaves” (v5). Numbers are important in the ancient world. For instance, folks see seven as the perfect or complete number. This may just be God’s way of saying He has perfect and complete love for both Jews and Gentiles.

Then the Lord rings the dinner bell. “So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, broke them into pieces. He gave them to His disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd” (v6).

Thanking God for the Good Stuff

After getting everyone seated, our Savior thanks His Father for what they do have. It’s something we’ve seen Him do before (Mt 14:19; Mk 6:41). Jesus’ kid brother wants us to remember that all the good stuff comes from our Heavenly Dad (James 1:17).

Thanking God, breaking bread, and handing it out are all regular parts of every Jewish meal back in the day. Don’t you think we should take a few moments before breakfast, lunch, and dinner to express our gratitude for what we’re about to eat?

Blessing TO Us and THROUGH Us

Notice how Christ multiplies the meal but He involves the disciples in the miracle. He breaks the bread while the boys deliver the goods. God wants to use us to be part of His blessing to others. When we ignore that invitation, we’re the ones who miss out.

Here’s the deal. As the Sovereign God of the universe, He doesn’t need us. But He invites us to be part of His work. He wants us to be part of His work. There’s blessing when we serve others (Jn 13:17). That’s because His blessing TO us is a blessing THROUGH us.

It Just Keeps Coming!

“He gave them to His disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd” (v 6). The grammar in the original Greek here describes the continuous process of the Twelve passing out food. In other words, Jesus keeps breaking the bread and the disciples keep dishing it out. The food just keeps coming!

Serving More than Carbs

Christ is serving more than just carbs to the big crowd. “A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them” (v7). While we don’t have a specific number, Mark lets us know they don’t have many and they aren’t very big.

The word the NLT translates as “small fish” (Gr. ιχθυδιον/ichthudion) certainly doesn’t describe what you’d call keepers. Think bluegill, bream, or tiny tilapia. Remember, the second Gospel is almost certainly Peter’s version of events. This commercial fisherman is anything but impressed with this meager catch.

Passing on Dessert

The size and quantity of the fish might be lacking but the miracle meal certainly isn’t. “They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food” (v8).

Folks are stuffed. Can’t you just picture folks in the big crowd leaning back after this amazing all-you-can-eat seafood buffet? No need to see the dessert menu. They couldn’t eat another bite.

Luggage full of Leftovers

Just like after the last supernatural spread, the Twelve clean up the leftovers. But this time, they use “large baskets” (Gr. σπυρις/spuris). These are bigger than the ones they used back after the first banquet (Mk 6:43).

The term here means a big whicker hamper often used for carrying stuff on long journeys. It’s more like a trunk or a very large suitcase. This is no carryon. They have seven pieces of luggage full of leftovers.

Man-Sized Baskets

In fact, these baskets are actually big enough to hold a man! When the Jews put a hit on the newly converted Saul in Damascus, his friends smuggle him out of the city one night using one of them (Acts 9:25). WAY bigger than your mom’s most monstrous Tupperware.

We’re not just talking about a few scraps and crumbs. This is an absolute overabundance of food. And you think you’re grandma can prepare too much for dinner. It’s nothing compared to what Jesus can do. He’s capable of so much more than we could ever dream of (Eph 3:20).

Seafood for 16,000

Did you notice the number seven again? I didn’t think that would get past you. The perfect and complete meal results in perfect and complete leftovers. This is the meal that keeps on giving!

So just how many folks did Jesus feed with seven little loaves and a handful of small fish? “There were about 4,000 men in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten” (v9). Just counting 4,000 dudes, that puts the probable crowd at somewhere around 16,000!!

Back in the Boat

Just after Christ’s crew cleans up, they’re on the move again. “Immediately after this, He got into a boat with His disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha” (v10). Did you know that Mark is the only writer of Scripture to mention this place?

When you compare Matt’s version of this same story, we find out it’s near Magadan (AKA Magdala) on the northwest shore of the freshwater lake known as the Sea of Galilee (Mt 15:39). It happens to be the hometown of one of Jesus’ most famous female followers, Mary of Magdala. You probably know her as Mary Magdalene.

Setting the Table

As the boat pulls away from the beach, this second seafood buffet really sets the table for what’s to come. Jesus will have another run-in with the religious power brokers once they land (Mk 8:11-13).

When that’s over, the Lord warns His posse about the Pharisees’ leaven (Mk 8:14-21). They think He’s busting their chops about failing to pack a lunch. They don’t realize He’s actually giving them a heads up about falling under their sinful influence.

Back-to-Back Buffets

Despite having front row seats for both of these miraculous meals, Jesus’ closest followers still don’t understand who He really is. They’ve never seen anyone like Him. His deep compassion for others. His ability to provide exactly what they need most when they need it most.

In 1954, Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals played what many baseball fans believe is the greatest doubleheader in history when he it five homers. That’s how you earn the nickname of Stan the Man.

But that’s little league compared to what Christ did with His back-to-back bread-and-fish buffets. The Lord totally knock both of them out of the park. It's

the miracle so nice He did it twice.

©2018

Jay Jennings