August 5, 2025
Compassion - Part 2
Mark 8:4-7
08/05/2025
4 And his disciples answered him, ``How can one feed
these people with bread here in this desolate
place?''
5 And he asked them, ``How many loaves do you
have?'' They said, ``Seven.''
6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the
ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having
given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his
disciples to set before the people; and they set
them before the crowd.
7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed
them, he said that these also should be set before
them. (ESV)
Jesus saw a problem and had compassion on the crowd. These
Gentiles had been listening to Jesus teach in the wilderness for
three days. All the supplies that the crowd brought were gone,
their food baskets were empty. Without divine intervention, the
crowds would be in distress as they traveled back to their homes.
Jesus desired to feed the crowds before leaving them.
And his disciples answered him, ``How can one feed
these people with bread here in this desolate place?''
And he asked them, ``How many loaves do you have?''
They said, ``Seven.'' And he directed the crowd to sit
down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and
having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his
disciples to set before the people; and they set them
before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And
having blessed them, he said that these also should be
set before them.
In compassion, Jesus provided for the crowds by multiplying
seven loaves of bread. As the disciples served the people, bread
and fish miraculously grew to fill each person until they were
completely satisfied. There was no limit on the blessing of food
given to those who hungered to hear the good news that the
Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Mark, in saying that Jesus gave thanks, uses the same words
as he later used to describe the institution of the Lord's
Supper. Here Jesus gives us His body and blood under the bread
and wine in the same abundance as in this miracle. There is no
lack to His compassion.
May our Lord grant us grace to receive our daily bread and
our spiritual blessings with thanksgiving. Amen.