THERE’S MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Gospel of Mark #26

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

(Mark 8:1–9, NLT) “About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?” Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” “Seven loaves,” they replied. So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the sevenloaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them. They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. There were about 4,000 men in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten.”

Comparing the Miracle of Mark 6 and Mark 8

• Both occur in a desert place.
• Both occur because of Jesus’ compassion.
• In the first incident Jesus refers to the crowd as “sheep without a shepherd,” in the second “If I send them home hungry, … they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.”
• Both feature a conversation between Jesus and the disciples about the logistics.
• In the first miracle the disciples worry over the expense; in the second they worry that there is no place nearby for the crowd to buy bread for themselves.
• In both incidents Jesus asked the disciples how much bread they have.
• In both miracles the disciples are convinced that the task is impossible.
• In the first miracle there was 5 loaves and 2 fish; in the second miracle 7 loaves and a few small fish.
• In the first miracle Jesus prays once; in the second he prays twice.
• In both miracles Jesus has the disciples to distribute the food.
• In both miracles the crowd eats their fill.
• In both miracles the disciples collect an abundance of leftovers

• The first miracle there is 12 baskets.
• The second miracle there is 7 baskets.

• In the first miracle there was 5,000 men; in the second, 4,000 men.
• The first miracle

• Five loaves – five books of the Torah
• Twelve baskets – twelve tribes of Israel

• The second miracle – seven the number of completeness.

• Seven loaves – Seven commandments to Noahic Covenant.

•     Do not deny God.
•     Do not murder.
•     Do not steal.
•     Do not engage in sexual immorality.
•     Do not blaspheme.
•     Do not eat a live animal.
•     Do justice.

• 70 Gentile Nations descended from Noah.
• 7 Hellenistic deacons.

1.     THERE IS MORE TO JESUS THAN MEETS THE EYE.

(Mark 8:12, NLT) “When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.”

(Mark 8:18, NLT) “You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?”

(Mark 8:21, Message) “Do you still not get it?”

2.     THERE IS MORE TO JESUS’ BLESSINGS.

     a.     It has to be blessed before it can multiply.

Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them

     b.     It has to be given away before it can multiply.

Who distributed the bread to the crowd.

     c.     The miracle happened in the disciple’s hands.

He gave them to his disciples

3.     THERE IS MORE TO JESUS’ REFUSAL TO GIVE A SIGN.

(Mark 8:12, NLT) “When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.”

(Mark 8:38, NLT) “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

“These people” want a Superman Messiah they can control.

(Mark 8:15, NLT) “As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

     a.     They rejected his previous signs and explanations.

     b.     They are trying to tempt like Satan had.

     c.     The kingdom of God requires an exercise of faith.

(Mark 13:21–22, NLT) “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.”

4.     THERE IS MORE TO JESUS’ PATIENCE WITH THE DISCIPLES.

(Mark 8:20, NLT) “They began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread … And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said.”

     a.      Jesus will provide.

     b.     We build community by faith in Christ.

     c.     We obey God’s will by trusting Him for our daily bread.