Gospel of Mark: Bread and signs

Feeding the 4000, signs, and leaven

text: Mark 8:1-21

Outline:

A. 8:1-10, Bread of Jesus feeds 4000 (no bread, 8:2)

    B. 8:11-13, Demand of a sign

A'. 8:14-21, Leaven of Pharisees and Herod (no bread, 8:14)

Comments: Unlike the story of feeding of 5000 this story is presented in another context. Feeding of 5000 was done in the contrast to Herod's [deadly] birthday party. Here, the feeding of 4000 is a starting point for the future discussion of pharisees' leaven that followed by their demand of a sign. What other sign they want to receive but the bread coming from heaven?? That's the focus of the story as a whole.

A. Feeding 4000. Mark starts with a simple note that the great crowd followed Jesus. Why? The true answer is we don't know. We can guess – He taught the parables, maybe healed people, released some of them from demonic oppression... But, it doesn't really matters. We don't know, AND we don't need to know. It is an important lesson – sometime we need to be satisfied with what we have in the Bible, instead of creating a set of fairy tales.

At the same time, we need to pay attention to the details provided – three days following Jesus and at the end of this fellowship He feeds them. Similar to this is three days of disciples WITHOUT Jesus, and He comes and feeds them at the end of this journey (Luke 24:30).

This time Jesus takes the initiative on feeding the people. He cares for them as a Good Shepherd (the phrase is not used here, but He sees them possibly fainting on their way home for they have nothing to eat, Ps. 23:2).

What is very interesting is the response of the disciples: how can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” (8:4). Haven't they witnessed how Jesus fed 5000? Haven't they saw Him walking on waters? What about calming of a storm? What about a multitude of healing? They still don't get it... They will, eventually (after resurrection). Jesus doesn't argue – He has a long ranging plan. Therefore, He simply asks them about quantity of loaves. Seven! Again, it is hard to avoid the comparison with feeding of 5000 – then there was more people and LESS “supplies” (five loves and two fish).

He orders them to sit, says a blessing – blessing God for the provision, NOT blessing bread (cp. Ps. 103:1-2; Ps. 104:1). Not much more is said, but we know the result – they ate and were satisfied – as a fulfillment of the Biblical promise in Deuteronomy 11:15.

One more factor that needs a comparison with feeding 5000 – immediately after the feeding, Jesus orders His disciples to get into a boat and go somewhere else (see 6:45). Two things make the difference here: (1) He goes with them; (2) there is no storm.

B. Demand of a sign. This is one of the shortest conversation with the Pharisees we have, and at the same time one of the most “emotional.” Pharisees demand the sign – this is no surprise. What is surprise is Mark's description: He sighed deeply in His spirit... (8:12). We have a similar picture of Jesus at the grave of Lazarus – He was deeply moved (said twice) and wept (John 11:33, 35, 38). We just saw Him multiplying the loaves of bread – just as the LORD provided manna from heaven, Jesus gives bread in a desolate place (8:4). If they don't want to recognize THIS sign – what else He can show them? It is interesting that St. Paul had to deal with the similar challenge – Jews demand the sign (1 Cor. 1:22). In the very same letter the apostle presents theology of the Lord's Supper – the ultimate sign given to us in the present, based on His death and resurrection (1 Cor. 11:26).

A'. Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Jesus uses the lack of bread as a visual lesson. But the disciples are not ready to see beyond the physical realm. When He asks them about their discussion, He reminds them of the feeding of 5000. Then the warning comes: Aren't your hearts hardened? Eyes that can't see? Or ears that don't hear? A reference to Isaiah 6:10. This is the key to understand what leaven of Pharisees and Herod (very unlikely couple being put together).

What makes Pharisees and Herod alike? They are too “down to earth” no seeing God's presence in Jesus who gives life and gives in abundance (John 10:10). He not only feeds the people but they gathered 12 baskets after feeding 5000 and 7 ones after feeding 4000. “Do you not understand?” where – in my opinion the accent is on YOU. The fact that Pharisees and Herod don't get it – that's understandable, they are blind and deaf in accordance with Isaiah 6:10, but what about YOU?