Mark 8: 1 – 10
In Case You Missed It The First Time
In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” 4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” 5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
Before we take a look at these other version, I just want to mention to those of you who are just beginning to seek knowledge and understanding from God’s Holy word and that you avoid confusion, is that our Lord did the same thing again and was recorded by His disciples. In the second case He fed 5000. Now remember this also, in our Lord’s feeding of 4000, in reality He fed everyone who was there – men, women, and children. And, oh yea, don’t forget all our Lord’s followers. So, to best understand these two events, you could say that it was the feeding of the 10,000 and the feeding of the 8,000. You would not be off in your logic. Or you also could call this occasion, the feeding of the thousands. Okay?
If anyone just looked at the Scriptures the answer would be easy to determine because the feeding that was noted in the Gospels occurred twice. We will explain the differences.
As you are aware, I like to look at other Gospels that cover the same incident that we are studying. Usually, Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover the events while John focuses more on our Lord Jesus Christ’s deity. In this situation, however, only Matthew and Mark address our Lord’s feeding of the four thousand.
“32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” 34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.” 35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.”
Let’s also look at the feeding of the 5,000 and then compare.
Mark 6: 30 – 44, “30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” 37 But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.
Luke 9: 10 – 17, “10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” 13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.
Matthew 14:13-21, “13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
John 6:1-15, “ After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” 10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
Now at first sight it seems that the Gospels conflict with each other. Of course, you know my answer – ‘they do not’ So, let’s slow down to the speed of life and put them all together for clarity.
Let me tell you right off what I believe our Precious Holy Lord is doing relative to the feeding of the 5,000. You see, He had sent them out in two’s right to tell the nation that their Messiah had arrived and that His Kingdom was ready to accept new citizens. The disciples went to various towns and were given power to do miracles by our Great Master.
They all came back and was reporting to the Lord their stories on what they experienced. “30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all th”ings, both what they had done and what they had taught.
Our Lord had gained so much notoriety that He along with His disciples, who now had been given power by the Lord to also perform healings and the casting out of demons, to have some time even to take a moment to have a bite to eat. This situation bothered Peter so he is the one to mention it to Mark. “30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.’
Our Lord realized that His followers needed a break. Since their base was along the sea of Galilee which is also called the Sea of Tiberias, it was easier to cover a good distance from the pressing crowds.
Matthew, Mark, and John mention the means of travel –
[ Matthew ] 13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.”
[Mark] ‘32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.’
[John] ‘6 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.’
You might say that it appears that our Lord went away just by Himself. That is what it says, right? Where did He get the boat? Was it a row boat or sail boat. Did others go along to man the vessel? If so, then He didn’t go away alone, right?
After our Lord observed the situation with the pressing crowd, He wanted to get His followers away for a brief period.
32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
They all went by boat to an area on the Sea of Galilee near a town called Bethsaida. - “Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.”
33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
Once they had settled or camped out near this town our Lord went away by Himself to commune with our Heavenly Father.
You can picture the scene of our Lord and His disciples getting in their boats to leave. Suppose you had a son or daughter or a parent or spouse that had an illness, disease, or physical infirmity. Would your heart be pained as you saw Him sail off? You see all four Gospel writers are moved at the desire of the people for our Lord Jesus Christ’s miraculous touch.
You can almost see the people running along the shore line following the direction of the boats. If necessary I am sure these people would have circled the whole Sea of Galilee if necessary.
My heart is stirred to see the need of these people carrying their sick children or family running after the Lord. You know it is interesting to me how Peter was the one who indicated that serving the people prevented them from having a break, is stirred to see their action. He reports to Mark - 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.
I am sure it affected Peter to see exhausted people who had ran the whole distance because they needed the Lord to help their loved one. They would not be deterred from imploring the Lord’s Mercy.
I know these needy people affected the heart of our Master.
Look at what Matthew and Mark report when our Lord saw the crowd who had ran to Him – [ Matthew ]‘14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.’
[Mark] 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
Can you not see our Lord’s face as He looked upon panting and exhausted people who had ran with their ill children and families to get them before the Lord? It brings you to tears to see these poor hurting people. Our Lord looks upon them and us as innocent little lambs without anyone who cared for them. He cares so He went and comforted those who needed The Good Shepherd.
After our Lord had healed everyone who needed His miraculous touch and had taught them His truth John tells us this – ‘And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.’
35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”
Now picture all twelve guys petitioning the Lord to send the people away so they could go and get some food. Now a couple of things to remember is that our Lord understood that these people were exhausted. Don’t forget they ran carrying their sick love ones around the Sea of Galilee to get to Him. He wasn’t about to send them away.
Additionally, remember that our Lord had given His disciples the power and authority to do miracles? How come they didn’t just do the miracle themselves?
37 But He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.”
They should have thought to themselves, ‘Hey, our Lord Is right. He gave us power and authority. So let’s just do a miracle and create food.’
I cannot blame them though for not thinking they could do this type of miracle. They had received power and authority to heal diseases and illnesses, and to cast out demons. What our Lord was challenging them was to create something.
Probably Philip was the main spokesperson so our Lord addressed him as John reports - 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
Not thinking that it was possible to do a miracle they all focused on the here and now.
And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
We read in the Gospel of John that Andrew was the observant apostle for he said to the Lord –‘8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.
Can you imagine the difficulty of gathering all the people into groups. I can just imagine they saying, ‘why?’ to the disciples. ‘Because the Lord wants you in groups of fifty, that’s why’.
41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.
Our Lord kept breaking the fish and the bread it is reported and the apostles kept taking the food until there wasn’t one person who was still hungry. Then our Lord said to His disciples – ‘12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.’
Remember back outside of Capernaum the apostles didn’t even have enough time to eat while ministering to all the people. Now each disciple had a whole basket of food.
I am sure with a smile our Precious Holy Lord now looked upon His apostles and said, ‘Okay men, now sit down and enjoy for yourselves a bite to eat.’ Do you notice that there weren’t 13 baskets of food, one for each of the 12 apostles and one for the Lord. I wonder if one of the guys recognized that our Lord didn’t have any food for Himself and that one of them or all of them would share.
Now that is the feeding of the 5,000. Have you already picked up the differences between the two separate incidents? Let us look at the feeding of the 4000.
In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” 4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?” 5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
With the feeding of the 5,000 where were all the people? Well they were near Bethesda as Luke informs us – ‘Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.’ Where were they for the feeding of the 4000? We read in today’s verses that the crowd were in a desolate area away from all civilization. “In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.” 4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”
Now how many loaves of bread and how many fishes. In the situation of the five thousand we read in Mark’s version, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Now relative to the feeding of the 4000 how many fish and loaves? – “5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them.”
Now, we have also commented on how many baskets of left over’s were collected with the feeding of the 5000, that being twelve. How many baskets of left over’s were collected with the feeding of the 4000? – “8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.”
Just one more point I want to make. We read in the two different Gospels versions. In one case we find the ‘Region of Dalmanutha’ and in the other we read of the ‘Region of Magdala. Of course you are probably aware that both of these areas are the same. But in research we find some additional great information.
Magdala was placed on the map forever because of its most famous first-century resident. We know her from the dozen references in the New Testament as Mary Magdalene. We also know from the Gospels that Jesus (Yeshua) delivered this woman from a demonized life. Thereafter, she became a disciple par excellence. Mary accomplished something that the twelve selected disciples did not accomplish. She followed Jesus all the way to the cross, and three days later she was the first witness to the resurrection of the Lord.
Mary's city, Magdala, is mentioned only once in scripture, in Matthew 15:39. Here it is stated that Jesus came to the region of Magdala. The area of Magdala is also associated in the New Testament with the name Dalmanutha, as seen in Mark 8:10. All other references to the city are indirect ones.
Remember, that Matthew wrote the first Gospel around 50 AD. The area that the 4000 were fed at was Dalmanutha. Five years after Matthew’s Gospel Peter translated his observations to Mark. By this time the area of Dalmanutha was better recognized after Mary Magdalene’s home town or called ‘Magdala’
