“Nourishment for the Hungry Soul” – Mark 8:1-10 – October 6, 2009
For me, the story of the feeding of the 4,000, raises some interesting questions. Earlier in Mark we have the story of the feeding of the 5,000. In that story Jesus fed the crowd with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. In this story however there are 7 loaves and a few fish. Why a second story with different amounts? The amounts are so similar it seems redundant.
It was necessary for Jesus to show the disciples over and over of God’s abundant resources. It was no less true for Moses and the Israelites where God provided Manna to eat while they were in the desert. God is always present, able to provide nourishment but our lack of faith inhibits our ability to see. Besides, it is our human nature to forget. Therefore we need to hear the gospel again and again, in order for our faith to grow.
Since the gospels give two separate accounts of feeding the crowds it can be determined that there were two different gatherings where the crowds were fed by a few morsels. The dynamics were also different. In the feeding of the 5,000 the disciples wanted to send the crowds away so they could find food. But, Jesus said to them, “You give them something to eat.” Jesus was advocating a sense of responsibility for taking care of the needs of the people. The disciples responded by telling him that their supplies were minimal. They said, “We only have 5 loaves and 2 fish.” They seemed to be rejecting that responsibility.
First, they didn’t want to bother with feeding them. Second, they believed it was impossible to feed that many people with such a small amount. In other words, all appeared hopeless. For them the glass was half empty instead of half full. In their minds there was not anything they could do.
In this story it is Jesus who has compassion for the hungry crowds. He tells the disciples up front that he is unwilling to send the crowds away to find food. Also, Jesus didn’t give the disciples a chance to make a suggestion as to how to feed the crowd. At the first gathering they were embarrassed by their lack of compassion. The last thing Jesus needed was disciples who had no compassion. Hopefully they had learned that lesson.
When Jesus said he was concerned that the crowds would go faint from lack of food, the disciples responded by asking him where the food would come from. They seem to be suffering from amnesia. The crowd was fed last time, why shouldn’t they be fed this time? Jesus asks them how much food was available. Oddly enough, the amount was larger this time than the first. There were two more loaves of bread and at least one more fish to feed 1,000 fewer people. They had made a little progress in their ability to see what resources were available, but they still believed the situation was impossible. It’s not much, but at least we can ascertain that the disciples grew slightly in their faith.
Perhaps we pastors expect too much from our congregations. We get frustrated with the lack of response to the needs in our communities. We want people to be more optimistic and filled with hope. Since the disciples needed reoccurring stories to enhance their faith, why wouldn’t it be any different for us? And, isn’t a little growth better than no growth at all?
My mother was visiting with us when I had my first pastorate, which was a three-point charge. The churches were small, averaging about 40-50 people in worship. My mom asked me how I measured the growth of faith in people’s lives since the numbers stayed the same. I then told her about the member at the second church. During my time there he had moved up four rows, from the back. I said to my mom, “That is growth.”
I believe that God wants us to see that small amounts of growth in our faith are both essential and normal in the lives of believers. Perhaps we parents expect too much of our children. Likewise, those in supervision may expect too much from those who work under them. Growth, however small, is growth. By emphasizing the small amounts of food in these two stories, God is reminding us that tiny amounts can make a difference. It’s not what you have that matters, it’s that you have the ability to see that whatever you do have can be used for feeding the masses. Our souls are nourished when we embrace what God has given us, no matter how insignificant we might think it is.
Another puzzle in these two stories is why so many thousands of people would travel great distances to listen to Jesus without food and supplies? They must have been greatly determined to be close to Jesus and hear his teachings. Apparently, food for the soul was more important than food for the stomach. Most people I know don’t want to hear a sermon that goes over twenty minutes. These folks were willing to listen to Jesus for several days. During that time, they didn’t complain or ask Jesus to feed them. There willingness to be there validated their need to grow in their faith.
For those of you who are obsessed with numbers, notice that the crowd in this story shrunk by 1,000 people, or 20 percent.
Whenever our church attendance slips people start worrying and thinking that something is wrong. Remember, that while their numbers diminished, the amount of available resources increased. It’s not about numbers, it’s about seeing, opening our eyes to the potential of the greatness of God. Our souls are nourished when we see the little ways in which God works.
Most everyone struggles with how few resources could feed so many people. We can rationalize that what happened there was the “domino effect.” Some people shared and then others started sharing as well. The resources were there but it took someone to take the initiative. Perhaps that was true, but I believe a more important result in the story was that “they ate and were satisfied.” They also ended up with an excess, some “seven baskets full.” How could that be?
A young man was 13 years old at the time and had read about Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s missionary work in Africa. He wanted to help but he only had enough money to buy one bottle of aspirin. He wrote to the Air Force and asked if they could fly over Dr. Schweitzer’s hospital and drop a bottle of aspirin down to him. A radio station broadcast the story about this young fellow’s concern for helping others. Others responded as well. Eventually, he was flown by the government to Schweitzer’s hospital along with 4½ tons of medical supplies worth $400,000 freely given by thousands of people. This, of course, would be the equivalent of millions of dollars today. When Dr. Schweitzer heard the story, he said, “I never thought one child could do so much.” (from: “You feed them,” Dynamic Preaching, Seven Worlds Corporation, Knoxville, July-Sept. 02)
Small beginnings can lead to great endings. Our souls are nourished when we realize that God’s grace is unlimited. It is not within the realm of our understanding to be able to measure the abundant resources of God. We can only trust and have faith that they are there.
Dr. Keith Wagner