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JESUS FEEDS FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE

September 16, 2007 PM

Sermon Outline

MK 8:1-9

INTRO: Some are tempted to say this is just a different account of an earlier narrative involving the feeding of five thousand people. I suppose they have motives known to themselves. However, there can be no doubt that this is a report of a very different event ... similar in some respects to the earlier event ... but different in a significant number of details. Although I will mention a few of these differences in my brief thoughts this evening, I am particularly concerned to stress something that is said about Jesus at the very beginning of the narrative. Throughout my thoughts this evening, I want you to be remembering the word "compassion". Here is an event which grew out of the compassion of Jesus.

  1. THE NEED?
    1. A multitude of people had gathered to be with Jesus
      1. remember, this takes place in the Decapolis
      2. the place where the demoniac man (5:1ff) and the man with the speech impediment (7:32ff) lived
      3. but it was also an area of Greek/Roman culture - unlike Capernaum
      4. why, then, a multitude? recall 5:19,29 & 7:36,37 - such "testimony" as this spread through the region ... Jesus' fame had doubtless grown here
    2. The multitude had been with Jesus three days
      1. apparently, they had not had much food during those days (8:2)
      2. many of these people had come "from far"
      3. should they begin returning home unfed, some would "faint by the way"
      4. but it was a wilderness area - no access to vendors for food
  1. THE COMPASSION OF JESUS...
    1. "I have compassion on the multitude..."
      1. notice that it is Jesus Who calls attention to the need
      2. in previous account the disciples did (6:35,36)
      3. but recall, too, that His compassion was very much a part of the previous event ... 6:34 - Jesus saw people, not faceless crowds
    2. Compassion considers others
      1. compassion must have an outgoing expression (not pent up within)
      2. is this not the basis for what Jesus taught at Mt 7:12?
      3. or, Mt 22:39 ... consider the other!
      4. what would the world be if everyone consider others? what would the church be if every member considered others? (Phil 2:3,4)
    3. Considerateness sees the details of life
      1. Jesus knew of the three days, that there had been no food, that many had come from afar, that there was little hope of food in vicinity
      2. considerateness cannot exist if we do not see people ... and their needs
      3. Gal 6:10 is an important directive ... but it can be such a general admonition that it never has faces, understood needs
      4. in a rush, into ourselves, caught up in the routine we will rarely really see the details of life calling for compassion
    4. Compassion has a very active element
      1. this is always visible in the life of Jesus - note Mt 9:36"moved with..."
      2. if there is no action, there is no compassion! (Jas 2:15,16)
      3. Lk 10:29-35 - two very religious people who might well have claimed to be "compassionate" - but there was no action to solve the man's problem
      4. question: are we really compassionate ... or just ritually religious?
    5. Compassion does not discriminate
      1. in that multitude were there any who were "enemies" of Jesus?
      2. in that multitude were there any who were anything but righteous?
      3. probably "yes" to both questions - but Jesus saw their need
      4. and each was treated equally by His compassion - this is such a critical part of compassion - we tend to see the needs of our friends, our inner circle - but do we pay attention to the needs of those outside of our circle? (Gal 6:10 again)

CLOSE: To look at this event as a study to determine authenticity, contrasts with an earlier event, even as a miracle is perhaps to miss the most important lesson here ... the lesson about the nature of compassion. It was a very real event with a needed lesson for all who consider it!

Cecil A. Hutson

16 September 2007

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