And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?” Mark 8:17.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
In seeing Jesus, you see Me in action among you. I sent My Word to heal you and deliver you from destruction. He went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil. And when there was a need, Jesus immediately filled it up until it overflowed.
Twice in His ministry I share with you a miracle of multiplication of bread and fish for a hungry crowd who came hungry to hear My Word preached by Jesus and to be healed. The first miracle of this nature took place with 5 loaves and 2 fish which fed well over 5,000 people with 12 baskets full left over. This sign and wonder occurred near Bethsaida, in a Jewish region, where people were familiar with My Word. We have already considered this conversation and the pursuant teachings whereby Jesus revealed Himself as the bread of life, the true Manna from Heaven for you to eat and never die.
The next time Jesus, out of compassion for the crowd gathered to hear Him teach who had refused to leave for three days and were out of food, it was in the region of the Decapolis, in a Gentile area close to where He had healed the man with a Legion of demons in him. The healed demoniac had been preaching and testifying in that area about Jesus, so instead of asking Him to leave, as they had previously, the crowds came to hear and be healed.
After teaching the large crowd for three days, Jesus called His disciples and said to them, “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” Mark 8:2-3. And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” Mark 8:4.
The disciples not too long before had seen Jesus feed a crowd of way over 5,000 with five loaves and two fish that just kept refilling their baskets as they distributed them until the people were more than satisfied. But most people, even believers, are like this about Me, though I have healed or delivered them multiple times, they seem to totally forget that I have ever done that when a similar need or challenge shows up.
But Jesus just kept on with My plan and did not stop to reprimand them. He got them focused on doing something about the need so I could work with them all in solving it.
He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” And that was the seed that was sown. Your offerings and tithes can bring the miracle of multiplication into your lives. There were over 4,000 people there but even though out of bread there were seven loaves there, but, as before, the disciples were wondering what you could do with seven loaves and over 4,000 hungry people. These people had not eaten food for their bodies in three days, but they had not left because their famished spirits and souls were getting fed and new life was filling them at the Words of life My Son was delivering to them.
Jesus took charge of the situation, as you must also do in what looks overwhelming for your own supply, and directed the people to sit down on the ground in orderly array. This was to keep greed and hunger from making them trample one another, as had happened to the king’s right hand man who had taunted Elisha that there was no way I could multiply food to the starving city under siege within twenty- four hours. And Elisha’s answer? They I would perform My Word as revealed to him but that the king’s right hand man would not get any of it. And he did not because the people of Samaria were so famished that when they heard of the abundance of provisions I had given them, they pushed past him at the gate and trampled him underfoot. Jesus did not want any unruly persons trampling one another, so He made them all sit down as at a picnic of plenty. By this time they had heard Him teaching for three days and they were eager to see what He would do. For you know He was always preaching about the Kingdom and seeking it first so that all would be added to you besides.
And they were not disappointed. Taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks to Me and broke them and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well.
Do you see? First He held up what they had to Me in thanksgiving and blessed it. It was now transferred from the rule of lack and toil of the worldly to the blessing rule of abundance of provision of the Kingdom seekers and citizens in Christ.
And the result? The blessings of provision and abundance chased them down and overwhelmed them. The vast crowd ate and was satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
If you want a miracle of provision, thank, bless, and celebrate, before you see it and you shall have it. The power is in the celebration of what you know by faith in My Word before you see it manifest in the world. Things are first conceived in the spirit and then born forth from the soul to the body.
And sending away the crowds, Jesus got into the boat and came to the region of Magadan.
Back in Jewish territory, the Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven to test Him. Again you see why He had to preach to the Pharisees in parables. It is next to impossible to talk in a productive and rational way to those who think they know better than you and have rejected you. None are so blind as those who refuse to see. And usually those doubters who keep asking for signs will not believe no matter how many signs you show them. It is not signs that make people repent and change their lives, it is faith and faith comes only one way, by what you hear and listen to. Faith comes by hearing and hearing My Words. Listen attentively to My Words and you will have faith for all My magnificent promises.
Sighing deeply in His spirit, Jesus said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side.
I am not adverse to giving you signs and appointed times, but not to those who only demand them to make Me prove Myself to you, those who are putting Me to the test. The signs I give are to warn you and prepare you for the coming of Jesus the second time and the catching up of the Church. I also love to grant your prayers and give you personal signs of faithful love.
Once in the boat, even after all those seven baskets full bread were left over, the disciples found they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. And Jesus was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, corrected their limited thinking as He said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up? They said to Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?””
Do you still not understand? Do not forget the wonders I have done for you in Christ Jesus. They will make you celebrate because you know how things will turn out for you. Victory, His victory that He has given to you. Celebrate all you have in Jesus. You have it so celebrate and deliverance will come. Swiftly.
“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your grandchildren. Deuteronomy 4:9.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14.