Feeding Another Crowd:

Context:

• After giving crumbs of deliverance for the Canaanite woman’s daughter.
• Jesus walks beside the Sea of Galilee and sits down on a mountain.
• Again He is surrounded by great crowds.
• He heals the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others.
• And God is glorified.

Matthew 15:32 “...Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way...”

Mark 8:2-3 “...I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away...”

How does Jesus work in the supernatural?

• Healing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, etc.

How is Jesus quite practical?

• He recognizes the basic need for food. He sees beyond himself.

Matthew 15:34 “...And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish...”

Mark 8:5 “...And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven...”

What was available in the natural?

• Seven loaves and a few small fish.

What was available in the supernatural?

• Matthew 15:37 “...And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over...”
• Mark 8:8 “...And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full...”
• More than enough to meet the need.

What is available in the supernatural today?

• More than enough to meet the need.

Challenged again by the hard hearts:

Context:

• Following His supernatural work of both healing and feeding.
• The Pharisees and Sadducees put Him to the test.
• They ask for a sign from heaven.

How had Jesus already provided plenty of heavenly signs?

• To walk with Him was to see miracle after miracle.
• Only heaven could provide the power for the things Jesus was doing.

Matthew 16:2-4 “...He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed...”

Mark 8:12 “...And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation...”

Where was Jesus deeply affected by the Pharisees and Sadducees?

• He sighed deeply in His spirit.
• This was not a fleshly weariness, but a deep spiritual weariness.

How does the same problem exist today?

• Obstinate unbelief refuses to see the obvious work of God.
• Unbelievers always have questions, even though they are usually unreasonable.

Did Christ feel compelled to answer unreasonable questions?

• We will be unable to convince hardened hearts regarding things they have already refused to acknowledge.