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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
‘I have compassion on the multitude.’
Mar_8:2
I. The greatness of the multitude (Mar_8:1).—We might think that this would interfere with the blessing, but in Christ God provides for the world (Joh_3:16). Though many have come to the Gospel feast, still the invitation says, ‘Yet there is room’ (Luk_14:22).
II. The greatness of the necessity (Mar_8:1-2).—But the greatness of man’s extremity is necessary to display the greatness of God’s grace (Isa_59:16). Israel learned this at the Red Sea (Exo_14:10); the disciples when they had been without Jesus the three days He was in the grave (Joh_20:20-28). There were only seven loaves, which were quite insufficient to satisfy so many. And is not this the case with all human things? Will human wisdom satisfy? (1Co_1:20); will human riches? (Mat_19:22); will pleasure? (Ecc_2:1). The soul longs for immortality—this alone will satisfy it (Psa_17:15).
III. The greatness of the Divine compassion (Mar_8:2).—The first thought of their want, you see, springs from Jesus Himself (Heb_2:17; Heb_4:15; Heb_5:2). He is full of compassion, and ready to supply the comfort that is needed (Psa_145:8; 2Co_1:3-5). This reminds us of the father seeing the prodigal a great way off, and running to him (Luk_15:20).
IV. The greatness of the Saviour’s bounty (Mar_8:6-9).—By His word and blessing four thousand souls are fed; and this miracle was repeated, showing that His favours are renewed to correspond to our necessities (Lam_3:23; Isa_33:2; Psa_34:9-10).
Thus in this simple narrative do you learn the fullness of Christ (Col_1:19), that ‘God is able to make all grace abound toward you’ (2Co_9:8).
—
Bishop Rowley Hill.
Illustration‘Because this miracle closely resembles one which preceded it by no considerable interval of time, some have asserted them to be one and the same. But this could not be, as the scene of the two miracles was different; the time, also, at which they were wrought was different, and the number of the multitude was different, as was the food provided for them. Moreover, the chiding of Christ of His disciples afterward sets the matter beyond all dispute or doubt (Mar_8:19-20). There are, it is true, many points of likeness, but there are also some points of unlikeness. In the duplicate miracle the numbers fed are smaller, the supply of food is larger, while the fragments remaining are fewer. The miracles, therefore, are separate acts of omnipotence. That the feeding of the multitude should be repeated, and that two evangelists should record both instances, is an emphatic confirmation of the thoughtful and generous kindness of the Divine Bread-Giver and a decided testimony to the instructive nature of His action.’
‘MAN’S EXTREMITY IS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY’
I. Christ’s compassion was touched.—His heart always moved before His hand; and the latter ever responded to the former. He did not think of Himself, albeit during that time, with but little interval, He had been either preaching to them or healing the sickly among them, denying Himself both refreshment and rest.
II. The unbelief of the disciples.—As usual, the disciples were full of unbelief; and they were as embarrassed at the thought of making provision for such a vast multitude as was Moses for the six hundred thousand footmen (Num_11:21-22).
III. Every need supplied.—The miracle was so broad that it embraced every one of them; it was exercised toward them regardless of the varieties of their moral character; it was directed to their lowest and highest need; and it was a sublime demonstration of His infinite love which would lavish the best blessings on sinful men both in time and eternity. And just as His disciples distributed to the people, so Christ now employs His ministers, who know the same wants and need the same blessings, to distribute them to others through the Sacraments and ordinances of His Church.
Illustration
‘Where shall they go who very long have stood
Hearing the news of joy?
Where in this town, that village, gather food
For woman, man, and boy!
Rumour had told that once before He fed
Five thousand in the wild,
And satisfied the hungry soul with bread,
And all their fears beguiled.
Can He, indeed, with such poor scanty store,
For all that crowd provide—
The bread and fish still growing more and more,
Till none are unsupplied?
Yes; He can press within a moment’s space
The image of the spring,
Seed-time and harvest in one act embrace,
And home the full sheaves bring.
Our souls were faint; we deemed no helper nigh,
When lo! He gave us bread;
Calm breezes lulled the waters surging high,
And all our terrors fled.’
THE COMPASSIONATE SAVIOUR
I. The occasion of Christ’s compassion.—His heart was touched by
(a) The spectacle of human want and suffering.
(b) The wide diffusion of the need.
II. The qualities of Christ’s compassion.—It was
(a) Tender and sympathising.
(b) Practical and not sentimental.
III. The proof of Christ’s compassion.
(a) He interested His disciples in the state of the hungering multitude.
(b) He provided a supply suitable and sufficient for the wants of the thousands.
(c) He satisfied every hungering soul.
IV. Application.—See here a picture of
(a) The needs of the world.
(b) The grace of the Redeemer.
(c) The ministry of the Church.
Illustrations
(1) ‘We distinguish a twofold object in the miracles of Christ. The first a material one—the meeting of some immediate emergency, of some want of man’s earthly life which His love urged Him to satisfy; the other and higher one—to point Himself out to the persons whose earthly necessities were thus relieved as the One alone capable of satisfying their spiritual wants; to raise them from a single exhibition of His glory in the individual miracle to a vivid apprehension of the glory of His entire nature. Nay, it was to be a sign to all others, that they might believe in Him as the Son of God.’
(2) ‘May not the three days imply an earnest craving in some at least of this great multitude for spiritual food, so that in their eagerness to feed their souls, they forgot their bodily needs? But Jesus did not forget. They sought first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and that which was needful for the body was added unto them.’