Not a Man, But a God-Man!

Posted on July 3, 2017 by

“And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?” (Mark 8:4).

We tend to elevate Bible characters as though they were super-humans. Sometimes, we assume they never had a bad day, always did what they had to do, and never fell into doubt (unbelief). Today’s Scripture, however, contains a very incredulous inquiry.

Let us read the verse in context: “[1] In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, [2] I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: [3] And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. [4] And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?”

The disciples asked Jesus, “From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?” Can they be so blinded by their sinful hearts that they cannot believe they are talking to the Son of God, He who has healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out devils? Can they be so forgetful that He supplied their ancestors with food—manna (bread)—for 40 years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:35; John 6:31-33)? Here, in today’s Scripture, they have no idea where they can get food for all these people in the wilderness.

Of course, there is no “man” who can feed this multitude in the wilderness. It will take the God-Man to meet their needs. Just as He miraculously fed Israel in the wilderness 1500 years prior, so He will yet again demonstrate Himself to be Israel’s Sustainer (feeding the 4,000 present). Jesus Christ distributes the Word of God, that through it they might have eternal life. The bread that He is passing out actually represents Him, the Creator imparting spiritual life to undeserved, lost, and dead sinners. Once they came by faith to Him, they were satisfied forever, never to hunger again! source

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