βAnd his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?βΒ (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). Todayβs Scripture, however, contains a very incredulous inquiry.
Let us read the verse in context:Β β[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?β
The disciples asked Jesus,Β βFrom whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?βΒ Can they be so blinded by their sinful hearts that they cannot believe they are talking toΒ the Son of God, He who hasΒ healed the sick,Β raised the dead, andΒ cast out devils? Can they be so forgetful thatΒ HeΒ supplied their ancestors with foodβmanna (bread)βfor 40 yearsΒ in the wildernessΒ (ExodusΒ 16:35; John 6:31-33)? Here, in todayβs Scripture, they have no idea where they can get food for all these people in the wilderness.
Of course, there isΒ noΒ βmanβΒ who can feed this multitude in the wilderness. It will take theΒ God-ManΒ 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 Israelβs 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.Β Once they came by faith to Him, they were satisfied forever,Β neverΒ to hunger again! source
