Mark wrote, “In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat”, and in chapter eight and verse three of his book, Mark shared how Jesus told His disciples, “if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way” and began to speak to them again where we read:
And if I send them away fasting to their own houses,
they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
The verse reads, “And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, ...” Mark began with the words, “and if I send them away” which means “and whether and should Jesus dismiss and release the people or have them go free, depart and leave” “fasting” or “not eating and abstinent from food” “to their own houses” which means “to the people's own inhabited dwelling places, abodes or domiciles”. Mark shared how Jesus presented the beginning of the condition of the people “if” He should “dismiss” them to go to their own homes.
The verse continues, “... they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.” Mark added the words, “they will faint” which means “the people will be weakened, exhausted and grow weary and feeble” “by the way” or “on the traveled road or journey”: “for divers of them” which means “because, since and on account that certain ones of the people” “came from far” or “arrived there, were present or traveled a long way or distance”. Mark shared how Jesus recognized traveling back to their homes without food would make the people “weak and exhausted” since many of them came to see Him from a great distance away.
When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how loving and caring Jesus is about the physical condition of the people in the crowd. He knew the effects of not eating would be weakness, exhaustion and feebleness within the people. God created people, and He knows the limitations and needs within the body. People without food for long period of time do not keep their same strength and abilities, and Jesus knew they would “faint in the way” should they be released without nourishment. The same is true with the spiritual lives of people. Those who do not “feed” from God's word become weak, exhausted and feeble in their lives, and God's offer is to have a daily personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise shall realize God's offer through His word and become regular “consumers” of His spiritual food.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus' disciples asked Him, “From where can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment