Nothing to Eat - Mark 8:2

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,...”, and in chapter eight and verse two of his book, Mark shared how Jesus told His disciples He had, “compassion on the multitude, because they have ... nothing to eat” where we read:

I have compassion on the multitude,

because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

The verse reads, “I have compassion on the multitude, ...” Mark began with the words, “I have compassion” which means “Jesus held, owned and possessed yearning bowels, sympathy and pity” “on the multitude” or “upon the crowd, throng and collection of people who were flocked together around Jesus”. Mark shared how Jesus told His disciples that He “yearned with sympathy” toward the large group of people who were gathered around Him.

The verse goes on to say, “... because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:” Mark continued with the word, “because” which means “since and on account that” “they have now been with me” or “the people remained, continued, tarried and stayed with Jesus” “three days” which means “for three natural days, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night”, “and have nothing” or “the people do not have one thing” “to eat” which means “to consume and devour”. Mark shared how Jesus recognized the amount of time the people “stayed” with Him, and they were without food.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus not only noticed the amount of time the people were gathered unto Him, but also their lack of food because of it. God sees human need, and He is more than able to supply. (“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. See Philippians 4:19) God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when people examine the life of Jesus, they see what God is like. God knows our needs both physical and spiritual, and He stands ready to meet those needs for all who humble themselves before Him and receive.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus told His disciples, “if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way”, 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".