The People Ate and Were Filled - Mark 8:8

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 if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him, From where can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves do you have? And they said, Seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them”, and in chapter eight and verse eight of his book, Mark wrote how the people, “did eat, and were filled” where we read:

So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

The verse reads, “So they did eat, and were filled:” Mark began with the words, “so they did eat” which means “therefore the people within the crowd consumed and devoured the loaves and fish”, “and were filled” or “and were satisfied in their desire for food”. Mark shared how the people surrounding Jesus partook of the loaves and fish and were completely satisfied and full.

The verse continues, “and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.” Mark added the words, “and they took up” which means “and Jesus' disciples gathered, collected and carried away” “of the broken meat” or “pertaining to the fragments, remnants and pieces of food” “that was left seven baskets” which means “the residue and remains of the food which filled seven reed plaited baskets or hampers full”. Mark shared how Jesus' disciples gathered “seven hampers” full of left over fragments of food after the people had eaten.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus performed this miracle in a manner which exceeded the need for nourishment within the crowd. “Seven baskets” of leftovers were gathered by His “disciples” after everyone was fully satisfied with food. There was no waste made of this food, and Jesus demonstrated God's power to supply every need a person has beyond expectations. Those who are wise will discover how Jesus desires to “help” people with every problem they encounter, and when they yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He is more than ready to supply.

Next time Mark shares how, “they that had eaten were about four thousand”, 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".