The Feeding of the Four Thousand

This meditation is based on a passage for March 16, 2010 in the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Mark 8:1-10

Reflection and Question: This is the second account of feeding a great crowd in Mark (the first is 6:20-44). The notes in the New Revised Standard Version suggest that the earlier crowd was made up of Jews who had followed Jesus into the wilderness while this second event has a crowd made up of the people, most likely not Jews, living near that wild spot. Eating with them would have been a very scandalous act. At the same time, Jesus feeding non-Jews wonderfully supports that the Gospel message is for the entire world. How is the identity of the crowd here important to you?

Prayer: Awesome Jesus, once more You take bread, give thanks for it, break it and give it to a huge crowd. And there is enough for all with leftovers. We bow in wonder. Whenever we share bread for body or soul, we remember Your power. Amen.