February 20, 2026

Miracles Of Jesus: 24

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand 

There are some similarities between the feeding of the 5,000 and the feeding of the 4,000, but there are a few key differences. The 4,000 had been with Jesus for three days and hadn’t eaten, and Jesus had compassion for their hunger. When we read about the 5,000, they had just gotten to Jesus that day, and it was getting late, nearing evening. The 4,000 had been with him for three days, and if he had sent them away hungry, he considered that some might faint on their way home. So, he asked the disciples how much bread they had, and they answered, seven loaves. And like the 5,000, he commanded the multitude to sit down, gave thanks, broke it, and set it before the people. They also had a few small fish, which he blessed and gave to the people. They ate until they were full, and then seven baskets of food were picked up. 

What I observed was two key points:

1. Jesus not only considers our spiritual health, but he’s also concerned with our physical health and with making sure we have food to sustain us. Yes, they had gone 3 days without food, but it didn’t hurt them because of autophagy, which breaks down damaged cells, improving their health and likely helping them understand his message better. 
2. There is a debate about when you should pray over your food. Is it before the bread, salad, or main meal? Well, Jesus put this debate to rest when he prayed before he broke the bread. No one took a bite of food before it had been prayed over. 

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. Mark 8:6

A while later, in Mark 8, when Jesus and his disciples were in the boat crossing to the other side, the disciples worried because they were out of bread. I can’t help but shake my head and wonder why, given what they saw with the feeding of the multitude, how they could worry about food. But then I consider that my faith is weak too. We really do need to keep an account of all that Jesus does for us and consider that before we start complaining.

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?  Mark 8:18