Harmony of the Gospels

81. Feeding the multitude- 4,000- Matt. 15:32-38, Mark 8:1-9

 

-Jesus feels compassion once again on the throngs of people who have come to be with Him, listening to His wisdom and being healed of every infirmity for three days. Another miracle of multiplication take place, this time with 4,000 men (besides there were also women and children, which probably at least doubled the numbers) and seven baskets were left over in this instance. Just as before, Jesus gave thanks after having the disciples seat them on the ground and He began to simply distribute what they had with seven loaves and a few small fish. *Application* The number seven is always important biblically speaking. It is the number for completion. God can completely provide for our every need when we sell out and abandon everything for Him in faith. These were unconcerned for their well being as we can note because they’d gone three full days without sustenance just to be in the presence of this Man of God. How willing are we to go the extra mile and trust that God has compassion on us as well and will take care of our every need sometimes even miraculously? God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Malachi 3:5, Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 1:4, 8).

 

Verse to Memorize- Matthew 15:32

 

82. The sign of Jonah to a wicked generation- Matt. 12:38-42; 16:1-4, Mark 8:10-13, Luke 11:29-32

 

-More than once Jesus gives the wicked and adulterous generation of scribes and Pharisees, who will be condemned at the judgment, a peak into His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. He compares them with Gentiles from Nineveh in the North and Sheba in the South, who believed when they saw lesser workings and preachings of the Lord and His glory, even seeking it out with long journeys (Luke 11:31-32). Something greater was among them in Jesus Christ the Messiah, yet they could not see His truth because of their hardened hearts drenched in unbelief. They were simply there to test Him and had no intentions of becoming converts to the Kingdom of God (Mark 8:11). They were argumentative and skeptical in His presence rather than reverent and receptive. This had to agitate the King of Glory as He gave His only sign to them with a deep sigh in His Spirit (Mark 8:12). *Application* God knows our hearts and desperately wants us to know Him intimately. The irony here is that Jesus is giving them the greatest sign the world has ever seen in His miraculous resurrection, yet they totally missed it. Make sure you don’t miss it. God is calling for you. Please respond by believing in what He has done. He has given us the sign that He is eternal and can give us eternal life with Him.

 

Verse to Memorize- Luke 11:29