David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 8:6

And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.

I’m not certain just why Mark points out that Jesus had the crowd sit down on the ground. It’s a detail that doesn’t make or break the story, or even the dramatic impact of feeding 4000 people with a few fish and some bread. That would be enough, but add to that the reality of the seven baskets full of leftovers! Leaving out the detail of having the people sit down on the ground doesn’t detract from the event or the impact of the miracle.

Psalm 1 describes a progression of evil activity, describing the one who is blessed:

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

It’s one thing to walk among wicked people. It’s more dangerous to stand along the path of sin. It’s quite another to take a seat at the table with those who dismiss God and his ways. This crowd is following Jesus; they have marked themselves as those who walk with Jesus (for three days – see fuller context below), are standing with him as he considers their plight, and who will soon sit down for a meal of his miraculous provision. They are not only refraining from evil, they are placing themselves in midst of God’s presence and provision.

Perhaps Mark wants to help us take a seat with the others in the good place of God’s provision. The crowd had been with Jesus for three days. They were hungry. Jesus notices this and acts to provide for their very real physical needs. The only thing they can do is receive his provision.

I believe Jesus knows our plight – just as he did that of this crowd. He knows who are with him. He sees us when we depend on him. He invites us to take a seat in the place of his provision. May we have the eyes of faith to recognize this as a good place and see him as our Great Provider.

Mark 8:1-10

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, ² “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. ³ And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” ⁴ And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” ⁵ And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said,“Seven.” ⁶ And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. ⁷ And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. ⁸ And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. ⁹ And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. ¹⁰ And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.