Jesus Feeds 4,000
Free online resources based on Jesus feeding over 4,000 people. This miracle can be found in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. See below for links to sermons, stories and entertaining sites for this important story.
“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” — Mark 8:2-3 <NIV>
Jesus Feeds 4,000 Miracle – Summary
After Jesus healed the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman, he traveled to an area near the Sea of Galilee, on the West side of the lake. As he sat on a mountain, the people brought the sick to him – the blind, lame, dumb, and maimed. They placed the people at Jesus’ feet and he healed them all.
The crowd glorified the God of Israel because they witnessed the dumb speaking, the lame walking, the maimed made whole, and the blind could see. God would get no glory from any of these poor folks remaining sick or suffering. Jesus came to heal and set people free from oppression.
Jesus remained there for three days teaching and healing the people. Note the similarity in time spent here to his interaction with the Samaritan Woman at the Well, where he remained for two days teaching. Because of her testimony, people were eager to listen to Jesus. The outpouring of support here may have also been the result of the testimony of the the man possessed by Legion. He had asked Jesus to come with him, but instead Jesus sent him to his own people to testify about God’s love. (Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39)
Because they were in a desolate place, and the people had nothing to eat, Jesus knew he had to provide food.
Jesus told his disciples, “I am concerned for the crowd. They have been here for three days with nothing to eat. If they leave now, they will faint on their journey home.”
The disciples replied, “Where can a man get food in this desolate place?”
Jesus asked, “What do you have?”
The disciples were stuck on the need. Jesus wanted them to focus their faith on the seed. Whatever seed they had could be used to produce a harvest that would feed the crowd.
They said, “Seven loaves and some fish.”
Jesus commanded the people to sit down. Gathering the bread and the fish, he thanked God and Blessed the food. He broke the bread and then handed the bread along with the fish to the disciples to distribute. After everyone was completely satisfied, they gathered up 7 large baskets full of leftovers. Seven loaves of bread, and a few fish, miraculously fed 4,000 men, plus women and children!
There are two names of God in the Bible that are relevant to this story: El Shaddai – God Almighty or All-Sufficient One, and Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide. Both of these speak of God’s promise to supply all your needs, to heal you, and provide for you, like a parent takes care of a child. You can see in the words of Jesus his compassion and concern that the crowd be both healed and fed, as well as spiritually nourished. Man is a spirit, but lives in a body with a soul. The inner man cannot easily fulfill God’s plan while suffering from sickness, or constantly suffering from hunger or lack. It is not God’s will that any of His children suffer lack. In fact, Jesus came to supply all your needs abundantly. (Psalm 23, Matthew 6:25-34, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 9, Ephesians 3:14-21, Philippians 4:18-19)
Giving and receiving, seed time and harvest, these are principles that wind their way throughout the Bible. Jesus received the seed (bread and fish), Blessed them (empowered them to prosper), and distributed them to the people through the disciples. That faith seed yielded a superabundant harvest that not only fed 4,000+ people, but resulted in 7 large baskets full of leftovers. Expect every seed you sow into the Kingdom of God to produce abundantly for you. God needs you to be His arms and legs, His distribution center, to supply the needs for His people. (Genesis 8:22, Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Proverbs 3, 19:17, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 19:23-30, Luke 6:38, John 4:31-38, Acts 20:35, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Galatians 6:7-8)
They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan. — Matthew 15:37-39 <NIV>
Read the Jesus Feeds 4,000 Miracle story in five popular translations – AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message:
Jesus Feeds 4,000 Miracle – Matthew 15:29-39, Mark 8:1-9
Additional Jesus Feeds 4,000 Miracle Resources
Jesus Feeds A Crowd – Coloring page
Jesus Feeds The 4,000 – Bible paraphrase and study notes
Table Ministry Among The Gentiles – Blog commentary
Studies in Mark – Rote Learning Of Multiplication – A lengthy sermon of the miracle
The Cities Of Decapolis – Information on the Decapolis region at the time of Jesus
Search for Other Christian Web Sites.
Suggested Search Terms: Jesus feeds 4,000, fish and bread, miracle of Jesus, Matthew 15, Mark 8, seed time and harvest, God’s provision, Jehovah Jireh
