The Hungry Then the Difficult (Part A)

Don says not for ours only but also for the whole world. We see in ministry to representatives of the whole world goes outside of the Jewish covenant Gentiles. He cares and of the whole world when we talk about God's love means just that, not just the elect if it meant just the elect, he would say, God love the elect.

He says the whole world. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Mark chapter 8 as he begins his message hungry, then the difficult you're in the gospel of Mark chapter 8 Bibles please turn there. We will take verses one through 13. Beginning in verse one Mark chapter 8.

In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with me three days and have nothing to eat and if I send them away hungry to their own houses they will faint on the way for some of them have come from afar.

Then his disciples answered him, how can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness he asked them how many loaves do you have. They said seven so he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground and he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke and gave to his disciples to set before them, and they set them before the multitude.

They also had a few small fish and having blessed them, he said to them also set them also before them, so they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. Now those who had eaten were about 4000 and he sent them away immediately.

He got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of down the flue, then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, testing him, and he sighed deeply in his spirit and said why does this generation seek a sign surely I say to you know sign shall be given to this generation, and he left them getting into the boat again departed to the other side, the hungry, then the difficult here we have this very large group of people multitude over 4000 people have come out to be touched by Jesus to receive his teachings and to their surprise and amazement to be fed by him and he in turn he cared for them, healing them, teaching them and as I mentioned feeding them. Once he is finished with them and he leaves this area. He comes amongst those who confront him. These are a difficult type. I happen to be very religious. Religion can turn a person upside down or right side up. It's very easy to be turned upside down for anything in life.

This is part of the curse.

It's part of sin in this world. Those of you who drive on the road. You know how quickly you can be turned upside down and there are those that do have your buttons is the sequence codes to activate your anger and disappointment annoyance are all little children in the home older children in the home of his relationship. So we guard against. We don't want to be this like a difficult group in this section were going to consider in a little while getting way ahead of myself. The question is to people who are genuinely annoying. They know they're annoying and if they don't that's annoying. What about mean people do mean people know that there mean I think they do. I think that particular group. They get. They like to think they'd enjoy the feeling of being mean and cutting others down. If this is you, the mean group the Lord needs to work on you. That's a very serious problem and you need to come up for prayer or stay stuck in pride and stay that way and find out how useless you will be. As for the annoying ones well you you'll figure it out. I hope I hearing the scriptures read in these situations that come before us, and that's why one of the reasons we come to church is to see ourselves in the Scripture is to have it put up next to our own behavior say Lord do I do this in my annoying like these guys and if he says yes, that is they want to have to do to correct this and keep it corrected.

Thus, the adventure of Christianity well when those who were difficult did confront him.

Those religious leaders who were dishonest with their own Scripture and therefore difficult people in dishonest with him he would not put up with them. While that's a brief overview of what we have before us and so now we first take on those who are coming to him hungry for his care is touch his healings and then as a bonus, they will be fed with the bread and fish verse one chapter 8 Mark's gospel in those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them I have compassion on the multitude verse two because they have now continued with me three days and have nothing to eat so we go back up to verse one.

This location is very likely still into Coppola's going by the previous chapter Mark chapter 7 verse 31.

That's significant of the story because he is still in Gentile territory. He is going to perform this miracle where the people are predominantly non-Jewish. This of course is the second multiplication of the bread and the fish in the first instance his audience. The multitude over 5000 men probably as much is 20,000 people.

You check out the women and children.

They were predominantly Jewish is pretty revealing.

As a Bible student we see early on that the Christ ministers to the Jew and the Gentile, the disciples are going to have to deal with this in detail as the gospel begins to move out of Israel, but of course that's for when we get to the book of acts. This massive Gentile multitude drawn to him what he could do for them and not in a dishonest way, but they were needy. They had needs and you can bet that bringing out the goes with that are sick and in need of care on in carts.

The coming large numbers. Says the multitude being very great having nothing to eat. Matthew adds besides the women and children Mark leave Mark leave that out.

Incidentally, of the four Gospels. All four of them cover the first multiplication of the fish and the bread amongst the Jews.

This one is only covered by Matthew and Mark and the soul will be cross-referencing some of Matthew because he gives us a few details that Mark does not include, for instance, in Matthew 15 verse 30, Matthew Rice, then great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they laid them down at Jesus feet, and he healed them. So the lame well they're coming out a long distance. He is aware that the carts are going to bring them in that significant of the story because when they take up the fragments of the fish in the bread they going to put them in these large baskets over the get the baskets I mean people to walk around scrap on their back empty baskets while they're in the carts mean. This was sort of like a pickup truck of the day you had these things in their wares when he did it for the Jews. They had the smaller baskets with them, which is so significant distinction for the Gentiles used a large baskets to historians tell us in the.

The Jews tended to go with the smaller the smaller baskets it says here in verse one Jesus called his disciples to to him and said now so he's bringing the disciples into this situation.

He wants to feed them and he is fit he has fed them spiritually already by his teachings and his healings now he's going to physically feed them mention I live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. But you still have to have bread and the manner in the wilderness, or the manner in your kitchen where it doesn't matter with Amana is long as you get it in use that to the glory of the King. So he's going to use the disciples to meet needs. He still does this. God tends to work through human means whenever he can. There are some things that are absolutely out of our control. The you know the universe. The spin of the earth there. Things are just beyond this, but there are other things that he joins to us and he calls them into fellowship with them so that his blessings can flow through human channels are a big question.

What about me. Does Christ ever work through me. Does he ever flow through me to bless people or do I refuse and I just end up draining blessings from people he is going to multiply the blessed bread, but he is going to require human hands to distribute the bread know we covered this a little bit on Wednesday and I think it's very appropriate to bring it back in and to this morning's consideration.

When Christ rose Lazarus from the dead men had to roll away the stone men had to unwrap the grave closer. Lazarus was in when he saved that persecutors Saul of Tarsus.

He did not do it without the words of his martyr Stephen and so there we see God. Of course, doing the miraculous work involving his servants involving people and he is always on the lookout for souls to use in the flesh.

Of course wants to be used on its terms, not his terms.

And that's where much of the conflict begins good and wise to nip that in the bud as many Christians do reading from Isaiah chapter 6 this is that vision, Isaiah had of the Lord sitting on his throne. And you know his movies in the spirit and he hears.

He writes it down for us. Isaiah 6 verse eight. Also, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send, and who shall go for us and I said here I am, send me one of ministry. It was what you know Jeremiah didn't want to hook into the ministry that he did God let him and Moses did not want to go into the ministry, but when these men went into the ministry, for the Lord great things happen. Esther did not want to be used initially Mordechai convinced her with a simple sentence.

Well not use someone else in her response, and since it was over my dead body. That's exactly what she said because she put her life in jeopardy.

Second Chronicles the great profit goes to the king to rebuke him. He says for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to him. So God is looking for people to use these doing it right here. It's easy the people have no further been within three days they have spent their provisions and now he's not going to send them way without caring for them and is not going to care for them without his disciples. Verse two I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with me three days and have nothing to eat. Of course, this compassion runs deeper than the things of this life with Christ and that's when we get tripped up because we want to. Of course, limit his care for us right here right now and he doesn't do this and that and save me from these things than the does he really care course by faith, we know that he does and he has an an entire an entire eternity to demonstrate his love to us beyond the cross. Now he demonstrates his love to us, and that Christ Jesus died for sinners died for us and he's going to continue to demonstrated through out the ages to come in. So, again, not knowing that they would struggle if they had been sent away hungry and having no intention of sending them that way. Even those outside of the covenant he's going to care for them.

First John chapter 2 verse two he himself is the propitiation for our sins, he is the one that's dealt with our sins. Personally, then John says and not for ours only but also for the whole world. We see him ministry to representatives of the whole world. Those outside of the Jewish covenant Gentiles.

He cares for them and the whole world. When we talk about God's love means just that, not just the elect if it meant just the elect, he would say, God love the elect. He says the whole world.

God is looking to save sinners and is looking to use his people to be a part of that process and every Christian should be concerned about that.

And so here they are three days the provision spent verse three and if I send them away hungry to their own houses they will faint on the way for some of them have come from afar. How damaging it would've been to all of his work, the teachings the healings and get home exhausted. If they make it good with that. Do of course these as the foresight to address this and clearly when he when it says here when Christ is saying to his disciples that some have come from afar. How did he know that Willie had to interact with people more than likely through interacting with the people that he was ministering to someone coming up to him sat them all away from so-and-so and it registered with him. He did not dismiss still mean something today.

Those who come afar to Christ. He still notices he still cares duress, compassion.

James writes in one of you says to them, those in need to pardon peace, be warmed and filled, but you give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit someone with some critical need some urgent need. Having nowhere else to go and there in front of you and you do not meet that need. That's negligence and negligence is always a serious thing. Verse four. When it comes to spiritual matters. Verse four then his disciples answered. How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness. You and I would've said you cannot be that dull. You are there when 5000 people of men alone were fed. How can you ask such a question.

Matthew and Mark make no comment from the Lord. He doesn't call amount he just keeps going forward.

I so appreciate that. He's not looking to stick it to me when it's critical to bring in our will and is okay love you know so hard. What were they overwhelmed had they seen so many miracles they no longer could keep track where they themselves exhausted, mentally I would not count that out at all. They had you.

You think having lived through the situation before they would apply. Maybe they thought he wouldn't do it for the Gentiles.

Either way, one of the big things that stands out for me is that he just continues to do what he's going to do 1/2 and I walk away as how clumsy we are now faith.

I'm not ready to judge the disciples when they make mistakes every time they make a mistake that sometimes like that one was that when I struggle with what overall if I lived then when I am recognized Christ as the Messiah, as they had come to recognize him. I would hope so, but again, the Lord does not rebuke them, he will remind them of both the feedings will get to that later in this chair looking at down at math. Mark's gospel chapter 8 verse 18 Jesus giving them another lessons. He says having eyes, do you not see in having years. Do you not hear and do you not remember and I broke the five loaves of the 5000, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up they said to him, 12. Also, when I broke the seven for the 4000, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up and they said seven so they remember those little details and he dismisses it here he gets back to it later. Only because it comes up, but it is pertinent to what he's dealing with.

And we can move later on Mark's gospel so I look at that and I say I want to get it right the first time I do not want to dismisses miracles, but I know is I'm reading this, a Cinemas of Lord yeah I know you can do anything.

Problem is, there are times you won't. And that's where I get messed up, Stephen, were mentioned him earlier. What did Christ do for Stephen. He let the stones fly. He let them kill him. He stood up to watch that happen as he received King Stephen into the kingdom.

Christ got a whole another way of working with things and am never going to find those things out outside of his word and that requires constantly going over it repaving telling the potholes of doubt and confusion in absence of memory. It takes hard work to be a Christian and is worth it.

Is there any Christian wants to come to try since I cannot do anything now I'm say your salvation be questioned.

After a while it is hard work. Once we grab that once we understand okay is hard work in the midst of all other things lab to do in life. This is still a demand upon me, and it's worth it.

Narrow streets is the way the Christ is laid before us. But once we begin to understand that it's not so bad is when we find it acting like laziness is somehow going to be blessed Acting behaviors, though, is negligent to somehow honorable would Christ we face the fact we get stronger, not weaker. Maybe after that that initial shock may weaken us, but when we regroup. Satan is afraid you're going regroup when something happens to you that is horrific or reverses. Satan is afraid to go to regroup is good to keep it like that is good to understand that we are going regroup.

The disciples did after the resurrect of the crucifixion, they were shattered but there still gathering when he appeared to them, they regrouped verse five and he asked them how many loaves do you have and they said seven now in chapter 6 when he multiplied the bread and the fish were the Jewish people was five loaves and two fish. And so that the distinct difference between the two miracles is not a repeat verse six so he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground and he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke and gave to his disciples to set before them, and they set them before the multitude, I have criticisms of how the New Testament was written in the Old Testament, and so should you have your Bible solicitors grow Bible citizen if you hurt your Bible student you look at is a lot like the wisest sequence out all the time I went to do this detective and puzzle work because you been worse off if you didn't. If I didn't force you to Rio to consider these things and think my people are supposed to think and give your brain just the figure was aware in the morning. Given your brain to do other things to my glory will be afraid of that. Do you know maybe you don't get good grades in school. While you can get outstanding grades would Christ. Nonetheless, he saw looking for.

You know the pseudo-genome is a genius to God. I stand up before the Lord, you know, I graduated junior school two years early is like anyway, he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. Why because he understands that this order robs us of blessings order. It is very it is valuable that you know if the enemy can scramble losses fragment does break up because disorder is going to do that many churches have gone down because of disorder. Spiritual disorder somebody out of line, not where they're supposed to be enough of the time. Too often, methodically, he went about resolving this situation.

Paul writes to the Corinthians as is.

Let all things be done decently and in order and that church needed as they could not support it can control themselves. They fell, they just below the passes preaching that gift of teaching is working on but interrupt that because I've got a rush of a feeling, and they get up and start begin possibly not helping God help and the devil bringing in confusion and disorder that it be done decently and in an order because that's got to set the universe. If he hadn't, we would never survive, something too many churchgoers don't seem to care for the church. The pastors oversee the church and to keep order in the house because the people if you left to ourselves, we will create disorder. One person wants it this way another unwanted that a tug-of-war now and folks get offended they think because they Christians they got a say so in the assembly. They know and you, Paul never asked permission policy what you think.

What color should we make the drapes. They never asked anybody. This is what God is leading me this is the direction we going and they loved him, and don't be taken by that don't know and love you notice it if I'm speaking to you you're wrong I'm right I like it that way but I want you to be right with some humor in that I'll say it later. Again, for those anyway.

You know how to control the crowd move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

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