Mark 8:21, The Story of the Loaves and Fish

Hey ATS

So I was doing a little Bible studyin' tonight, and as I was reading Mark I came upon the story of the Loaves and Fish. There are two different stories, the feeding of the five-thousand(Mark 6:34-45), and the feeding of the four-thousand(Mark 8:1-10). They are relatively the same, but with slight differences.

Here are the stories:

KJV Mark 6:34-45

34. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

35. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

36. Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

37. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

38. He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

39. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

40. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

41. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

42. And they did all eat, and were filled.

43. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

44. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

45. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

AND


KJV Mark 8:1-10

1. In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

2. I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

3. And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

4. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

5. And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

6. 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.

7. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

8. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

9. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

10. And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.


Now, I enjoyed the story, I think it shows the compassion of Our Lord. A little further on in the chapter, Jesus says something very interesting:

KJV Mark 8:18-21

18. Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19. When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

Very interesting indeed. What is it that they did not understand? Jesus stressed the importance on two numbers specificly. Twelve and Seven. Of what importance could those numbers be?

A little thinking back on my Church History brought me to recall there were 12 tribes of Israel. I believe that the feeding of the five-thousand relates to how God serves the twelve tribes of Israel.

The feeding of the four-thousand bears the number seven. In the book of Revelations God sends messages to the Seven Churches, which ultimately refers to the Gentile churches throughout time. This story relates how God serves the Gentiles(Christians, Non-jews).

I believe what Christ was trying to prove to his disciples was that God serves all his children with compassion, Jews and Gentiles. He loves us all, and He came to save us.

Just a little personal revelation I had tonight, just thought I'd share it with you

reply to post by AzraelTheBold


Awesome interpretation dude, never heard that before. You'll get flamed, but nuts to them. The numerology within the bible always peaked my interest considering that numbers are very left brain, and what we often feel is spiritual, is very much right brain thinking... it makes me think that the master of the universe is indeed "whole" where we are flesh and divided against ourselves, hence the struggle.

reply to post by AzraelTheBold

I think the number "seven", Biblically, is more about "the presence of God", or "God in action".
Think of the "sevens" all through Revelation. Think of Genesis ch1.
In that case, "This is God acting" could be the real significance of the number in the second feeding.

But if you want to see "God acting all over the world", the crucial number is perhaps "70" ("7" x "10") See. e.g., Luke ch10.



[edit on 21-5-2010 by DISRAELI]

reply to post by SmokeandShadow


Thanks man, I thought it was neat anyways

I have to say I agree with you there. As a human being both spirit and flesh, we are quite divided. The Lord combines the spiritual and the intellectual into the divine grace that allows us to be whole within him.

reply to post by DISRAELI


Interesting theory man, I'll look into it