“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12 ESV)
Matthew 15:32-39; *Mark 8:1-13*
•Let’s take a look at this famous miracle of Jesus where he feeds 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish (this is not to be confused with the miracle in John where Jesus feeds 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish; different miracles)
•Crowds often followed Jesus (often times for the wrong reasons) but on a particular occasion there were 4,000 people who had been tailing Jesus for 3 days and were hungry so among the disciples they found seven loaves of bread.
•Jesus gives thanks and breaks the bread and miraculously those loaves spread around the crowd, then there were a few small fish that are spread around to the whole crowd and between bread and fish the people ate until they were satisfied- leaving seven baskets of leftovers.
•Crowds often followed Jesus (often times for the wrong reasons) but on a particular occasion there were 4,000 people who had been tailing Jesus for 3 days and were hungry so among the disciples they found seven loaves of bread.
•Jesus gives thanks and breaks the bread and miraculously those loaves spread around the crowd, then there were a few small fish that are spread around to the whole crowd and between bread and fish the people ate until they were satisfied- leaving seven baskets of leftovers.
4,000 Folks
•Notice that Jesus give thanks for the food; even the Son of God remembers to be thankful for the meal that he was about to eat.
•Notice also that the leftovers were gathered (seven baskets of them) so that nothing was wasted.
•When the miracle is over Jesus leaves and gets into a boat. He runs into the Pharisees who demand to see a sign; Jesus sighs as if to say, “You want a sign? I just fed 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish and you want a sign? Are you serious?” Jesus (rightfully) dismisses their request.
•Notice also that the leftovers were gathered (seven baskets of them) so that nothing was wasted.
•When the miracle is over Jesus leaves and gets into a boat. He runs into the Pharisees who demand to see a sign; Jesus sighs as if to say, “You want a sign? I just fed 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread and a few fish and you want a sign? Are you serious?” Jesus (rightfully) dismisses their request.
Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; *Luke 9:28-36*
•This event is “the beginning of the end” so to speak because it is roughly a year after this that Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for his final week.
•When Peter, James, and John are up on the mountain with Jesus these three privileged Apostles get a chance to see what Jesus looks like in his Heavenly splendor.
•Peter gets so excited he offers to build tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah but while babbling about tent making a cloud surrounds everyone and they hear the voice of the Almighty. “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
•Once the cloud leaves Jesus has returned to normal and Moses & Elijah are gone.
•When Peter, James, and John are up on the mountain with Jesus these three privileged Apostles get a chance to see what Jesus looks like in his Heavenly splendor.
•Peter gets so excited he offers to build tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah but while babbling about tent making a cloud surrounds everyone and they hear the voice of the Almighty. “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
•Once the cloud leaves Jesus has returned to normal and Moses & Elijah are gone.
Transfiguration
•We are given a detail about the presence of Elijah with Jesus in the Mark account:
•“Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mark 9:12-13 ESV)
•Elijah came first in the person of John the Baptist. John did what he could to talk about Jesus and preach repentance but the rulers did do to him whatever they pleased because they ultimately beheaded him. This was ultimately an admission to his Apostles that he must suffer a violent death (and sacrifice his life on the cross for our sins).
•“Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mark 9:12-13 ESV)
•Elijah came first in the person of John the Baptist. John did what he could to talk about Jesus and preach repentance but the rulers did do to him whatever they pleased because they ultimately beheaded him. This was ultimately an admission to his Apostles that he must suffer a violent death (and sacrifice his life on the cross for our sins).
Luke 12:1-12
•(Just as a reminder, whenever Jesus speaks against the Pharisees he is not speaking ill of all Jews- only of those who thought that they were better than all others and were not following the Lord God with their hearts)
•Have you ever felt irritated about those people who can say and do whatever they want and they never get in trouble? Jesus reminds us that these people will have their day.
•Should you try to defend yourself from people trying to kill you or not be scared at all? Yes, you should defend yourself and you can be afraid but, this was just an exaggeration to prove a point- don’t waste your time worrying about these things to the point where they impede your life. Satan has much more power than any sadistic killer.
•Have you ever felt irritated about those people who can say and do whatever they want and they never get in trouble? Jesus reminds us that these people will have their day.
•Should you try to defend yourself from people trying to kill you or not be scared at all? Yes, you should defend yourself and you can be afraid but, this was just an exaggeration to prove a point- don’t waste your time worrying about these things to the point where they impede your life. Satan has much more power than any sadistic killer.
Various teachings
•In verses 8-12 the main idea is that you should not be ashamed to tell other people that you love Christ because there is nothing to be ashamed of.
•In a previous passage we learned about those that called out in Jesus’ name but did not know him don’t get into heaven and it is usually these people that deny him before others. The perfect example of someone who spoke of Christ but did not know him and did not defend him? Judas Iscariot- the man who saw the miracles and heard the sermons but betrayed him.
•For those who have wondered what the purpose of the Holy Spirit is- here is a glimpse into one thing that he does: He is with believers and gives them the words to say when they need to defend Christ against those who don’t believe.
•In a previous passage we learned about those that called out in Jesus’ name but did not know him don’t get into heaven and it is usually these people that deny him before others. The perfect example of someone who spoke of Christ but did not know him and did not defend him? Judas Iscariot- the man who saw the miracles and heard the sermons but betrayed him.
•For those who have wondered what the purpose of the Holy Spirit is- here is a glimpse into one thing that he does: He is with believers and gives them the words to say when they need to defend Christ against those who don’t believe.