Leftovers
“When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.” So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”
Mark 8:19-21
Is there any turkey leftover in your refrigerator? How about stuffing? Cranberry sauce?
We tend to cook too much during the holidays. So, it’s a challenge to eat it all before it goes to waste.
The Bible records the story of the feeding of the 4,000 in Mark 8. There was a multitude of people gathered to listen to Jesus. Some of them came from far away.
“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.”
How were they going to feed them? They are no where near the marketplace.
His disciples asked how they could feed them. It seemed impossible. But, there’s nothing impossible with God!
So, Jesus takes the 7 loaves and a few fish, and miraculously feeds the 4,000+ people there!
He instructs His disciples to gather the leftovers so nothing would go to waste.
Do you ever wonder why there was food leftover? In this case, 7 big baskets and another time 12 big baskets when He fed the 5,000.
Some possibilities…
- The leftovers were for the disciples. Perhaps they fed others first before getting to eat. Jesus’ compassion was not only for the multitude, but also for His disciples, and… you and me.
- There was something symbolic in the numbers. 7 signifies completion or perfection. As an old hymn says, “Jesus doeth all things well.” 12 could signify the 12 tribes and or the 12 disciples. Each disciple had a basket to carry. Reminding them of the miracle they just witnessed.
- The leftovers remind us of the abundance of God’s grace. John 1:16 says in the New English Translation: “For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.”
But, in today’s reading, it seems that the disciples temporarily forgot that God would meet their needs. They had forgotten to take bread with them.
Sometimes we worry about what we need instead of asking God. We are quick to forget how He has supplied before.
Jesus asks: “How is it you do not understand?” Mark 8:21.
