For our chapter reading this afternoon, let us turn to the Gospel according to Mark, chapter 8, verses 1 through 9. Mark, chapter 8, verses 1 through 9. And the portion we will read is also the text of the sermon. Mark, chapter 8, verses 1 through 9. And then we read God's holy word. In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him and said unto them, I have compassion on the multitude. Because they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away, fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way. for divers of them came from far. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, how many loaves have ye? And they said, seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and gave thanks and break and gave to his disciples to set before them. And they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes, and he blessed and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat. and were filled, and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets, and they that had eaten were about four thousand, and he sent them away." So far the reading of the Word of God. Beloved congregation, who knows better what is good, the Creator or the creature? the great physician, or the sick, the benefactor, or the one who has become poor and needy by his own fault? Well, we all know the answer. It's the Creator, the great physician, and the benefactor who knows what is good for us. And the story we are listening to this afternoon reveals that the Lord Jesus does not only know, but also graciously provides. in our needs. We will listen to what we call the second feeding of the multitude. The first feeding is recorded in chapter 6. That miracle occurred on the northern region of the Sea of Galilee. At that time, the Lord Jesus wanted to withdraw himself, but could not because of the crowd that followed him. And there the Lord Jesus preached the gospel, and at the end of the day, He fed 5,000 men with bread. That miracle is recorded in all of the gospels. The second feeding of the multitude is only recorded in Mark and Matthew. And it shows many parallels with the first one. There are also some differences. And we will listen to this story under the theme, Jesus feeds the 4,000. Two thoughts, first of all we will pay attention to his compassion and secondly to his provision. Jesus feeds the 4,000, his compassion and his provision. We closely follow the Lord Jesus and his disciples. The Lord Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, up north, in the north above Israel and he where he healed the possessed daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman. The Lord Jesus also healed a deaf and dumb man in Decapolis, that's eastwards to Israel, and on the east side of the Jordan River. In that region, Gentiles and Jews lived together. So the Lord Jesus was outside the borders of Israel, and he resided there for a period of time. And Matthew describes how the Lord Jesus came to the Sea of Galilee again and sought a spot upon a mountain to preach before the multitude that followed Him. The people continued to follow Him. They came from all directions and maybe even from abroad. They came with their need to the Lord Jesus. They brought lame, blind, dumb, and many others to him with a handicap or disease, and the Lord Jesus healed them all. He preached the kingdom of God, and the multitude marveled about him, especially because of the miracles he performed. They who did not belong to the covenant people praised the God of Israel. Well, how should we judge these followers of Jesus? Are they all seriously interested in the gospel of grace? We read in verse 2 that they stayed for three days. Well, if you stay in a place to listen to the gospel for three days, then you're not indifferent. And yet we still don't know the motives of the crowd. Maybe some of them were hungry for the word since they were bothered by their sins. But many also followed out of desire for sensation. Like nowadays, people are willing to make great sacrifices to join a festival. Your willingness to bring sacrifices for the service of the Lord is not a proof of being wholeheartedly involved. It does not prove you know the work of the Spirit in your life. In John 6, which is about the first feeding of the multitude, we read that people were enthusiastic after the miracle of the bread multiplication. But when Jesus speaks about Him being the bread of life that needs to be eaten, they back away and don't want to follow Jesus anymore. It's not the outward appearance that makes someone a disciple of Jesus, but his wholehearted love to the Lord and his service. That they praise the God of Israel does not mean that they all were converted. What we know is that they were fascinated by Jesus' teaching and miracles. They stayed one day after the other. We imagine that they all prepare themselves for traveling from home to this place by taking some provision with them. We can imagine that after the first day, some shared from their food with others. But on the third day, there was not much food, not much left. And most have nothing. But the Gospels do not mention this at all. There are no people. who wonder at the third day, who will give us to eat? No one comes with the request, Lord Jesus, thou who heals the sick and delivers the possessed, please provide in our need for food. Maybe the disciples will do so. That is how it started with the first miraculous feeding of the multitude. As the Lord Jesus continued His work without stopping, the disciples began to get nervous. It was getting late, but Jesus continued and at last they dared to interrupt Him and remind Him of the time of the day and urged the Lord Jesus to let the people go. They needed to go to the towns and into the country to find food. But now they don't come to the Lord Jesus expressing their concern. Maybe they were also thrilled by the preaching and by the many, many miracles he performed. No one is thinking of their physical need. No. But the Lord Jesus does. He cares for the multitude. He did already by providing them the bread of life. By his preaching, he took care of their souls. He provided spiritual food already for three days. And now he will also provide for their physical needs. He is a savior who takes care of soul and body. And because of his great concern, he calls his disciples since he doesn't want to provide in the people's need without teaching the disciples a lesson. That's how the Lord often works, doesn't he? In the midst of a trial or distress, the Lord will provide. But the way he does is never without important lessons for us. What kind of lessons? Well, lessons of humility, lessons of our own limitation and frailty, He also teaches us to have a high view of the Lord and His power and sovereignty and love and to have a low view of self. But before we will go into more detail, we need to understand the reason why the Lord Jesus is willing to provide in their particular need. What does the Lord Jesus say to the disciples? I have compassion on the multitude. I have compassion. What does it mean that he has compassion? Well, the word compassion comprises a profound meaning. It's a profound word. This is about the Lord's mercy. It's about the Lord Jesus innermost, about his will, his desire, his love. In the book of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, we hear the Lord referring to his bowels. In Jeremiah 31, the Lord expresses his compassion on Israel, comparing her to his son. Then we read, my bowels are troubled for him. I will surely have mercy upon him, said the Lord. The bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity. To be moved as to one's bowels means to be totally moved with love and mercy. Well, the Lord Jesus' heart goes out to the crowd. without respect of person. The Lord Jesus expresses his innermost and he's still the same. He still has compassion on the multitude, not on some select people, not on FRC members only. No, he has compassion on the multitude. Maybe there is someone of us or someone who is listening along. Who needs to hear that? What? That no one is excluded when it comes to the Lord's compassion. No one of the 4,000 could state that he was excluded from the Lord's care and from the Lord's mercy. His mercy went out to each one of them. And every individual person of that multitude was an object of the Lord's compassion. What is the source of his compassion? Must his compassion be stirred up by perceiving the misery of the multitude? Does some sad condition cause the Lord to show compassion? No, happily not. The Lord is different. We can pity other people because of what we hear and see of them. The Lord's compassion is not stirred up by our misery, but by himself. He is compassionate. He is merciful because of who he is. That is his divine character, one of his precious perfections, attributes, or we could also say character trait. Jesus Christ is a source of compassion himself. And when he has compassion, he expresses his father's heart because the father and the son are one. They are one in their good pleasure and in their purpose and one in love and mercy. Isn't that a miracle? Jesus Christ is the express image of God. When the Son has compassion on the multitude, the Father has compassion on the multitude. God is the source of His own compassion. It does not depend on man. It does not depend on man, and it cannot be affected by man. Our stubbornness, our doubt, our unbelief, our gross sins, Do not hinder the Lord of having compassion on us. Neither do they initiate His compassion. God is sovereign. God is free to do whatever pleases Him. And what He does is always consistent with His character. And then this also tells us something about the desire of the Holy Spirit, since the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and He will always act accordingly. pleases him to apply all that is promised to us because of the merits of Christ. Well, here we find the Lord Jesus having compassion on the multitude. And what is the content of his compassion? What does he express? Well, prior to the first feeding of the multitude, as recorded in Mark chapter six, we read that the Lord Jesus was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd. But he began to teach them many things. This directed to their spiritual needs. And therefore the Lord Jesus came into this world, namely to seek and find that which is lost. And the many miracles he performed, the sick he healed and the possessed which he delivered were pictures of his preaching, namely that the Lord is a perfect savior who will bring his own into his eternal kingdom. And there will be no sorrow and no pain and nor handicap. There will be no sin anymore. But in our text, we read that he has compassion on the multitude, but it is a different expression than in chapter six. I have compassion on the multitude because they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat. And this is something remarkable. The Lord Jesus compassion is related to their temporary need. Are the Lord's bowels also moved because they need food? In order not to faint on their way home? Yes. Among other things, that is what we should learn from this portion. Maybe the Lord Jesus was hungry as well. But we don't read about this. He has probably gone without food for this time as well. But that is not the focus. The focus is his care for the multitude because of his one-sided compassion. And he was concerned about their traveling a great distance without bread. Some people came from far. It does not mean that that they came from other regions per se, it can also mean within the Decapolis region, since a day journey would be too far for some after three days without food. But what does the Lord Jesus do here? Well, He is measuring, measuring the people's needs. The people came to Him with their need. They came to Him with the sick and possessed. And yet the Lord does not only care for all their needs, which they brought to him. He perfectly knows their needs even before they come to him, because he is the compassionate mediator and savior who measures their needs. The people didn't ask for food, but the Lord will provide since he already knows their needs. And here we see another marvelous aspect of His compassion. He measures our needs. He knows better than we. And it pleases the Lord to provide in our temporary need as well. How? As the compassionate mediator. Our daily food comes straight from the Lord's heart. How do we value? daily blessings, the clothes you wear, the food you eat, but also the toys you play with children, the device you use. It's all given by the Lord from a heart that is moved with compassion. Undeserved gifts, good gifts from the heart of God. And that should break our hearts. He is so undeservedly good. His care for us is His compassionate care only because of who He is. You don't receive what you deserve. All you receive more than death is grace coming from God's heart. We also learn from this portion that the Lord does not let them run stuck first. Sometimes he does. And the Lord shows our need and our dependence on him. But sometimes the Lord provides before we realize our needs. And usually that's the case. He is the great creator and sustainer of life. He is a great physician and benefactor. We would be in woe. If the Lord gave only what we ask for, the Lord provides. Before they call, I will answer. And while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Maybe you don't experience the Lord providing in your need. Maybe you suffer from a specific need. We can be puzzled because of the Lord's ways. We don't see any escape, and yet the Lord is the compassionate provider. We need to learn not to be focused on what we experience, but on what is promised. He reveals Himself as the one who has compassion on you. Why then should we sit down in despondency? We so need a sight of Him, so that we will trust Him and call upon His name, who is more compassionate on us than our trust in Him. He cares for our daily needs. Though our soul needs to be saved, that does not mean that our body is meaningless. No, the Lord created us with body and soul and both need to be saved. The Lord cares for both. What He provides for our body comprises a gospel message. The Lord takes care of us and He has so much more treasured up for our souls. That is what the Lord Jesus wants to emphasize with the miracle which He performs. It highlights His willingness to take care of these people. The feeling of the multitude echoes Jesus preaching as recorded in John 6 again. I am the bread of life. I offer myself to you since I have compassion on you. With me, you'll find nourishment and you should not be in want. If your eyes are open. But this miracle of grace, then you cannot but stand in amazement about the Lord's mercy. How great is his compassion and that for wretched sinners like me. But now let's pay attention to our second thought, his provision. Yet we don't always perceive this. Actually, without the Lord's guidance, we will wander in darkness, even under the clearest preaching, even when we are repeatedly instructed. We are so stubborn that we don't easily learn from the Lord's teaching in the past. Because what appears? That the Lord Jesus has told his disciples about his compassion. And they understand this as a kind of instruction to feed the crowd. How can they feed so many people? And we wonder, but they should know the answer. They know what the Lord Jesus is able to do. Didn't he feed the 5,000 too? Yes, they should know. But they didn't recall what happened as recorded in Mark chapter 6. They think they must find food for these people, but they can't. So they answered to the Lord Jesus, from whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? This is not a question asked out of need. Lord, we also feel for these people, but where shall we find bread? Oh, Lord, thou knowest. We come to Thee with our needs. We cannot provide, but will Thou do so, since Thou art the Compassionate Saviour. No, no, we hear nothing of that. They don't come further than looking for a solution within their reach. And there's none. So these people cannot be fed. Period. What an uncovering lesson, congregation. What will become of us? If we are left to ourselves, if the Lord does not open our eyes, we will need the same lesson as in the past. So that we will look to the Lord and not at our impossibility. How easily we fall into the same sin, how easily we are tempted, how easily we are distracted. We need to learn the same lesson time and again since we are slow to learn. And yet the Lord Jesus is patient. He is long suffering and he is willing to suffer the ignorance of his disciples. The Lord does not send them away, neither does he put them aside reasoning that they Still like a side of the Lord's power and wisdom. Well, then they can become proper apostles. No, in spite of their ignorance and stubbornness, it pleases the Lord to use them as his servants. What is impossible with the disciples is possible with the Lord. The Lord can feed millions of people in the wilderness. Would the son of God not be able to feed only 4000 in the wilderness? The Lord Jesus asked them how many loaves they have. And we see them together counting what they have. Oh, seven loaves. Oh, they cannot feed the multitude. They're hopeless. And that happens when we lack a sight of the Lord Jesus. When we look at what is before our eyes, we run stuck with ourselves and our impossibilities. We cannot control the situation. And yet, Our attention is drawn from the disciples and their limitation to the Lord Jesus. And to the extent his heart is filled with compassion, he will fill the people's need with his provision. The Lord Jesus instructs the people to sit down. It's time to rest and eat. What will they eat? Well, listen, the Lord Jesus is praying. He gives thanks to God. Among the Jews, it was common to pray a blessing over the food that was on the table. Blessed are thou, Lord our God, King of the world, who bringeth forth bread from the earth. That was uncommon prayer. And maybe the Lord Jesus expressed the same words. But see what happens when the Lord takes the first loaf. He starts breaking and continue. But after he breaks off the bread does not become smaller. Or maybe it does, but not to the extent Jesus breaks off from the loaf. And he gives to the disciples and they distribute the pieces of chunks of bread to the multitude. And everyone can get as much as he wants. No one needs to lack. And if someone does, then it is his own fault. since the Lord Jesus distributes abundantly. The same happens with the few small fishes they have. They all eat and, as we read, are filled. What did they eat? Did they eat the seven loaves and the few fishes? What matters is that they ate out of the hand of the Lord Jesus. Every piece, every crumb has gone through Jesus hands. The blessings hands, the blessing hands and the healing hands are also feeding hands. Every blessing of the Lord Jesus has come through his hands. And what about the seven loaves? Well, ultimately, they were also provided by him. Is not every loaf of bread a blessing from the Lord? And he uses his own work to multiply. We should notice that it pleases the Lord to use the little we have to multiply. What do you have? A little money? Limited help? Maybe little energy? limited mental capacity, to our own standards, too small, too little. For our own feelings, it is insignificant. We rather need to receive your right. We can think that we have something, but left to ourselves, we have nothing. And the little we have is given by the Lord. But we need to learn that the little we receive is a means in the hand of the Lord. Though we have little, it is sufficient for the Lord to make it meaningful. And that happens when it comes through his hands. What we need to learn is not to gaze at our weakness and smallness, but to give it in the hands of the Lord. And when he blesses, it will multiply and it will serve its purpose. The Lord does not depend on our smallness, but it pleases him to use it. All we can offer is inadequate. That contains a deep spiritual lesson. What can we offer to the Lord to meet His purpose? What do you have that you did not first receive? And what did we do with the Lord's precious gifts? We are inclined to use it for ourselves, for our own purposes. And by nature, we don't use the Lord's blessings to serve Him, but instead to please ourselves. But what pleases the Lord? If we use all we have to serve the Lord, that means that we learn to give all we have in the hands of the Lord with the prayer, will thou multiply for thy service. What pleases Him? If our desires and dispositions are focused on Him. And that happens. when He fills the heart with His love. Then we learn to acknowledge, Lord, I cannot meet my life's purpose. I fail in all aspects of life, and I cannot take care of my soul, let alone of others. I stand before Thee with empty hands, with hands which I misuse. Lord, teach me to lay all I have in Thy hands, so that it can be blessed by Thee. And in that way, the Lord will multiply. He will make that our life will serve its purpose. And all that comes through his hands will be blessed. And let it be an encouragement for those who don't know to raise their children. And I hope in a way that there are many who struggle. Who is able to raise children in the fear of the Lord. And what about office bearers? How can they fulfill their task? We depend on the Lord's provision and left to ourselves. We are not useful. There is so little understanding of scripture. We like wisdom and boldness. We are no better than the disciples who should be ashamed of their little faith and knowledge. And yet it pleases the Lord to use small means to meet his purpose. And when we lay in the hands of the Lord, when we lay all in the hands of the Lord, then miracles will occur. We learn that the Lord does not even need us, but that it pleases him to use the little we have to make us fruitful. And then it can be that he makes heavy work light and cause your limit time and energy to be very effective. He can make much of less. By the way, the opposite happens too. He causes much to be unfruitful and weakens the one who considers himself to be strong and changes something light into a heavy burden. That is what he does to humble us, to teach us that we should never boast that learn to use all we receive to his honor and glory. And all that comes through the hands of the Lord Jesus should be used to serve him. And that is what we learn in the way of repentance and faith. We need to die to self, to our own wishes and dreams. We need to learn the prayer, what will thou have me to do? And the Lord wants us to give him all we have. Lay it in the hands of the Lord and he will make it fruitful. But maybe you say, Pastor, I have nothing that can please the Lord. I can offer the Lord. I can't offer the Lord anything. All I have is stained with sin. I have misused every gift of the Lord. You're right. And that's a very sad reality. And yet there are no conditions with the Lord. This story shows that all that comes through the hands of the Lord will be sufficient for us. The emphasis is on what the Lord does. And He does not ask you what you have. He wants you to empty what you have. He wants you to come with your forfeited life. with the burden of your sin and guilt. And he wants you to be empty so that he can fill you with his fullness. That's his purpose. He wants you to eat, to receive from his riches so that you will be satisfied, satisfied with all he provides, satisfied with who he is. Isn't he the bread of life? He himself is the nourishment for hungry and thirsty souls. It pleases him to feed those who are poor and needy in themselves. And maybe that is your need. You wish you lived only from what the Lord provides, but you discover that you are so inclined to lean on others or to look at circumstances and you wish the circumstances would change. The Lord again teaches you this afternoon that we need to look to him. Who graciously provides. Nothing is impossible with him. He who fed the 4000 at once is the same who fed the people of Israel in the wilderness and he will never change. Expect all from him whose hands provide abundantly. And he can even make bread out of stones. With the Lord, there are no hopeless cases. There in the wilderness, they all were fed. They were filled and they took up the broken meat that was left, seven baskets, seven baskets. The number seven symbolizes fullness. It emphasizes the fullness which the Lord provides, the fullness of grace that can be found with him. Where? In the wilderness. In the wilderness. There are no bakeries in the wilderness. There in the mountain was no food. But with the presence of the Lord Jesus, there is a fullness of grace available for everyone. also in the wilderness of your life, he can provide. Why? Well, again, because of who he is. And then we read in the gospels that he was in the wilderness as well. He went outside of Jerusalem. in a place where sentenced people died. The Lord Jesus was cast out of the city and was crucified in the wilderness. And there he suffered hellish agony. He experienced desperate need in body and soul. And in the wilderness, he hungered when he was tempted by the devil. And in the wilderness, he thirsted while he hung on the cross. He suffered under the wrath of God in the stead of his people. Since he made propitiation for all sin, we receive blessings from the Lord. And he perfectly obeyed his father so that spiritual blessings are overflowing. He is the fulfillment of Isaiah 53. Yet it pleases the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grieve. But thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. He shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his heart. It pleases the Lord to give. And for that reason, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. He lives to give abundant of blessings. and all the blessings come through his hands, which are nail-pierced hands. All blessings are merited by Christ, since he has fully satisfied God's justice. The treasure house of blessings is opened to unworthy sinners. You are to come to him with your forfeited life. All those who hunger will be filled. And the question is, do you know of a life that is filled with the riches of Christ? Then you learn that you are poor in self, but rich in him. Then you learn to seek life outside of yourself in Him. And what do you find within? With what does He fills us in His heart? He fills us with His grace. He grants forgiveness of sin. He fills the heart with peace, so that you can live in communion with God again. And He grants wisdom to those who are foolish in themselves. He grants enlightened eyes of understanding to those who are so blind to the truths of the Lord. Of everything you lack, He will fill. Oh, mention it to Him. There is abundance of grace with Him. He grants comfort in affliction. He grants hope when we are despondent. He fills the heart with love when we grow cold. He grants wisdom and power. He grants it freely, since it all comes through His hands. What don't you know of this life? Then you are in a horrible plight. Then you are without hope in this world. Then your soul is not fed with the fullness which is in Christ. And if that does not change in this lifetime, then you will end up in eternal perdition. There will always be lack of comfort and hope. There is nothing but ceaseless hopelessness and sorrow. Oh, don't be so foolish to be satisfied with only temporary blessings. Seek the blessing which will last forever, the blessing of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. In and through him you have access to the inexhaustible blessings of the Lord. It's so easy to find. It's found with Christ who comes to you under the preaching of the gospel, opening his hands to grant grace for grace. Do we entrust it all in his hands? Or do we lean on what we have, which is as nothing before His eyes? What do you think? Who knows better what you need? It is Him, your benefactor. So let then your hope and expectation be upon Him alone. Amen.