Consistence

Mark 8:1-21

There is a consistency to the miracles of Christ. They are consistently inconsistent.

They are NOT inconsistent in their wonder, impossibility, glory, or any other way that makes them even remotely possible in the natural realm – but they are never the same – at least in how they are recorded for us.

He we are in the region of the Decapolis, and a great multitude has sought out Jesus for healing. These people have probably heard of Jesus from the demon-possessed man Jesus healed at the Gadarenes.

It is very interesting to think of how it is Jesus healed each one who came to Him. The deaf-mute had been healed (by appearance,) by Jesus sticking His fingers in His ears, and spitting and touching his tongue. Fascinating.

Now we have the feeding of the 4000. The crowd which came to Jesus for healing will now be fed. Would it be as it was in the feeding of the 5000?

Here we learn an important lesson about serving Jesus. Under similar circumstances, we are very much inclined to “do things as we did them before.” After all, what worked previously, (especially if it worked wonderfully,) is going to work again – isn’t it?

But when we read carefully, we see that is NOT how Jesus performed ministry, and so we should stop thinking the way we are most inclined to think about it.

It becomes obvious with practice ministry is meant to be performed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that each ministry experience, no matter how similar to a previous ministry experience – is unique.

How would you respond to Jesus telling you to feed 4000? Would you have it down now, understanding it would go down exactly as it had been with the 5000? (I know that’s how I would think about it.) Where can we find 5 loaves and two fish? Strangely, wonderfully, though the circumstances were SO similar, the miracle was completely different in its carrying-out.

-Pastor Bill