“And when it was already late, His disciples came up to Him and said, “This place is secluded, and it is already late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread, and give it to them to eat?” But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”And He ordered them all to recline by groups on the green grass. They reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves, and He gave them to the disciples again and again to set before them; and He divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied; and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces of bread, and of the fish.” (Mark 6:35-43 NASB)
Over the last few weeks our Bible Study classes, three scheduled at times, routinely on different days, for the convenience of participants, we have been studying The Gospel According to Mark. Included in our study was a segment where we devoted time to looking at the similarities that stood out and the specific differences found in the reporting of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (not including women and children) and when He fed the 4,000 (again, not including women and children).
For those who attended this is a review for reinforcement, for some others reading this, you will find it as a reveal that leads to recognizing realities on these two occasions. How so? Well, let me point out just one difference that might deepen your desire to dig deeper in the divine word of God.
While both feeding involved baskets, the Greek word for baskets in the feeding of the 5,000 is Kophinos, which was about 3/5 of a bushel, thus smaller than 12 inches by 18 inches. The Greek word for baskets in Mark 8 is Spuris, six and a half bushels in size. That means that the latter was very big. As a matter of fact, it was the kind of basket that was used to help Paul escape, as believing Jews let him down by night through an opening in the wall, lowering him down to safety. In both cases related to Jesus feedings of the multitudes, we can look at the baskets as “Blessings Baskets.”
My primary point this morning is that you understand that whether your blessing comes in a small way or a big way, whether is a little in your view versus a lot, or if you it as minor or major, whatever the case, give thanks to the Lord for your “Blessings Basket.”
Furthermore, while you cannot possibly thank God for all the blessings he bestowed on you, for it is not possible. And, truth be told, you cannot not even thanks Him enough for all your blessings through this week that is ending, spend some time thanking Him for some of your specific blessings. Don’t give an abbreviated thanksgiving or what I call an “umbrella thanksgiving,: where you say, “Thank you Lord for all your blessings,” but be specific.
This secondary point also comes from the comparison of feeding the 5,000 plus and the 4,000 plus. Just look at the closing passage, and you will see that Jesus gave thanks for the bread and He blessed the fish separately. When we resort to blessing of our food, whatever repeated version you recite, I’m sure you give thanks to the Lord. I’m sure that Jesus gave thanks too. The secondary point: Don’t make an umbrella utterance of thanks to cover all your blessings! Instead take the time to bless the Lord for the specific blessings that were in your “Blessings Basket” this week.” How much time will that take? I guess that depends on how you answer the question above, “How Big Is Your Blessings Basket.” Turn off you social media and shout out your blessings! Skip your favorites episode on TV and enter into a prayer of thanksgiving. Don’t devote more time to gossiping than you do giving thanks to the Lord for His blessings.
One more point, perfect for Saturday. Don’t wait until you get to the sanctuary Sunday to thank Him. Start today and CONTINUE when you enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him for the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to ALL generations. That’s what the Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 100! But you personally know that the Lord has been good to you! Look at your “Blessings Basket!” Be blessed!
“In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus summoned His disciples and said to them, “I feel compassion for the [a]people because they have remained with Me for three days already and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” And His disciples replied to Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” And He directed the people to recline on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve, and they served them to the people. They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He told the disciples to serve these as well. And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. About four thousand men were there; and He dismissed them.” (Mark 8:1-9 NASB)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King