"But That Was Yesterday"

Mark 8:4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
 
HAVE you in any way ever experienced the wonder of Jesus’ love for you? Perhaps it was a simple touch from a pastor, a parent, or a friend at a moment when you needed to absolutely know that at least one person loved you. What was it like? Did it fill you with gratitude for the one who touched you? For Jesus?
   What happened the next time you needed that kind of loving touch? Did you wonder, “Does anyone love me?” Did you possibly forget about the first time? Did you ask, “But that was yesterday.” doubting that Jesus would show up again?
   That seems to be the disciples’ issue here. They had previously seen and helped Jesus feed thousands of people from a few loaves and fish. Now there’s another hungry crowd, and the disciples wonder, “Where’s the food?”
   Did you forget, Mr. Disciples, how lovingly your Lord fed “the 5,000”? Or did you think “But that was yesterday.” and surely Jesus won’t use all his “feeding power” again. Did you think his compassion for the hungry crowds was depleted?
   Yet, he fed them, didn’t he? Even without the disciples’ faith to ask, “Will you feed these as you fed the others?” Jesus fed them. He fed them because he cared for them. He fed them to demonstrate to the disciples once again his power to expand a small meal into a great feast. The 5,000 and 4,000 feedings emphasized the LORD’s provision for the Jews’ physical needs. Jesus needed to repeat his lesson to emphasize to his disciples that with God all things are possible (Mattthew 19:26). One day he would commission Peter and the apostles into the impossible. He would command them to feed his people with the gospel. John 21:14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs…16c Take care of my sheep…18b feed my sheep…19c Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 
   Peter, the wavering disciple forgiven and restored, now had a purpose. And likewise Jesus would feed each disciple with the Holy Spirit. They would “eat” of the Lord’s power to feed Jesus’ eternal bread: John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
          Life’s challenges and temptations can cause us to wonder if Jesus will continue to fill us with his love and mercy. He wants you to know you can go to him for his good food. Remember his goodness to save you. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)