Healing a Blind Man (Mark 8:22-26)

 

Healing a Blind Man (Mark 8:22-26)

What does it mean to see? It is a language that includes knowing, understanding, and acting. A newborn baby also begins to see. As we look, we learn and realize. However, just because we see with our eyes does not mean we know. "Be ever hearing, but never understanding" (Isaiah 6:9). There is physical blindness, and there is also spiritual blindness.

In the Gospel of Mark 8:22-26, Jesus healed a blind man. This event had never occurred before in the Old Testament (John 9:32). However, Jesus restored his sight in two stages. It takes a long time for a person to open their spiritual eyes and wholly know the truth of God.

They Brought a Blind Man

When they reached Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to him and begged Jesus to touch him (Mark 8:22).

The people brought a blind man to Jesus. They came believing that Jesus would heal the blind man. Although such an event had not yet happened in the land of Israel, they knew that Jesus was able to do it.

The blind man is in the darkness, unable to see anything. He cannot see the beautiful nature, the faces of his loved ones, or anything else. He cannot watch movies or see beautiful nature. Although it is said that life is possible to some extent with the help of Braille or other tools, he cannot see clearly.

From a spiritual perspective, people are not physically blind but cannot see the truth. They are spiritually blind. Every person is trapped in spiritual darkness in Adam. They are placed under the influence of Satan and the devil, the ruler of the kingdom of the air. This is because Adam sinned and fell under sin.

The spiritually blind do not know Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This was the case with the Pharisees and the priests. Although Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came receiving the testimony of John the Baptist, the Law, and the prophets, their eyes were veiled so they could not see (Isaiah 6:9). As a result, they rejected and persecuted Jesus, eventually handed Him over to the hands of the Gentiles, and crucified Him (Acts 4:10).

A spiritually blind person is one who has not yet been born again in Christ. Being born again is well represented in the baptismal ritual. It means dying on the cross with Him, following the example of Jesus Christ, and being raised with Him when He rose again. Because we have received forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ, we are no longer subjected to eternal punishment, but obtain eternal life (John 5:24).

Knowing God is Truly Seeing

Therefore, seeing means entering into God in Christ. Knowing and believing in God is truly seeing. So, unless one is born again in Christ, they cannot know God. As every human being is a creature made by God, not knowing the Creator is worse than an animal recognizing its master (Isaiah 1:3).

The Father in heaven wants to open the blind eyes of man. He wants to forgive them. Anyone who hears the loving voice of the Father and comes to Him will be made as clean as white snow, even though their sins are as red as crimson, and cleansed from all unrighteousness (Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:9). Anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, receives forgiveness of sins and salvation.

However, a person whose spiritual eyes are darkened becomes a slave to resentment and complaint. Resentment and complaints arise because they do not know God. Because God is just and fair, He judges everything with justice and righteousness. Even if it does not seem so yet, God will judge all things in righteousness. Believing in God's justice and righteousness is proof that one's spiritual eyes have been opened.

Those who abide in God's grace enjoy gratitude and rest. Although pressure, pain, and difficulties continue in daily life, it is because we know the God of justice, comfort, power, and glory. It is because while we were still sinners, God loved us so much that He did not spare His only Son, but gave Him up for us (Romans 5:8).

Jesus Put His Hands on the Man's Eyes Again, and He Saw Clearly

23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" 24 He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly (Mark 8:23-25).

Jesus did not heal this man at once, but gave him sight in two stages. It is not because He could not heal him at once. It takes time for a person trapped in darkness to open their spiritual eyes and see completely. The man opened his eyes, but he saw people as trees walking around. He could not see clearly yet. When Jesus put his hands on his eyes again, he was healed and saw everything clearly.

Exhibit A - The Call of Abraham

Abraham was called at the age of seventy-five by the word of God’s promise (Gen. 12:1-3). It took many years for him, having received God’s grace, to fully know God’s heart.

When a famine struck the land of Canaan, he went down to Egypt to survive, lied about his wife, and was about to lose Sarah. However, God struck the Egyptian king, and Abraham got his wife back and became very wealthy, possessing many livestock. At this time, he gave up the good land that looked like the Garden of Eden to his nephew Lot (Gen. 13:9-10). He realized and believed deeply in God’s presence and protection.

There was a war at the time, and his nephew Lot was taken captive. Hearing this news, Abraham fought against the surrounding allied nations, won, and rescued Lot (Gen. 14:16). Returning from the victory in the battle, Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, appeared and praised God Most High, who delivered his enemies into his hand (Gen. 14:20). Abraham gave the king of Salem a tenth of everything, and he refused to accept even a penny from the king of Sodom (Gen. 14:23). He relied only on the LORD God.

Nevertheless, his heart was anxious and empty (Gen. 15:1). This was because he did not have an heir promised by God (Gen. 15:2). At this time, God appeared to him and promised, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them. ... So shall your offspring be" (Gen. 15:5). Then, Abraham believed the word of God's promise with his heart, and he was credited to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6).

Time passed again, and even after ten years, there was no heir. At this time, as his wife Sarah suggested, he took Hagar and had a son, Ishmael. However, when the servant Hagar became pregnant, she despised her mistress Sarah (Gen. 16:4). Because of this, Sarah mistreated Hagar and sent her away, and Abraham took his wife Sarah's side (Gen. 16:6). The issue of the heir was still not resolved.

Walk Before Me and Be Blameless

When he was ninety-nine years old, the LORD God appeared to him and said, "Walk before me and be blameless" (Gen. 17:1). God reaffirmed His covenant, and because His covenant was with him, He said that he would be the father of many nations (Gen. 17:4). As the sign of the covenant, He commanded circumcision for him and all the males in his household (Gen. 17:11). Abraham believed God's covenant and obeyed it by performing circumcision (Gen. 17:27). He wholly obeyed God.

And God said that his wife Sarah would bear a son (Gen. 17:16). Abraham could not possibly believe it (Gen. 17:17). Sarah, being inside the tent, could not believe it and laughed. However, God said that Sarah would bear Isaac and establish an eternal covenant with him (Gen. 17:19).

God appeared in human form to confirm His covenant (Gen. 18:2). Abraham treated the three men with generous hospitality. The LORD God said that Sarah would surely have a son about this time next year. Just as God had said, when Abraham was a hundred years old, Sarah bore a son, Isaac (Gen. 21:2-3). Just as the name Isaac means, God made Abraham and Sarah laugh (Gen. 21:6).

Sacrifice Your Only Son, Whom You Love

When Isaac, whom he had at a hundred years old, had grown to a certain extent, God tested Abraham and commanded him to sacrifice his beloved only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah (Gen. 22:1-2). Abraham got up early the next morning, took his two servants and his son Isaac, and went to the place God had told him about. Leaving the two servants at the foot of the mountain, he went up the mountain with his son, carrying the wood for the burnt offering and the fire and the knife (Gen. 22:3-6).

Abraham built an altar there, bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood, and reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son (Gen. 22:9-10). At this moment, the angel of the LORD called out, "Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son" (Gen. 22:12). The angel of the LORD spoke to him again:

16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Gen. 22:16-18)

In this scene, Abraham takes the role of God the Father, and his son Isaac points to God's Son, Jesus Christ. God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up to save this world from sin and give eternal life. Through long discipline and endurance, Abraham came to know in his heart the boundless love of God the Father and the power of resurrection, who did not spare His one and only Son. Abraham grew into a person who resembled God's heart.

Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death (Heb. 11:19).

Don’t Go Into the Village

Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village." (Mark 8:26)

This means that instead of focusing on the miracle itself, people should deeply consider the spiritual meaning contained within it. Otherwise, one might limit Jesus only to someone who heals physical ailments. This is a misunderstanding. Jesus did not make all the blind see. Jesus wants people to open their spiritual eyes and enter into God’s love, grace, and mercy.

Understanding and obeying the truth of the cross of Jesus Christ is a process that takes many years. The cross symbolizes shame, disgrace, and suffering. It is something we instinctively dislike and reject. It is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1 Cor. 1:23). However, to those whom God has called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24).

This is the purpose for which we were called: to follow the way of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and reach the measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13). Those who have been redeemed by His blood bear the marks of Christ.

From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus (Gal. 6:17).

Amen!

May 3, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod (Mark 8:11-21)

 

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod (Mark 8:11-21)

Every person holds a different image of who the Messiah should be. The Jews wanted a Messiah with mighty military power like King David. Many people bow to Mammon, thinking that wealth can solve everything. However, the Christ of God, who became incarnate on this earth, came to suffer and be killed. The Lord Jesus Christ became the Lord of salvation, washing away sins and granting freedom through his death and the shedding of his blood.

In Mark 8:11-21, Jesus sighed deeply because of the religious leaders who did not believe due to their hardened hearts. He rebuked the disciples, who still did not properly understand the suffering Christ, asking, "Do you still not understand?" The suffering Christ is the true Messiah who delivers this world from sin and death and leads us to the kingdom of heaven.

This Generation Asks for a Sign

11 The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12 He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” 13 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. (Mark 8:11-13)

The Pharisees demanded a sign to confirm that Jesus was the Messiah. In fact, this is the same work the devil does. The devil persistently attacked and tested Jesus while he fasted forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. The devil's temptation was a demand for Jesus to easily reveal himself as the Messiah to the world (Matt 4:1-11). It was a temptation to manifest himself immediately without carrying the cross.

The Law and the Prophets prophesied that the suffering Christ would come. Therefore, the devil persistently tests Jesus to reject suffering in any way possible. He tempts by packaging suffering as if it were becoming a loser. The mark of a Christian is not success or wealth, but participating in the remaining sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:17).

So, Jesus looked at this generation asking for a sign and sighed deeply in his spirit. This was because they had no faith and their hearts were hardened, making them like those who are deaf and mute (Mark 7:32). Jesus rejected all the devil's temptations. And he gave no sign to those who sought one. In his hometown, Jesus did not perform any miracles because they did not believe and hardened their hearts (Mark 6:5).

However, did Jesus show no signs at all? No. Jesus showed numerous signs of the Christ, the Son of God, right before their eyes. He healed the sick and drove out demons. He performed the miracle of feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish and opened the eyes of the blind. He rebuked the wind and the sea to make them calm and walked on the water.

Jesus restored sight to a man blind from birth. However, that man was persecuted by the Pharisees and priests (John 9:15-16). The reason was that the day he opened his eyes was the Sabbath. The religious leaders stubbornly refused to believe in and rejected Jesus as the Christ sent by God; they treated him as a sinner and sought to kill him. At that time, the man who had been blind rebuked them, saying:

"Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (John 9:32-33)

Above all, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and various parables were words of authority teaching the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Before Jesus came, the word of God was rare throughout the land of Judea. After the prophet Malachi, there was no word of God for four hundred years. But to their thirsty and weary hearts, Jesus Christ, the Son of God who spoke in the beginning, spoke directly with his own voice.

"But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." (Heb 1:2)

Watch out for the Yeast of Men

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (Mark 8:14-15)

Yeast refers to evil influence. The yeast of the Pharisees is the hypocrisy of having the name of religion but not believing, and the yeast of Herod is greed and corruption. The Pharisees were the group of Jewish religious leaders, and Herod was a Gentile king appointed by Rome to rule the Judean region. Herod killed John the Baptist for no reason (Mark 6:27).

Their evil influence lies in not upholding justice and righteousness in the name of religion and leadership, but using them to fill their own interests and greed. Even today, hypocrisy, injustice, and greed carried out in the name of the church or the people remain the same. Regardless of time or place, the practice of plundering the weak and taking unfair profits in the name of religion, power, and wealth is widespread.

There Is Only One Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus taught his disciples that there is only one Master, God in heaven, and they are all brothers. No human is above another. There is only one Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. The object of our worship is not any other person, but only the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins.

8 "But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah." (Matt 23:8-10)

No person can lord it over another. Jesus told his disciples not to exercise authority and lord it over people like the rulers of the Gentiles (Matt 20:25). Rather, he commanded that if they want to be great, they must humble themselves and be servants (Matt 20:26).

Jesus showed the example first. As Creator God, Jesus is worthy to receive glory, honor, praise, and blessing, but instead, he emptied himself, humbled himself, and was obedient to God the Father even to the point of death on a cross (Phil 2:6-8). This was not because the Lord committed a crime, but because he took upon himself the sins of this world. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). The cross of Jesus manifests this fact.

22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:22-24)

"Are Your Hearts Hardened? Do You Still Not Understand?"

16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (Mark 8:16-21)

The disciples did not correctly understand Jesus’ words of warning and misunderstood, thinking it was because they had not brought bread. Their hearts had become hard and difficult. When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water, they mistook him for a ghost and were terrified. When he climbed into the boat with them, they were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened (Mark 6:52).

It takes a considerable amount of time to realize that Jesus came to this earth to be the Christ of suffering. The appearance of the disciples is our own reflection in the mirror. For a long time, the Jews longed for the Messiah. To them, the Messiah was a figure with the power of a strong army, like King David, who would establish a kingdom on earth, defeating all enemies.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the disciples and the people welcomed him enthusiastically, believing that that very day the Lord would establish his kingdom on this earth (Matthew 21:8-9). However, Jesus came to be sacrificed as the Passover Lamb of God (John 1:29; Luke 22:7; 1 Corinthians 5:7). It took time for the disciples to understand the Messiah of suffering, from the time Jesus suffered and rose again until his ascension.

As Jews, the disciples followed Jesus with dreams of an earthly Messianic kingdom. Breaking that dream and accepting the Christ of suffering was a task more difficult and painful than death. Jesus told them that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life (Matthew 16:21). At this, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22).

After Jesus suffered and rose again on the third day, he appeared to the disciples, gave them peace, and breathed the Holy Spirit on them (John 20:21-22). To the doubting Thomas, he showed the nail marks in his hands and the wound in his side, saying, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). At the Sea of Galilee, he personally prepared breakfast and fed the disciples with fish and bread (John 21:12-13).

Jesus helped his disciples believe that he was the Son of God who bore the cross, died, was buried, and rose again. However, at the very moment Jesus was ascending to the Father in heaven, the disciples asked, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).

But after the Holy Spirit descended from heaven like tongues of fire on Pentecost, the disciples' hearts were opened and they believed in the Christ of suffering (Acts 2:36). When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked what they should do. Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and the number of those who accepted the Lord Jesus Christ that day was about three thousand (Acts 2:37-41).

Ultimately, the disciples accepted the Christ of suffering and testified to the gospel in the 1st century throughout Judea, Samaria, and the whole earth. Following the truth of Christ's cross, they endured much suffering and led many people to Christ, the Son of God.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Amen!

April 26, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand (Mark 8:1-10)

 

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand (Mark 8:1-10)

The prophet Isaiah asks this: "What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?" (Isaiah 10:3). A day of God is prepared, where He will judge everything with justice and truth. In that dreadful and fearsome day, to whom do we seek help? It is only our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Mark 8:1-13, Jesus fed a hungry crowd until they were full with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. Since this area is known as Decapolis, they were a crowd of Gentiles. Jesus felt compassion for the famished crowd and fed them. He filled them with spiritual grace descended from heaven.

A Large Crowd Had Gathered and Had Nothing to Eat

1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance." 4 His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" (Mark 8:1-4)

A large crowd followed Jesus, and three days had passed so they had nothing to eat. A person eats three meals a day. There is a Korean proverb that says, "There is no man who wouldn't climb over a fence after starving for three days." Appetite is a basic and strong human desire. Hunger is a pain difficult to endure. God, who made us, knows this fact better.

Jesus felt compassion for the large crowd who had been with Him for three days without food. He knew that if He sent them home without feeding them, they would collapse on the way. Hearing these words, the disciples reacted that it was impossible—how could they feed these people in this wilderness?

The disciples judged rationally based on the current situation. They failed to connect this with the miracle where Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. This resembles us a lot. Jesus trusted God the Father in heaven and knew He would feed the large crowd. However, even with Jesus Christ—the Son of God—right before their eyes, the disciples' hearts were hard according to their cold pocket situations.

God Supplies All Food

God sends sunshine and rain and makes grass, vegetables, and fruit trees bear fruit. He gave all these things to humans as food (Genesis 1:29). According to the seasons, ripe grains are harvested from the fields. Fruits and vegetables are overflowing in every food store. There is no shortage for anyone to eat until full without starving from the plants that grow on this earth.

God showed proof of this fact to the descendants of Abraham during the forty years in the wilderness. Every day, He fed them by sending down manna from heaven. The meaning of manna is "What is it?" The wilderness is a harsh place where farming is impossible. However, God led His people to the desert and supplied food from heaven every day until they entered the land of Canaan.

"The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan." (Exodus 16:35)

The Israelites went out to the field every morning and gathered as much as each person could eat, one omer (2 liters) per person. Whether they gathered much or little, when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little (Exodus 16:17-18). With the food God provided, there was no shortage for all the people to eat until full.

However, God forbade anyone from leaving any manna until morning. For those who disobeyed and kept it until morning, it became full of maggots and began to smell so they could not eat it (Exodus 16:19-20). Also, on the sixth day, He had each person gather a double portion—two omers per person—because the seventh day was the Sabbath. At that time, the food kept for the next day did not have maggots or smell (Exodus 16:24).

This was a process of discipline and training to trust God. For forty years, without missing a single day, He disciplined them to fully trust and follow the faithful God, the God who feeds them personally. The hard stubbornness of man is strong like a rock and does not break easily. God, who made man, wants us to open the doors of our hearts and come to the Lord in His long-suffering.

The One Who Gathered Much Did Not Have Too Much, and the One Who Gathered Little Did Not Have Too Little

How is it possible? The one who gathered little had no lack, and the one who gathered much had no surplus. This is because God Himself supplies everything. In this world, there are rich people and poor people. However, eating three meals a day is the same. The amount of calories the body needs is the same.

The reason God allowed wealth is so that we may share it together. This is not just money, but also sharing the talents we have received. God gave different gifts to each of the saints who make up the church: prophesying (explaining Gospel truth), serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy (Romans 12:6-8).

In Christ, believers have received different gifts. Since gifts are received from heaven above, they are given to serve others and build up the church, which is the body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10; Ephesians 4:12). Since we received the gifts freely, we give them freely (Matthew 10:8). The first-century early church embodied this model.

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." (Acts 4:32)

Because we have received gifts in Christ, it is important to know what kind of gift it is. First, we received the gift of the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. The Holy Spirit, who is the Holy Spirit of God, indwells eternally within the believer.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

Also, we have each received the gifts listed above. It may take time to know what that gift is. However, if you like a certain gift, you can gauge it by offering it. This is God's promise. Therefore, it is right to find the spiritual gift received from heaven and return it to the Lord.

Taking Seven Loaves and Giving Thanks

5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand men were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. (Mark 8:5-10)

Just like when He performed the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, Jesus took a few loaves and small fish, gave thanks, and had His disciples distribute them. Even though there were four thousand people gathered, everyone ate until they were full, and seven baskets of pieces were left over. In the Bible, the number seven represents perfection or completion. In the previous miracle of the five loaves and two fish, twelve baskets were left over, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel.

This miracle shows us that God has compassion on everyone and feeds them personally. Even if there had been ten or a hundred times more people there, He would have fed them all until they were satisfied. Today, so many people still suffer from hunger. This isn't actually because of a food shortage; the main causes of hunger are inequality, discrimination, conflict, strife, climate change, and poverty.

A Famine of Hearing the Words of the Lord

Beyond physical hunger, spiritual hunger is also a serious issue. People might have plenty to eat and wear, but the empty space in their hearts is just too big. This leads to mental health struggles like depression and can even lead to suicide.

I heard about someone who went on a mission trip to Africa. Because the local conditions were so poor and lacking, they expected the people to be dark, sad, and miserable. But once they actually got there and experienced it, they were shocked to find that the people living there were actually happier and more content than those living in developed countries.

Physical poverty and harsh conditions don't automatically mean a person will live a miserable or pathetic life. On the flip side, even in the midst of material abundance, spiritual emptiness and hunger can be even more severe. This kind of thirst and hunger is exactly what the prophet Amos predicted—a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.

11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. 12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. 13 In that day the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst.” (Amos 8:11-13)

God Feeds and Clothes Us Personally

When the devil tempted Jesus—right when He was extremely hungry after fasting for forty days—he told Him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread" (Matthew 4:3). At that moment, Jesus drove the devil away by saying:

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4; Deut. 8:3)

God Himself feeds us and clothes us. He protects us from lies and threats. He leads us beside quiet waters and allows us to bear fruit in abundance (Psalm 23:1-3). The driving force behind our breathing, thinking, and moving is God in heaven.

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to show the world His love and grace—feeding, clothing, and protecting us. Jesus became flesh and confirmed this truth by shedding His blood on the cross, dying, being buried, and rising again. Human thirst and hunger are actually evidence of a longing for salvation. Through His blood, Jesus has set us free from sin and death and saved us. Amen!

God is our refuge who saves us and our shield who protects us (Genesis 15:1). Anyone can come before God at any time, and He will welcome them and pour out spiritual blessings from heaven in abundance. In days of trouble, in gloomy or depressing times, or when the darkness is thick, God shines a bright light. When we come into that light, we find life, hope, peace, joy, and rest.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”  (John 6:68)

Amen!

April 19, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.