During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 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. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

I find it interesting that Jesus performed this same type of miracle two different times. Mark records them both. Why did Jesus need to do it again? Why did Mark choose to include the second time he did it in his gospel?

After the first miracle when he fed the 5,000, Jesus then preached to a crowd and sent his disciples off in a boat ahead of him. It was then that a storm broke out and he walked on the water past them in the storm. They didn’t recognize him and were scared, thinking he was a ghost. This is what the last verses in that story said: “Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭51‬-‭52‬)

His disciples had hard hearts even after the feeding of the 5,000, and they did not understand the lessons he was trying to teach them. They did not expect him to do what he did in walking on the water and coming to their aid. They had little faith. But Jesus was patient with them.

Sure, the people in this passage were hungry and needed food. He could have sent them away for food earlier. But he did not. Why?

Here may be a few of the reasons why: 1) Jesus loved their hunger for the truth he preached. He honored them for this and allowed them to soak up as much truth as they wanted, even if a miracle would be required to feed them. 2) He wanted to show God’s power to these people once again. Some were there for both incidents. But for others this would have been the first time. 3) I think it is highly possible that Jesus wanted to give his disciples another opportunity to view this similar miracle with new spiritual eyes that expected his provision. He wanted the hardened position of their hearts to break. He wanted them to have hearts of flesh, soft hearts able to receive his goodness!

God spoke to the prophet Ezekiel about this desire of his long before this event: “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’ They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” (‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬-‭20‬)

Oh God, how I long to always have a soft heart of flesh, always open to your instruction and teachings. Train and discipline me more so that I can have a heart after your heart, I pray!