Jesus Satisfies Spiritual Hunger and Opens Eyes to Spiritual Realities

A multitude surrounded Jesus on the southeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. He had fed them spiritual food for three days, but now they were hungry.

That stirred Jesus’ compassion. He cares about both your physical and spiritual needs.

The disciples recognized the hunger problem but could not solve it. They had already witnessed Jesus' feeding of 5,000 men, as well as women and children.

Perhaps they had spiritual amnesia. That is when you forget God’s past faithfulness and fuss, fidget, and worry about everything.

It is easy to fault the disciples for their lack of faith, but we are often like them. How can remembering God’s past faithfulness drain tension and stress from your life?

Jesus ordered the crowd to be seated. He gave thanks for seven small loaves and a few fish. Then He gave them to the disciples to distribute to the multitude.

The people ate and were satisfied with seven large baskets of leftovers. This illustrates Matthew 6:33 (NIV), “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Getting more things will not make your life more satisfying. They cannot provide contentment.

Jesus can meet your needs with leftovers to spare. How can believing this truth improve your emotional health?

Jesus did not feed the spiritually self-satisfied and proud (Mark 8:10-13). After feeding the 4,000, Jesus and the disciples crossed the lake to Dalmanutha.

There, the Pharisees asked for a miraculous sign from heaven. Jesus refused because a miraculous sign eliminates the way of faith. Seeing rarely precedes believing—and only for those who want to believe (John 20:29).

The Pharisees were spiritually content. Are you? They compared themselves with others and pronounced themselves the spiritual cream of Judaism. Why is evaluating your spiritual health by comparing yourself with others dangerous?

After Jesus refused to give a sign to the Pharisees, He and His followers left by boat on the Sea of Galilee, warning them about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod during the trip (Mark 8:15).

Yeast pictures the permeating power of evil. The Pharisees and Herod built systems of thought on the shaky foundation of corrupt human nature.

Jesus leads you after He opens your spiritual eyes. In Bethsaida, people guided a blind man to Jesus. Jesus anointed his eyes and laid His hands upon him.

He healed him in two phases. The unblinding of your spiritual eyes is as much a miracle as the healing of this blind man. Like him, you experience gradual rather than instant spiritual sight. What is your takeaway?

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God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,150 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.   https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness

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