And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. Matthew 15:30-34

Most of us are familiar with Jesus feeding the 5,000 people, however here is another instance where Christ fed 4,000 plus people in the wilderness. Now we notice great crowds coming to see Jesus in the wilderness, but why? We see Christ performed many miracles and healings, and of course that made the people in awe and wonder, but were they really coming to Christ for the right reasons?

We see this scenario in John 6, when great multitudes were coming to Jesus because they wanted to be healed or they wanted to witness a miracle, but that was about it. You see many came to Christ to see a performance but they didn’t come to Christ for salvation. They wanted a miracle but they didn’t recognize who really was the Miracle. They wanted to be healed but didn’t recognize the Great Healer!

But Jesus had compassion on the great multitude, and was going to perform another miracle, a feeding of 4,000 people with 7 loaves of bread. Now also, we must recognize that Christ in the New Covenant is the “Greater Exodus”, as Moses led the Israelites through the Wilderness and God provided the Bread from Heaven, Jesus Christ delivered the bread himself and Christ himself is the Bread from Heaven!

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. Matthew 15:35-38

Notice the symbolic number of 7, which means completion in the Bible, and while the great miracle satisfied everyone for that day, I wonder if they recognize the greater miracle in Jesus Christ? Often ourselves we look at the temporal world and don’t look towards  God’s eternal Kingdom. The Bread satisfied their bodies for the day, but the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, can satisfy their soul for all eternity!

Are you fixated on the miracle or the Miracle Worker? Look at the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ who will give you eternal life and not just temporary satisfaction, Amen