In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”  ~Mark 8:1-4 (ESV)

When I (Giles) have heard sermons on this passage, the focus typically has been about faith and Christ’s provision in our lives, as represented by the loaves and fishes.  Recently, though, I have been contemplating the power of God’s Word and the impact it can have on us and those around us. 

Reading the beginning of Mark 8 with that thought in mind brought about an entirely new understanding about the power of the Word.  The scene is set with Jesus physically in a fairly desolate place, as stated later in verse 4.  He is surrounded by a crowd of 4,000 people who have traveled from throughout the land to be in this place at that very moment to listen to him speak.  For three days Jesus has been teaching. Surely most of their provisions had been depleted during their journey to that spot, or soon thereafter.  During those three days, the crowd has been so enthralled by the truth that Jesus is speaking that they have not ventured out to other areas to find food.  Jesus, in his compassion, acknowledges that many of those gathered would not be able to make the journey back to their homes without food, a journey of perhaps days or even weeks.  So he tells his disciples to feed the people.

What does this passage tell us about the power of God’s Word?  If 4,000 people traveled to a desolate location, forsaking food and comfort, to hear the Word for three days straight, how then should we, as His disciples, view the power of His Word?  Should we not constantly be speaking His Truth to those we come in contact with, both believers and non-believers?  (I find it hard to believe that each of the 4,000 people that came to hear Jesus speak were card-carrying members of the Jewish faith.)  This passage tells us that when we speak His Truth, it will enthrall and engage others because Christ knows us better than we know ourselves, and He also knows those around us in the same intimate way.  The fact that 4,000 people would go without sustenance for three days (and likely more) just to hear the Truth he was speaking should give us courage to speak His Word boldly.  The power of His Word, the Truth, will enthrall both believer and non-believer through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should desire to speak it to others to bring Him glory.