The Christian life is a call to walk in the way of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To walk in the way of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is to walk in the promise of an abundant life. The promise of the abundant life and its fulfillment is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who went about “… proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel,’” (Mark 1:14-15).

We encounter the abundant life in the way of the Lord Jesus Christ this week in our journey through Mark as we reflect and study Mark 8:1-10. The abundant life in our reading from Mark is defined differently than how society or culture around us defines it. In our reading I find the following outline in an abundant life:

1. Jesus has compassion for all people. Previously the feeding of the 5,000 was primarily with Jewish people. This is based on location. Now in more Gentile territory all are welcomed.

2. The setting is in the desert in the NRSV translation. The word for desert in the Greek text can also be translated as desolate place. The word group that “desolation” is a member of denotes “abandonment,” or a geographically thinly populated place. To be in a desolate place is not necessarily a physical geographical desert. It is easier to think about desolation or abandonment in terms of geography, however, our desolation may not always be tied to geography. Our desolation may be tied to other events in our lives.

3. In the place of desolation Jesus takes the seven loaves, gives thanks, and divides them for distribution. In the midst of places of abandonment God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, provides.

4. The provision of God brings not only abundance. God’s provision brings satisfaction or as translated “They ate and were filled.”

I invite you to read Mark 8:1-10.

How is Jesus Christ’s provision bringing you satisfaction? Bringing you an abundant life?

In Christ,

Pastor Tim