On Feeding Five Thousand

If you were present in Sunday School yesterday, you were treated to an excellent class presented by Al on the 8th chapter of Mark. The feeding of the five thousand, and related miracles, are interesting events presented by Mark as part of the gospel story. Christians have always had difficulties with the miracle stories in the Gospels simply because they have not had personal experience with such miracles. This may, in part, be the result of a Protestant reaction to the claim of miracles by the Catholic Church. The Protestant Reformation, generally, taught that miracles ceased with the end of the apostolic era. With the advent of the Pentecostal movement in the early 20th century, with its services of miracles and healings, there had to be a rethinking about the entire subject. I am of the opinion that we all bring our own prejudices to this question.

Al simply went beyond the miracles and asked what we learned about Jesus. This is a wonderful way to approach the subject. Do I want to spend time wondering how the feeding of the five thousand could have occurred or do I want to spend time wondering at the act of Jesus feeding all of us the spiritual bread of life. And, not coincidentally, this was the way John related this event in his Gospel.

Charlotte Kesinger will teach next Sunday. Her subject will be Mark, chapter 9. Plan now to attend. We need you and you will be blessed.