They Needed Healing. They Needed Food. In the Land of Jordan

By Mary Vee
Mark 8, Matthew 15

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
The country of Jordan which is the modern day country
on the eastern side of the Jordan River
where today's event takes place. 

I am a disciple of Jesus.

The eleven other disciples and I walked with Jesus along the eastern shores of the Sea of Galilee and visited the villages there. This was the land of the Decapolis, the Ten Cities. 

We spent several days in the area, listening to Jesus' teachings. We met many people, some who had traveled great distances to see Him. There were men, women, and children who needed healing, sometimes physically, but all spiritually.

Jesus never walked away from them. He welcomed anyone who wanted to listen.

Each day the number of people who came to hear Jesus speak grew. One day a very large crowd had gathered. They'd listen to Him speak most of the day. Some had been there for three days. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called to us and said, "I have compassion for these people. They have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way. Some have traveled a long distance."

The other disciples and I looked around. As you can see from the photo, we stood in a remote area with no markets and no fields. "Jesus, where can anyone get enough bread to feed these people here?"

Jesus said, "How many loaves do you have?"

We quickly counted. "Seven."

Jesus turned to the crowd and asked them to sit on the ground. He asked for the seven loaves, raised his head and thanked His Father for the food. He then broke the loaves into pieces and gave them to us to serve the people. And we did.

We found a few fish in our stores as well and gave them to Jesus. He also gave thanks for the fish then asked us to distribute the meat among the people.

Everyone who was there received food! They ate and said they'd had plenty.

When my disciple brothers and all the people finished eating, we gathered up the left overs, filling seven baskets with broken pieces that hadn't been eaten. And yes, Jesus ate too.

We looked at the crowd that had gathered and estimated four thousand men were present. This did not include women and children. 

At the end of the meal, Jesus asked the people to leave. 

We boarded a boat and sailed west across the Sea of Galilee to the region of Dalmanutha which is southwest from Capernaum.

Did I ever get tire of going from place to place as Jesus' disciple? No. This is now the second year I've followed Jesus. Every day, every moment I spend with Jesus is like having my soul's hunger satisfied.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.