馬可福音 8:1-10
1那時，又有許多人聚集，並沒有甚麼吃的。耶穌叫門徒來，說： 2「我憐憫這眾人；因為他們同我在這裏已經三天，也沒有吃的了。 3我若打發他們餓着回家，就必在路上困乏，因為其中有從遠處來的。」 4門徒回答說：「在這野地，從哪裏能得餅，叫這些人吃飽呢？」 5耶穌問他們說：「你們有多少餅？」他們說：「七個。」 6他吩咐眾人坐在地上，就拿着這七個餅祝謝了，擘開，遞給門徒，叫他們擺開，門徒就擺在眾人面前。 7又有幾條小魚；耶穌祝了福，就吩咐也擺在眾人面前。 8眾人都吃，並且吃飽了，收拾剩下的零碎，有七筐子。 9人數約有四千。耶穌打發他們走了， 10隨即同門徒上船，來到大瑪努他境內。
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
1During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.3If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”
4His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
5 “How many loaves do you have?”Jesus asked.
“Seven,” they replied.
6He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
各位弟兄姊妹，平安！
我們今天要來看的故事是耶穌給4000人吃飽。這段故事記載在馬可福音的八章1-13節之間，同樣的故事也記載在馬太福音的15章。這兩段記載可以用來對比一下。
這個故事發生的記錄是不是和5000人吃飽是同一件事呢？不是的，因為5000人的事情發生在春天，記得我們讀到經文裡寫著，人是坐在青草地上，而這個故事則是發生在夏天，因為青草已被夏天的陽光曬乾，只留下光禿的地面。而第一次是在猶太人的境界，第二次則是在底加波里，這個地方是希臘的十城邦範圍。所以時間不同，地點不同，接著，人群也不同。
上次五千人吃飽的群眾，大多數應該是猶太人，而這一次四千人吃飽的群眾，大多數卻是外邦人。在馬可福音中雖然沒有記載，但如果你看馬太福音15章31節，就會發現一句重要的話：「甚至眾人都稀奇，看啞巴說話，殘疾的痊癒，跛子行走，瞎子看見，他們就歸榮耀給以色列的神。」所以這個地方的記載，顯示上帝的榮耀顯現在外邦人之中，是外邦人要歸榮耀給這位以色列的神。雖然他們還不認識祂，但是他們卻看見了上帝奇妙的作為。
有一些比較小的差異。第一個叫做這裡是七個餅和幾條小魚，但同樣的過程，耶穌擺在眾人面前，大家都吃且都吃飽了，收拾零碎的裝滿了七個筐子。在5000人吃飽的時候，收拾零碎的是猶太人專用的一種籃子。猶太人出門在外的時候，他們是專門用自己的這種籃子，猶太人是不跟外邦人一同吃飯的。而這裡的容器叫做筐子，是專門給外邦人所用的，有一個蓋子，這是外邦人所用的容器，是七個。
上一次我們看見了耶穌收了12個籃子的東西給了他的門徒，照顧門徒的需要。因為門徒當時忙著在分餅和魚，沒有時間吃，而上帝依然顧念他們的需要，所以有了十二籃子代表的十二門徒，還有十二支派，上帝沒有忘記他們。
而這裡是七個籃子，七個在聖經裡面是一個完整的數字。七天之內上帝完成了一切的創造，所以在這裡也代表著完整。上帝也要將外邦人包含在福音的恩典之中。所以雖然這兩場裡面所看見的結果類似，都是讓少少的食物來餵飽很多的人，一場餵飽的是猶太人，一場餵飽的是外邦人，但我們都看見了上帝本意就是要讓萬國萬民得以飽足。靠著耶穌基督是真靈糧，因著祂所分享出來的福音，萬國萬民都能夠得飽足，並且在不同的地方、不同的環境、不同的時空背景，上帝都是供應的上帝。
我們看見了上帝對外邦人的憐憫和同情，不限於猶太人或者是外邦人。從此以後，外邦人也要得到福音，外邦人也要能夠認識接受，外邦人也能夠得到上帝的恩典，這就是福音真正的重點。從此以後，萬國萬民都能夠得享上帝的福份。
馬可福音把耶穌餵飽五千人吃飽，和餵飽四千人這兩個故事放得這麼近是很好的編排。 當我們明白這兩個故事所帶的真正要表達的含義的時候，我們就看見了福音的奧秘，是要給萬國萬民共同看見。耶穌在這個時候雖然被猶太人棄絕，福音要從外邦人中間開始傳揚傳到萬國，最後會回到耶路撒冷回到猶太自己的地方。這一切都是上帝的在運作的奇妙恩典，所以當我們去看歷史，很多時候，也許我們今天所看見世上的行為，世上的事情，正在發生的一切，我們不明白為什麼會這樣，但是當我們把時間拉長，我們把眼光拉遠，我們把信心放在上帝的身上的時候，我們就知道上帝沒有做錯事，上帝沒有誤會，上帝沒有犯錯，而是我們的眼光不夠完整，我們的肉眼看不見，我們唯有憑著信心去看上帝在做的事情，我們知道他必定有他奇妙的旨意和計劃。
難怪保羅在羅馬書第十一章寫到：「深哉！福音的奧秘！上帝豐富的智慧和知識！他的判斷何其難測！他的蹤跡何其難尋！誰知道主的心？誰做過祂的謀士呢？誰先給他，要他償還呢？」
唯有當我們稍微看見了上帝的旨意奧妙的時候，我們才赫然警醒。我們應該謙卑。讀不懂聖經，是我們看不懂，不是上帝寫錯。不明白上帝的作為，是我們信心不足，不是上帝犯錯，讓我們所有人都能夠謙卑下來，知道我們何其有限。上帝的智慧何其難尋。願我們都能夠俯伏在上帝的面前來聆聽，來思考他的話語。
明天我們繼續來看耶穌行奇妙的作為。
Dear brothers and sisters,
Peace be with you!
Today, we are going to explore the story of Jesus feeding the 4000. This story is recorded in Mark 8:1-13, and a similar account is also found in Matthew 15. These two narratives can be compared side by side.
Is the record of this event the same as that of feeding the 5000? No, it's not. The feeding of the 5000 happened in the spring. Remember in the scriptures it says the people were sitting on the grass, whereas this event occurred in the summer. By then, the grass had dried up under the summer sun, leaving bare ground. Furthermore, the first event took place within Jewish territory, while the second occurred in the region of Decapolis, which comprised ten Greek cities. Hence, there are differences in time, location, and even the composition of the crowd.
The majority of the crowd fed during the feeding of the 5000 were likely Jews, whereas this time, the majority of the 4000 were Gentiles. Although it's not explicitly stated in Mark's Gospel, Matthew 15:31 reveals an important statement: "And they glorified the God of Israel." This passage shows that God's glory is manifested among the Gentiles, as they glorify the God of Israel. Even though they may not yet know Him, they witness the marvelous works of God.
There are some minor differences. Firstly, in this event, there were seven loaves and a few fish. But similarly, Jesus presented them before the multitude, and everyone ate and was satisfied. The leftover fragments filled seven baskets. During the feeding of the 5000, the leftovers were collected in Jewish baskets. When Jews traveled, they used their specific type of baskets, as they did not eat with Gentiles. Here, however, the containers are called baskets, specifically for Gentiles, with lids, totaling seven.
In the previous event, we saw Jesus gathering twelve baskets of leftovers for His disciples to attend to their needs. Because the disciples were busy distributing the bread and fish, they had no time to eat. Yet, God still remembered their needs. Hence, the twelve baskets represent the twelve disciples, as well as the twelve tribes. God did not forget them.
Here, we have seven baskets, a number symbolizing completion in the Bible. God completed His creation in seven days, so here it signifies completeness. God also includes the Gentiles in the grace of the Gospel. Thus, although the outcomes of these two events appear similar – feeding a multitude with little food, with one event feeding Jews and the other Gentiles – we see that God's intention is to satisfy all nations and peoples. Through Jesus Christ, the true Bread of Life, provided by the Gospel, all nations and peoples can be satisfied, regardless of their different locations, environments, or historical contexts. God is the Provider for all.
We witness God's compassion and mercy towards the Gentiles, not limited to Jews or Gentiles. From now on, Gentiles will also receive the Gospel, know and accept it, and receive God's grace. This is the true essence of the Gospel. From now on, all nations and peoples can share in God's blessings.
It is excellent placement by Mark's Gospel to juxtapose Jesus feeding the 5000 with feeding the 4000. When we understand the true meaning conveyed by these two stories, we see the mystery of the Gospel, which is to be seen by all nations and peoples. Although Jesus was rejected by the Jews at this time, the Gospel will begin to be preached among the Gentiles, spread to all nations, and eventually return to Jerusalem, to the Jews themselves. All this is the marvelous grace of God at work.
So when we look at history, many times, perhaps what we see happening in the world today, we don't understand why it's happening this way. But when we lengthen our perspective, widen our vision, and place our faith in God, we know that God has not done anything wrong, misunderstood, or made mistakes. It is our perspective that is incomplete, our naked eyes that cannot see. We must rely on faith to see what God is doing; we know that He must have His wonderful purpose and plan.
No wonder Paul wrote in Romans 11:33-34: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?'"
Only when we slightly glimpse the mysteries of God's will, we should be deeply awakened. We should be humble. If we cannot understand the Bible, it is because we cannot see, not because God has written it wrongly. Not understanding God's actions is due to our lack of faith, not because God has made mistakes. Let us all humble ourselves, knowing how limited we are. God's wisdom is difficult to find. May we all prostrate ourselves before God, to listen and ponder His words.
Tomorrow, let's continue to look at the wonderful works of Jesus.
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