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Mercy Makes Miracles Happen (Mark 8:1-10)

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him 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, because some of them have come a long distance." His disciples answered, "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?" "How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied. He 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 set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

A, What happened

1) The difference between this event and the previous one with 5000 people

2) The importance of mercy as motivation
 

B, Let's become agents of God's miracles

1) What kinds of miracles should we long for?

2) What can we do?
 

Summary
Jesus made miracles happen through his great mercy. We have many cares and worries other people, but Jesus cares for them even more than we do. Even if we can't do very much, we can put our hope in Jesus. Jesus didn't make bread and fish appear out of think air as if he was a magician, but rather, he took what the disciples had and increased it. In a similar way, Jesus wants to use what you have to perform miracles. We shouldn't underestimate what we have to offer. If we give everything we have to Jesus, he can multiply it thousands of times.

For Discussion
1) What are the similarities and differences between this event and the feeding of the 5000?
2) What should we do to experience Jesus' miracles?