Why Did Jesus Perform This Miracle Twice? | Feeding of 4000

Some argue that this account of the miraculous feeding of four thousand is simply the same incident as the feeding of the five thousand recorded in Mark chapter 6. This idea is founded upon an assumption: that there is no reason Jesus would do this type of a miracle twice. Of course, there are similarities but there are as many differences in the accounts as well. And as to this unfounded assumption, our Lord performed many miracles more than one time and, as we have read, the situation in each moved Jesus to having pity on the people. 

We are told that this great company of people from this region of the Decapolis had “been with Jesus for three days despite running out of provisions. Mark does not mention healings or casting our demons, though doubtless the Lord was doing these as well as teaching. There seems to be a distinct emphasis in this account upon the intense interest that these Gentiles gave toward Jesus’ teaching. This becomes significant, to me, because Jesus is not simply supplying the general population with food but is demonstrating that He is the Bread of Life for all those Gentiles who believe in Him, as well as for the Jews.

• It was a great crowd of mostly Gentiles.
• Many had travelled a long distance to hear Him.
• They had now been attending Jesus’ teaching three days.

Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to be His vessel of compassion to those who are hungering for His Word.