The crowd is 4,000 people.
Mark 8
8 In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.”
4 And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?”
5 And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” 6 And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate and were satisfied. <><
And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
9 And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. 10 And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.
14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” +++
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when
he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
+++ This Scripture is my brother John's favorite Scripture - not until this generation can we see this is brain surgery requiring this type of healing. Not understandable except through a mirror darkly - until today - this generation.
Almost all Christians have sung, "It Only Takes a Spark to Get a Fire Going." We could begin with Mary saying yes to God's plan with courage and belief. Joseph showing mercy to obtain mercy in God's direction. Or Jesus simply calling the disciples to follow Him.
When scholars estimated the size of the last Presidential inaugural to be 1.8 Million people, the Temple Mount - Mount Moriah, the 36 acres of the Temple - were then estimated for size capacity during Passover. We know Jerusalem was usually populated at about 80,000 people. Using these numbers and assuming 75% of the surface area was usable, the Temple Mount could comfortably (10 sq ft/person) hold 100,000 people at one time; a more "tightly packed" crowd of 250,000 (4.5 sq ft/person) would also have fit; at "mosh-pit density" a crowd of 400,000 could have occupied the Temple Courts at a time. Passover sacrifices where done at several intervals throughout the day, so a much larger group used the Temple Services during all the day. Like our Easter Services today in Churches!
Josephus describes in The Wars Of The Jews, (Book 6, Ch. 9) a calculation used to estimate the number of people in attendance in Jerusalem during Passover,: "Upon the coming of that feast which is called the Passover, when they slay their sacrifices, from the ninth hour till the eleventh, but so that a company not less than ten belong to every sacrifice, (for it is not lawful for them to feast singly by themselves,) and many of us are twenty in a company, found the number of sacrifices was two hundred and fifty-six thousand five hundred; which, upon the allowance of no more than ten that feast together,
amounts to
Two millions seven hundred thousand and two hundred persons.
Jesus did go to the Temple and teach when Holy Days did occur during His Ministry. Yet somehow, we really do want to know the number of people in the country of Judea who understood Jesus' Amazing Ministry going forth to Heal -the blind seeing, the deaf hearing and the times the Scriptures record, "He healed them all."
This calculation used allowed this Presidential administration to be able to plan the Inaugural. It holds water.
Luke's 7th Gospel -The Widow of Nain was a complete miracle where a young man was dead and, like Elijah, included many, many witnesses and resurrection from death to life.
11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.
12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Jesus was not being merely a demonstrator of His own Glory ~ Jesus was explaining to many witnesses - about the Power of God. Victory over death. Witnesses could see and understand.
Job 33:29
"God does all these things to a person-- twice, even three times--"
John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
We know Palm Sunday worried the Roman and Temple authorities.
Luke 23:27 At the Crucifixion of Jesus -
A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
What caused a large number to become multitudes?
Jesus, the Son of God, in Victory.
Jesus said we live by every Word of God. The Holy Spirit did not record half or a quarter of the Temple. The Word of God Says - "Multitudes".
Matthew 27:52
and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
1 Corinthians 15:6
After that, Jesus appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
John 21
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
And after innocent Son of God - Jesus died for our sins, the earthquake and the torn veil, the day turning to night caused the Roman Centurions to understand. And when He Rose in Victory. They became as dead men reporting the empty Tomb.
Acts 5
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico [in the Temple Mount]. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
We have learned this could be up to two and a half million people. Explaining why 1434 miles / 2307.8 km / 1246.11 nautical miles from Jerusalem to Rome would have the Emperors of the Roman Empire in panic mode in 16 years. For almost 400 years all New Testament Scripture was hunted to destroy all of this. The Bible in your hand was brought with great courage and sacrifice. Papyrus 46 is 300 chapters of Scripture produced, and wonderfully preserved - clearly legible all written while the Disciple John was alive.
Two million people turned out on Times Square when World War ll ended.
Again, I'm saying, Jesus said we live by every Word of God. The Holy Spirit did not record half or a quarter of the Temple. Or a great number - The Word of God Says - "Multitudes".
We know from Scriptures thousands converted at a time. What makes this Salvation possible? Jesus of course - no written test - not complicated. Relationship with Father God. Believing God is so merciful to save those who believe and call upon Jesus. God opening up His Kingdom to save the world. GOD. Jesus returns and the first thing He says to Mary Magdalene - what He said to John, last - chosen, loved, cared for, adopted - Jesus says "Your Father and Mine."
This is a God of Love .A Personal God, creating through His Word - all things.
My Father.
Because of what Jesus did for me.
Forever.
Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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<>< Is one of my favorite Scriptures. Jesus put His Hands into fish, the aroma of fish, to feed His Beloved Children. Jesus - acting as Living Water - water going, filling, completing, nourishing - all places - all circumstances. Soaking - reviving. This is Jesus the Lord.
<>< Is one of my favorite Scriptures. Jesus put His Hands into fish, the aroma of fish, to feed His Beloved Children. Jesus - acting as Living Water - water going, filling, completing, nourishing - all places - all circumstances. Soaking - reviving. This is Jesus the Lord.
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