In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, he summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied. He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over — seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed them and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha. (Mk 8:1-10)
Jesus continues to have compassion on those who follow him. Jesus is aware of and sensitive to their needs, and to meet their needs, often in unexpected ways. Jesus has always done this and will continue to do the same. This we see particularly with regard to his disciples after resurrection.
In this story Jesus is in the gentile territory. He has fed the 5000 in the Jewish territory and now 4000 in the gentile territory. The author is trying to say that Jesus had followers also among the gentiles (In big number). Jesus has compassion on his gentile followers as he had on the Jewish followers.
Jesus not only has compassion on the people, he also involves his disciples in this work of compassion. Jesus wants his disciples to continue the work of the kingdom. It is true that Jesus came to usher in the kingdom and the work began with his ministry but it continues through his disciples.
