For they did not understand the miracle of the loaves, because their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:52

Having eyes, do you not see? Having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand men, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up? Twelve, they said to Him. Also, when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up? Seven, they said to Him. So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?” Mark 8:18-20

Jesus spoke these things to the disciples because they thought he was upset about their forgetting to take bread for the journey. In response, to reassure them, Jesus referred to the two miracles of the multiplication of the loaves.

One thing caught my attention in this text: Jesus did not emphasize the multiplied loaves but the baskets of leftover bread: twelve for the five thousand men and seven for the four thousand men. Consider this other story

Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled, for they had not understood about the loaves because their heart was hardened. Mark 6:51-52

In this passage, we see the disciples amazed to see Jesus walking on the water, but the scriptures say (verse 52) that their amazement came from not understanding the miracle of the loaves. I have often wondered what the connection was between walking on water and the miracle of the loaves?

In these two passages referring to the miracles of the loaves, the scriptures say that the hardening of hearts prevented the disciples from understanding what was happening right before their eyes. It can be deduced that the disciples would not have been worried if they had understood the miracles of multiplied loaves and the leftover baskets.

Similarly, walking on water would not have been surprising either if they had understood the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. There is a mystery concerning faith and the manifestation of the supernatural in the miracle of the loaves and the leftover baskets.

Before delving into the subject, I can reveal to you that one of the keys to the miracle of the loaves and the manifestation of the supernatural is Benevolence. Benevolence is the sixth manifestation of the Fruit of the Spirit presented in Galatians 5:22; it is part of the Character of God. God created you in His image so that you may rule. One thing that Benevolence will allow you to manifest through dominion is the ability to hear and see God, to see what He is doing; to have the ability to transition from the natural to the supernatural.

At first glance, it seems difficult to differentiate between the fifth virtue, Goodness (Agathosume in Greek), and the sixth, Benevolence (Chrestotes), since they are synonymous in some aspects.

The Greek word Chrestotes, translated as benevolence, is also translated as goodness, kindness, beneficence, amiability. Each of these translations reveals a very special aspect of the word benevolence (Chrestotes), which I will revisit.

Let’s look at some sentences where the word Chrestotes (benevolence) is used in the scriptures:

“Do you despise the riches of His goodness (Chrestotes), forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness (Chrestotes) of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

“Therefore consider the goodness (Chrestotes) and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but goodness (Chrestotes) toward you, if you continue in His goodness (Chrestotes). Otherwise you also will be cut off.” Romans 11:22

“that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness (Chrestotes) toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7

Have you noticed that the word “Chrestostes” is used mostly when it comes to God’s goodness toward humans?

Goodness (Chrestotes) is the goodness that God manifests. There are therefore two forms of goodness:

• One called Agathosune Goodness, which is the practice of good works studied earlier.
• The other is Benevolence Chrestotes, which is the goodness that God gives. Agathosune Goodness

Let’s go back to the mystery of the two miracles of the loaves: Jesus was precisely reproaching the disciples for seeing nothing despite their eyes and hearing nothing despite their ears (Mark 8:18). God’s goodness in its Benevolence form (Chrestotes) was manifested in the miracles of the loaves, but the disciples did not see it. They only paid attention to the result, without understanding the substance of the miracle.

The Bible says in Psalms 85:8 that seeing God’s goodness grants salvation, victory. God’s goodness is renewed every day (Lamentations 3:22-23), so manifest Benevolence, and you will see it manifest in your life, and you will walk victoriously.

I’m reading my Bible in 1 year: Deuteronomy 16; Psalm 103; Isaiah 43

This text is an excerpt from the book “Benignity – Foundation of God’s Faith – In His Image to Dominate, Devo 6 – September 2023 ” written by Mohammed SANOGO.