Mark 6:30-44
Introduction
In the last study we covered the story of how John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod Antipas during his birthday feast. And now we return to the missionary outreach that Jesus sent the disciples on earlier in the chapter. But as soon as they get back, the disciples and Jesus are faced with a huge crowd chasing after them.
In today’s passage we will be looking at the famous story of the feeding of the five thousand.
Before we examine today’s passage, I want to ask two important questions.
Firstly, do you believe in miracles? If you take the story of the feeding of the five thousand to be literally true then you must believe in miracles. If you don’t, then the only way to understand this story is to conclude that there is some form of trickery going on and that we are being lied to. Think about that.
And secondly, which is the key verse in today’s passage? The answer is verse 34.
Bear all of this in mind as we go through today’s passage.
Verses 30 to 32
In verse 30 we see that the disciples have come back from their missionary outreach and report back to Jesus about what they had done and taught. And in response, Jesus wants to take them to a secluded place to rest.
The Greek word for secluded or deserted place is ‘eremos’ and it means a wilderness or desert. Jesus wants to take them to a place with no distractions so that He has their full attention. This is something that Jesus wants for all of us from time to time. What does this mean in practice for us today?
Jesus also wanted them to rest; to rest from their labours and to be refreshed. What does this mean in practice for us today?
In order to get this solitude and rest they set off in a boat along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. However, they did not make it.
Verses 33 to 34
Notice the multiple use of the pronoun ‘them’ in verse 33. Remember that the people have now seen the disciples heal the sick and teach as well as Jesus. They recognized the disciples just as much as Jesus.
Now we come to the key verse; verse 34. The key word in this verse is the word ‘compassion’. Everything that happens from now on comes from the compassion that Jesus had for the crowd. Jesus was not frustrated or annoyed with the crowd for scuppering His plans. Instead, He had compassion for them. This says so much about the Jesus we follow. The Greek word translated as compassion is ‘splagchnizomai’ and is only ever used about Jesus. It is a depth of compassion that we can never have for others. It comes from the deepest part of Jesus’ being. Everything that Jesus does for us comes from His deep, deep compassion for us. Think about that.
Jesus had compassion for the crowd because they were like ‘sheep without a shepherd’. There was no one to correctly teach, direct them and give them a true purpose. The sheep are God’s people and Jesus is the shepherd of the sheep. He is the Good Shepherd. We read about this in John 10:1-16.
The first thing that Jesus did for these sheep without a shepherd was to teach them. He fed them with the word. Teaching the sheep is the primary duty of the pastor of a church. After His resurrection Jesus told Peter to ‘feed my sheep.’ See John 21:15-17. That’s what all under shepherds are supposed to do. Notice that Jesus calls them ‘My’ sheep.
Verses 35 to 37
In verses 35 and 36 the disciples come to Jesus with a problem. The problem was that it was late and the crowds needed something to eat. On top of this they were in a wilderness with no food readily available. The disciples’ solution to the problem was to send them away to get food for themselves.
But what was Jesus’ solution? He told the disciples to feed them. The disciples’ response to Jesus’ instruction was incredulity. 200 Denarii was a year’s salary in those days. Instead of trusting Jesus, they reasoned among themselves that what Jesus was asking was impossible. Have you ever done that?
Verses 38 to 44
Now Jesus takes over and shows the disciples how it’s done in faith. Notice how Jesus starts with what they’ve already got; five loaves and two fish. Then He takes this paltry amount of food and blesses it. He prayed over it. What do you think He prayed? I suggest that He thanked the Father for it and asked Him to fulfil His promise to provide all that they needed. And what happens as a result? The amount of food they have multiplies. Enough to feed over five thousand people.
There’s a lesson in this for us. If we trust Jesus, He will take what little we have and multiply it.
The effect on the people was that they were satisfied. This is always the effect that Jesus has when He ministers to people.
And finally, what do we see in verse 43? That there was more than enough. There’s always an abundance with Jesus.