Mark 6:30-44
Read Mark 6:30-44
Helpful Background Information:
In the first line of Mark’s Gospel account, he makes it clear who Jesus is: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). From that point on, Jesus’ actions and words serve as evidence for the initial statement. Mark tells the story of Jesus in three main segments: His time in Galilee (chs. 1-8a), His time travelling (chs. 8b-10), and then His time in Jerusalem (chs. 11-16). Wherever Jesus went, His primary message was the same: “the good news of God’s kingdom has come near” (Mark 1:15). In making this announcement, Jesus indicated that God Himself was going to take charge and set things straight.
By chapter 6, many people are amazed by what Jesus has been doing—leading them to wonder who exactly He is and what He might be up to. After being rejected in His home town of Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6), Jesus taught in the nearby villages. He also sent out His disciples with the authority to proclaim repentance, to cast out demons, and to heal the sick (v.13). Upon returning with some success, they celebrate by telling Jesus everything they had done and taught (v.30).
In the next scene, Jesus invites His disciples to sail off and rest for a while in a secluded place (v.31). Before they arrive, however, the curious crowds recognize them and run ahead to meet them there (vv.33-34a). When they landed ashore, Jesus saw the crowd and had compassion on them because they were “like sheep without a shepherd” (v.34b). After teaching the crowd late into the day, the people were hungry. The disciples raise their concern to Jesus and suggest that they send the crowds away to find food on their own. Jesus, however, challenges the disciples to feed them. When they question this seemingly impossible task, Jesus simply tells them to bring him what they have (v.38). From there, Jesus miraculously multiplies the five loaves and two fish He is given to feed all the people until they’re full. In the end, five thousand men were fed, with twelve baskets full of broken pieces left over (vv.42-44).
Reflection Questions:
As soon as Jesus saw the large crowds, He had compassion on them (v.34).
Why does Mark say Jesus had compassion on the people?
What did Jesus’ compassion compel Him to do first? (reread the last line of v.34).
Jesus responded to both the physical and spiritual needs of the crowd by feeding them (v.41) and teaching them (v.34). What does this reveal about the things that mattered to Jesus the most?
The disciples are given what seems like an impossible task from Jesus, considering their limited resources (v.37). What does Jesus ultimately ask them to give Him? (see v.38)
Jesus simply wanted His disciples to trust Him with their five loaves and two fish, even if it didn’t seem like it would be enough. In various ways, Jesus is still calling each of us to give Him our five loaves and two fish, so to speak. What resource or ability do you have that God is asking you to trust Him with? Close by spending some time in silence, asking God to show you what that might be.