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Mark - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 4 - Jesus' Great Miracles in Galilee and its Surroundings (Mark 3:7 - 8:26)

10. The Return of the Apostles From Their Missionary Journey, and the Feeding of the Five Thousand in the Wilderness (Mark 6:30-44)


MARK 6:30-44
30 The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught. 31 He said to them, “You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32 They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him. 34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, “This place is deserted, and it is late in the day. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?” 38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” When they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate, and were filled. 43 They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish. 44 Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Christ’s disciples returned from their missionary journey, and told him all the words and the power they gave in his name. First, Jesus took them aside to the wilderness that they might recognize quietly what God had done through them, and that they might not forget to give thanks for the joy of their experiences of the dwelling of the kingdom of God in them. Do you thank Jesus for the authority of his power through your service to your friends? Jesus leads you repeatedly to thank and praise God through your study of his works, that you may not become proud and superficial, but humble and thankful.

However, the multitudes did not allow Jesus any peace or calmness, but followed him, arrived ahead of him, and crowded around him. How astonishing! Christ did not send them away, though he was tired, but had compassion on them. He knew their hunger for righteousness, and their longing for love and mercy, so he preached to them the law of his Spirit, and explained the saving grace of God.

Imagine how the Holy One preached to the people for long hours, while they sat around him on the grass, and paradise came down into their thirsty hearts! When it was evening, the people became hungry, after their fatigue during the day.

The disciples thought of the food required for the body, recognizing the hunger of the multitudes, this hunger, which causes today revolutions of destruction and increasing ruin in our world.

And when Jesus asked his followers to prepare food for the multitudes, the disciples counted that feeding such a number of people needed considerable amounts of money. They reckoned up what was required as if they were skilful traders. However, Christ, being the Son of God, had no need of men’s calculations and means. He was determined to be merciful to the spiritually hungry multitudes around him, and to fill them with bread too. So he invited all the people to a holy banquet, for he had the power to make a little go a long way.

Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish from the hands of his disciples. He put them before God his Father, and thanked him aloud for the little that they had. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to distribute. They stared in amazement, and witnessed how the Son of God sat among men giving of his fullness grace for grace.

The food and fragments that remained after the banquet were more than the food at the beginning. This was done by the blessing of God through the thanksgiving of Christ. As he broke the bread for the multitudes, so he broke his body that we might be reconciled to God, be nourished spiritually by him in the Lord’s Supper, and become strengthened in love and service.

Do you recognize the mystery of the blessing of God offered to every man? It is thanking God for the little that we have. This thanksgiving in faith is the key of the door leading to the treasures of God. Believe in the help of Christ who is near you, thank him for the little that you have, and trust his will and power, for he wants to help you, together with your friends, with bodily and spiritual food at all times. Never forget to be thankful.

PRAYER: O Lord, forgive our unbelief, and lack of thankfulness. Teach us to love the multitudes, as you were merciful to them. We thank you for your forgiveness, and for all your known and unknown blessings. We seek wisdom to bring these privileges to our friends that they may be changed, and not think of bread first, but serve strangers and all those who long for your kingdom. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. What is the mystery of feeding the five thousand?

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