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Mark 6:31–44 (ESV)
31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
This is a familiar passage to many and so it creates a problem for us. Perhaps you’ve read this passage a few times before on your own. Maybe the passage was the subject of a sermon or two that you’ve heard and if you grew up in a church, no doubt you’ve covered this passage in a Sunday school class. And so the problem, the temptation for us, is to just skip past the passage. But don’t do it. Go back and re-read the passage and try to immerse yourself in the events as they unfold. Try to imagine being there and how you would respond to what you’re seeing and hearing.
We know from Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus had heard that his cousin John the Baptist had been executed and now, upon the return of His disciples, Jesus is looking for some time away, some time alone.
Think of yourself being in the presence of the twelve disciples right now. They are tired and excited all at the same time and perhaps they are also sad for Jesus’ loss and might be unsure how to offer comfort to Jesus at this moment.
And then there is the crowd. So many people needing healing, needing attention, just needing. And their need stirs Jesus to care for these people who are like sheep without a shepherd.
Try to picture yourself as a person in the crowd. Maybe you’re the one in desperate need of healing, maybe you’re a friend or a family member who has brought someone who needs healing and you’re willing to do whatever it takes for someone to see Jesus.
And then, as it starts to get dark, one of the disciples makes a suggestion to Jesus. It’s a long way home and people are hungry and so one of the disciples suggests that Jesus dismiss everyone so that they can go into the surrounding villages and buy some food for themselves.
Jesus’ reply is absolutely shocking, “You feed them.”
Here’s the part of the passage that I just love. “You feed them.” There are only a couple of pieces of fish and bread here, barely enough for two people let alone this crowd of five thousand men, not counting women and children.
“You feed them.” Suddenly this whole situation becomes an opportunity to exercise faith, to trust Jesus in a couple of ways. First, to trust Jesus with all they have. The bread and the fish needed to be surrendered to Jesus, this isn’t about just giving 10%, this is about surrendering it all. And then second, to trust that Jesus will do something with the little that is offered.
The questioning response of the disciples to Jesus is a bit surprising to us after what they’ve just experienced when Jesus sent them out in pairs. We know that they’ve experienced the miraculous while proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Unclean spirits were cast out and many who were sick were healed, but here, their faith is being stretched a little more. What can possibly be done with such a meager offering?
Something wonderful. Jesus takes what little was offered, blesses it, breaks it, and gives this now multiplied blessing to give to others. And what happens? Twelve basketfuls of leftovers are collected.
That’s all good stuff.
But the challenge for us from this passage is the same as it was for the disciples, to trust entrusting everything to Jesus. Jesus calls us to follow Him, to reflect His love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace out to the world. Following Jesus is costly, but if we entrust ourselves to Him, it’s amazing what He will do in and through us. If we trust Jesus with all that we have, know that it will be mysteriously multiplied, and we will be blessed in ways we can’t even fathom.
So where are you feeling called to trust and follow Jesus today?
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers!
Scott
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