Mark 6:30-44

The Disciples Return and Take a Break - The Feeding of Five Thousand People (6:30-44).

When the disciples returned and explained to Jesus all that had happened He sought to take them somewhere where they could rest and recuperate, and no doubt where He could give them advice and reassurance. Perhaps also He was a little concerned at some of the things which they had told Him. Their view of the Kingly Rule of God had still not been tailored in line with how Jesus saw it. Perhaps they had been rousing interest in the wrong way. That was always a danger with sending out novices. And then a crowd of interested men who were anxious to learn and see more, outwitted them by making their way round the lake. Thus would occur a further revelation of the power of Jesus as Lord of creation, the miraculous feeding of a great crowd of genuine seekers.

Again we have the contrast with Herod's behaviour. While Herod had held a great feast and had drenched the nation in the blood of a prophet, Jesus was holding a great feast and bringing to them the bread of life as promised by the prophets (e.g. Isaiah 55:1). This celebration feast was a proclamation that the new king was here, and that the Messianic banquet was beginning (Isaiah 25:8). Earthly kingdoms no longer mattered. Let them forget Herod and his like. The Kingly Rule of God was here.

Analysis.

a And the Apostles gather themselves together to Jesus, and they told Him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught (Mark 6:30).

b And He says to them, “Come you yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat (Mark 6:31).

c And they went away in the boat to a desert place apart (Mark 6:32).

d And the people saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them, and He came forth and saw a great crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and He began to teach them many things (Mark 6:33).

e And when the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him, and said, “The place is desert, and the day is now far spent, send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves somewhat to eat.” But He answered and said to them, “You give them to eat.” (Mark 6:35 a).

f And they say to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings' worth of bread, and give them to eat?” (Mark 6:37 b)

g And He says to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see” (Mark 6:38 a).

f And when they knew, they say, “Five, and two fishes” (Mark 6:38 b).

e And He commanded them that all should sit down by companies on the green grass, and they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties, and He took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, and broke the loaves; and He gave to the disciples to set before them, and He divided the two fishes among them all, and they all ate, and were filled

d And they took up broken pieces, twelve basketfuls, and also of the fishes, and those who ate the loaves were five thousand men (Mark 6:44).

c And immediately He constrained His disciples to enter into the boat (Mark 6:45 a).

b And to go before Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself sends the crowd away (Mark 6:45 b).

a And after He had taken leave of them, He departed into the mountain to pray (Mark 6:46).

Note that in ‘a' the Apostles gathered together to Jesus to tell Him what they had done, and in the parallel He took leave of them so that He could be alone to pray. In ‘b' He calls them to go apart into a desert place in order to get away from the crowds, and in the parallel He sends them to Bethsaida while He sends the crowds away. In ‘c' they went away in a boat, and in the parallel they entered into a boat. In ‘d' He saw the great crowd like sheep without a shepherd, and in the parallel they were more than satisfied. In ‘e' He commands His disciples to give the crowds food to eat, and in the parallel they do so. In ‘f' they assess what is required to feed the crowd, and in the parallel they discover how much they actually have. Centrally in ‘g' Jesus takes charge of the whole situation