You give them something to eat

Mark 6:30-44

Key Verse 6:37a

But he answered, "You give them something to eat." 

In this passage Jesus gave the disciples feeding training, so they would grow and function as shepherds after Jesus' example. This passage then reveals God's will to ensure that all peoples on earth would be properly fed through those who practice the wisdom Jesus teaches here. 

1. V. 30 calls the disciples the apostles, and it indicates that their mission journeys were quite successful. Who were the apostles? (Mark 3:16-19) What made them so successful? What can we learn from Jesus who helped them to work so powerfully for his redemptive purpose?

** They were not special people, but were rather ordinary people with ordinary abilities. The word "apostle" means "the one sent by God. This title generates the false impression that only  special people with special abilities can meet the challenge to feed the crowd. But when we think about each of the twelve disciples, it is not difficult to see that only if one learns from Jesus can they then meet the challenge to feed multitude of people. 

** 1) They committed themselves to learning from Jesus; 2) They had faith in Jesus; and 3) They obeyed Jesus' instructions (Mark 6:8-11) as they are. 

** We learn that any one regardless of one's human conditions (such as weaknesses or other limitations) can be trained to feed the flock of God. We see this same truth in God's call to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-4. 

2. Please consider what Jesus said to his disciples in v. 31. Why did he say that? What do Jesus’ words in v. 31b tell us about: 1) Jesus; and 2) the way for a man to find real rest? (Matthew 11:28-29)

** Jesus wanted to give them opportunity to eat. 

** Jesus believes in the need for physical and spiritual rejuvenation.

** The Biblical way to find real rest is in and through Jesus. Jesus is the God of rest. In Jesus can we find all resources for true rest. Jesus is the God of creation and the God of recreation. 

3. Vs. 32-34 indicates that the way Jesus sees and helps men is quite different from the way we normally do. Had Jesus come today and seen the people of this nation, young ones in particular, how do you think Jesus would have diagnosed their problems? What would Jesus have done for them? What prayer topics or directions does this passage show us in serving the people of this generation? 

** Lack of shepherds. Young people have problems, and their problems are the problems of leaders such as parents, teachers, or pastors. 

** Jesus would have raised up shepherds who would teach God's words. 

** We must raise up shepherds who will teach the flock of God God's word with Jesus' compassionate heart. 

4. Vs. 35-37a describes disparity between the disciples' approach and Jesus' approach, and the disciples' suggestion seems reasonable, whereas Jesus' demand unreasonable. Why then do you think Jesus said to them, "You give them something to eat?" What repentance topics can we find in Jesus' rebuke? 

** The disciples' approach is in tune with individualism -- "You eat your bread, I eat my bread." It is a good idea as long as each individual knows how to take care for himself or herself. But it does not work when all do not know how to take care of themselves. 

This is why Jesus' approach becomes necessary. Jesus' approach is realistic in that it recognizes the reality that some people are categorically incapable of taking care of themselves. More fundamentally than this, reality demonstrates that all fallen men behave like sheep, which when left to themselves, are bound to go astray. The only way to help these [human] sheep out is to raise up spiritual shepherds who have been trained to serve the needy. 

Aside from the above, Jesus' approach is consistent with the way God created each person, that is, in God's image. One of the imports of God's image is for one to do what God does, that is, being totally beneficial to all through faith in God. 

** 1) We need to repent of self-seeking attitudes, for the disciples' idea is ultimately not that much different from what Abel said to God when he stated, "Am I my brothers' keeper?" 

2) We need to overcome our human limitations by faith in Jesus, so we would develop a sense of responsibility for needy souls. 

5. Vs. 37b-38 show us another difference between the disciples' approach and Jesus' approach in meeting the challenge. How are they different? Why is Jesus' approach better? 

** The disciples' approach: it is materialistic, so it is as limited just as material is limited. But Jesus' approach is based on faith in God, and therefore is not limited, as God is not limited. The disciples' approach is to look at what they didn't have, but Jesus' approach is to look at what they did have in a given situation. The disciples' approach then is negative (in seeing the reality and in meeting the challenge), but Jesus' approach is positive in looking at the reality and meeting the challenge.

6. What do the following expressions in vs. 39-40 teach us in meeting Jesus' challenge to feed a hungry crowd? 1) Have them sit down; and 2) in groups.

** We learn the importance of preparing a "believing" environment in which all are gathered expecting miracles to happen. In the course of having the crowd sit down in an organized and orderly manner, the disciples must have picked up faith in Jesus. So might have been the case with the crowd. 

7. Please consider the way Jesus came up with food enough for the crowd in vs. 41-44. What do the following teach us about the way to feed the crowd of people? 

1) "Taking the five loaves and the two fish"; 

2) "looking up to heaven he gave thanks; 

3) "broke the loaves...and divided the two fish among them all"; 

4) "he gave them to his disciples to set before the people";

5) "they all ate and were satisfied"; and 

6) "the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish." 

** God/Jesus uses our five loaves and two fish, so it is very important for us to bring to Jesus what we have.

** The importance of looking to God for help, but with many thanks, believing and therefore thanking God in advance for what God is going to do to fill the need one has in a given situation. 

** The spirit of sharing among all is another key to filling the needs we have. Real hell (where needs cannot be met) is created when everyone desires to hide what he has and even takes away what others have for himself. Real paradise is created when everyone learns to share what they have, no matter how small it may be. 

** The expression "he gave them to his disciples to set before the people" shows us the divine will for Him to use each of us as a channel to let God's blessings flow to the four corners of the world, as we see the four rivers flowing from the center of the Garden of Eden or as we see God training Abraham to believe in God who in turn desires to establish Abraham as a source of blessing for all peoples on earth. 

** God's will for us is to let all be satisfied through our service in the Lord, so that God's blessings would abound everywhere. 

** God is the God of abundance. 

The end. 

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