This section may be familiar to some of us but what are we actually supposed to take away from this account?
We may have heard of the feeding of the 5000, with an emphasis on the boy who has offered the 5 loaves and 2 fish and thus, we are asked to think about what we are to offer Jesus. However, in this account in Mark, there is no mention of this boy. The feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on water are meant to be understood together (Mark 6:52) .
If our hearts are hardened, we will be unable to understand Him as He intends!
(A) Understand the lesson of the loaves (Mark 6:30-44)
The apostles returned after Jesus sent them out (Mark 6:7). They went out with the authority of Jesus and were to proclaim the message of repentance, cast out demons and anointed with oil many who were sick (Mark 6:12). Now they returned to share about all they had done and taught (Mark 6:30).
All who serve are accountable to the Master. There is no rogue minister. All who minister have to give an account to Jesus. See how it is a joyful privilege to be called by God and sent out to serve Him under His authority!
Now, Jesus calls them to come away to a desolate place and rest a while. He invites His disciples to get away from the constant flow of ministering to people so they could get some rest (Mark 6:31). The only way was to get away by boat, a repeated pattern (c.f. Mark 4:1). There was a time for ministry and now it is a time for rest. The same God who established work also instituted Sabbath rest! When we rest, we express our trust in God.
Working for God is not endless work, eating the bread of anxious toil, but is really resting in what God provides.
The people were eager to meet Him (Mark 6:33). Earlier in Mark 3:7-10, we see how He attracted a great crowd and His disciples had to prepare a boat ready for Him. He had been healing many and His miraculous acts continued to attract the crowd. The people continue to desire to meet Him and want something from Him. Jesus went ashore, saw the crowd, had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34). As we read in Ezekiel 34:1-5a, the people had shepherds who had failed and the people were lost.
In Mark 6:34, Jesus responds by teaching. This is His response to seeing their need and this is the way that He seeks to meet their need. He knows that what they truly lack is to know God’s word and to encounter the living God through His word.
What needs do we have that we think is the most necessary in our lives? They can be good things but are they our greatest need? Our greatest need is to know God as He has chosen to reveal Himself through His word.
As John 17:3 tells us, eternal life is to know God. What satisfies us as we go through our day?
The disciples approached Jesus and told Him to send the people away to get food for it was late and it was a desolate place (Mark 6:35). The disciples knew that this would cost them 200 denarii — about 200 days’ wage.
Now, Jesus knew that this was a desolate place — He was the one that initiated it. The disciples were probably tired and wanted this day to end. In response, Jesus tells them to give something to eat (Mark 6:37). We see the contrasting feelings between Jesus and the disciples towards the crowd. Jesus had compassion but the disciples were overwhelmed by the need and problem before them. Notice also the abundance of what He fed (Mark 6:43). All ate and were satisfied and there were 12 baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
In Israel’s history, they had experienced and know that God can provide for His people (cf. Exo 16:35). He fed them in the wilderness for 40 years, and this was a demonstration and experience of His faithfulness. He provided for the 6 days a week without hoarding, and only on the 6th day were they to collect twice as much for the Sabbath. God provided exactly what they needed for 40 years.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 helps us to see that the wilderness years was so that God might humble them and test them to know what was in their heart. God humbled them and wanted to teach them that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. They were to be utterly dependent on God for what He provides.
So it is in Mark 6 too. In meeting the needs of His people, Jesus was also seeking to point to His word. Jesus was demonstrating how He is the true Shepherd for sheep without a shepherd. Jesus, the true Shepherd, is bringing about another Exodus.
(B) Yet the lesson was not understood (Mark 6:45-52)
Immediately, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida while He dismissed the crowd (Mark 6:45). Jesus knew the intentions of the crowd and how they wanted to make Him king.
Jesus took leave of them and went up on the mountain to pray (Mark 6:46). He exemplified what it is to depend on the Father for daily ministry. He knows what it is to turn to God for help. What is your prayer life like? Do you turn to God in dependence?
Now, the boat was out on the sea and Jesus (who was on land) saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them (Mark 6:47-48). He came to them and He meant to pass by them during 3-6am (Mark 6:48). The disciples thought they saw a ghost and cried out in terror (Mark 6:50) and Jesus spoke to them immediately, revealing who He is and also told them to not be afraid (Mark 6:50). He got into the boat and the wind ceased (Mark 6:51).
Once more, Jesus displayed His authority over nature (cf. Mark 4:35-41). Jesus also sees their need and was moved to approach them and to reveal Himself to them. He showed them the same compassion as what He demonstrated to the crowd earlier. The disciples did not understand who He is, and what His heart is like, for their hearts were hardened (Mark 6:52).
Do you think that God does not care about you in your situation? The lesson of the loaves show us that God sees our need and also goes further to see our truer need. He is committed to meeting our true need, so much so that He came to do the Father’s will and obeyed fully, even to death on the cross. In His death, He fed more than just 5000 — but came for the world all who place their faith in Him.
(C) People continue to be spiritually hungry (Mark 6:53-56)
Mark 6:53-56 concludes this section in Mark. They ended up in Gennesaret, different from their original intended destination — Bethsaida. And in Gennesaret, the people also had great need.
Now, do you really think the people knew who Jesus was? The ones who were the closest to Him did not understand His heart, what motivated Him and what He came to do. Yes, the people were looking for Jesus but they were looking for healing. This section of Mark should prompt us to consider if we really know Jesus, His heart, what He is about, what He has committed Himself to.
What is the state of your heart? We may identify with the crowds and can easily state our needs. We come brokenhearted and desire Jesus to fix us and heal us. But in these verses, notice that Jesus does not just meet our immediate need. Yes, He will meet needs because He is moved with great compassion. And He always gives us what we really need — Himself.
Do you know Jesus? Do you really understand your own need? Have you trusted in this Jesus for salvation?