Gospel of mark
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and out went them, and came together unto him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. This miracle, which is found in all four Gospels, took place AT the beginning of the third year of the Lord’s public ministry. The apostles had just returned to Capernaum from their first preaching mission. Perhaps they were flush with success, perhaps tired and weary. Recognizing their need for rest and quiet the Lord took them by boat to a secluded area on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Paul would later practise this same careful consideration for his team, to take enough time out to rebuild their inner strength and stabilize their faith in intensive fellowship and teaching “camps”. Titus 3:12-15. In relation to the Christian resting to recharge their batteries, one commentator wrote, “It will be well for us if we needed thus to rest more, that is to say, if our labours were so abundant, our self denying efforts for the blessings of others were so continual, that we can be sure that this was the Lord’s word for us”. We should be careful not to use this as an excuse for laziness. When Spurgeon was criticized for “wasting the Lord’s money” by holidaying annually in Mentone on the Mediterranean Coast, he replied, “It is more an evil to waste the Lord’s servant”. A crowd follows after the Lord and His disciples by taking the land route along the shore of lake. Jesus had compassion on the people, for he saw their spiritual hunger and their physical privation, for these were not wealthy people that had plenty of resources to utilize on such a journey. They were wandering around without a spiritual guide, hungry and defenceless. So he begins to teach them. In other gospels account of this incident, we see that he also did a lot of healing at this time. Jesus care for the sheep was modelled on God’s care for his people in Ezekiel 34:5-15. This care was also expressed by providing sound teaching, Isaiah 1:10-18, 61:1-3, Ezekiel 34:4, Jeremiah 23 and Numbers 27:17. 35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. As the day wore on the disciples became more and more restless about the crowd. So many people and nothing to eat; they are thinking physically and perhaps worried that there will be trouble by nightfall if there is no food here, and really to avoid trouble they need to move well before the sun goes down. They urged the Lord to send the crowd away to surrounding villages (several miles walk in each direction) to get food for themselves. The same crowd that drew out the compassion of the Saviour angered/worried the disciples. The disciples knew that the crowd probably just expected Jesus to feed them, for they had total faith in his provisions, but his own disciples have their eyes on the crowd, not on Jesus! The disciples feel that the crowd are “free loaders” – just waiting for the Lord to produce something dramatic. Jesus knows their thoughts, and those of the crowd, and he turned to His disciples and said, “You give them something to eat”. The challenge to the disciples was just too much, given their human viewpoint at this point, as the crowd consisted of about five thousand men plus women and children and their supplies totalled but five loaves and two fishes. Fish and especially bread were central components of the Palestinian diet at the time of our Lord. We note that when He had been resurrected the Lord provided broiled fish on the beach. John 21:1-14. Meat was rarely available except at feasts. Food was always sold at village markets, and the Galilean countryside was full of villages. Jesus however had withdrawn his followers some distance from the nearest village. However even the larger villages of Galilee would have under 3000 inhabitants. Feeding a crowd of this size in the villages could have thus been difficult. It would have taken more than 200 days of an average person’s wages to feed the great multitude that had assembled. There was no human way this crowd could be fed, or provided for from their financial resources, for even if they had the money gathering the food this late in the day would be impossible. 39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42 And they did all eat, and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. That the grass is green indicates that it is spring, probably around Passover, a fact that is confirmed by John 6:4. Jesus’ followers organized the crowd quickly into ranks/groups like an army in the Old Testament. The purpose of this was to facilitate the distribution of food. The crowd sits in groups that will facilitate distribution of food, but at this point there still is not food for this many people (15000+ people). Always be ready to serve the multitude with food, and then worry about where the food is coming from, for the Lord will provide; just position yourself to distribute his bounty. Note that they must sit in readiness, and have all things ready to receive the food before the food is blessed and provided for. The Lord often will call us to prepare the place for ministry well before we actually see the reality of the ministry. I our own ministry we have seen this. At 1993, as we began in earnest, we were led to prepare all material in digital format, with readiness for internet distribution, well before the internet was seen as important by most. Each project we have worked on has been worked on from obedience to the Holy Spirit, well ahead of expressed need from God’s people. What we have seen is that we prepare material, are ready to distribute, and then people ask exactly for that material! It was customary at this time to begin a meal by giving thanks for the bread and then dividing it. In this miracle the disciples have a picture of how the Saviour would give Himself to be the bread of life/salvation for the spiritually starving world. His body would be broken that others might have eternal life. In fact the words used here are highly suggestive of the Lord’s Supper which commemorates His death. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Phrases such as “He had taken”, “He blessed”, “He broke”, and “He gave”, being common in such a service. The multiplication of the food is reminiscent of the miracle God supplying manna for Israel in the wilderness, and especially of Elisha, multiplying food in 2 Kings 4:42-44, where some of the food was also left over. Ancient ethics disapproved on wasting leftovers although aristocrats often created such wastage to indicate that they were not bound by ethics. The term of baskets here is often used for a wicker food basket, but could also mean the large baskets in which Roman soldiers carried their supplies. Twelve baskets full after the meal indicates that had more came they also would have been fed. Psalm 145:14-18. APPLICATION If you do not keep your eyes on the Lord you will miss some of the greatest blessings in this life. When you look at the healing miracles and the feeding of perhaps fifteen plus thousand people, from absurdly low resources, you realise that the Lord Jesus Christ is God, and think of the absolute features of His character. The compassion of the Lord is based not so much on the physical suffering people may have, but on pointing the way to an eternal relationship with Him, rather than the person as an unbeliever spending eternity in the Lake of Fire. In principle we as believers have but five loaves and two fishes, and on the face of it are not much in the way of resources of ability to serve the Lord but under the Lord’s power and plan they can become a great blessing. When you are giving in the basis of grace there is no end to it. We can only operate on the basis of grace. There are a number of concepts we can apply from this miracle Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ should never doubt His power to supply their needs. Our God is able. Daniel 3:17, Romans 14:4, Hebrews 7:25, Jude 24-25. If we give Him what we have, however trivial it may seem, He can multiply it for blessing multitudes. God has given us all our “small things” and as we recognize that everything is divine provision, then we can allow the Holy Spirit to multiply the small things through our obedient hands. We must not “despise the day of small things”. Zechariah 4:10. We need to handle all the work we do in a systematic and prayer saturated way. The plan of the Lord is to feed others in the world through his people, both spiritually and physically. We should feed the world with His Word and empower others we teach to continue that pattern. There was enough for all. We need to be focused on distributing the Word of God, and also all else we have to pass on. Nothing was wasted, the surplus was gathered up. Waste is a sin. One of the greatest miracles would never have happened if the disciples had stuck to their plan to rest. Our God is able to ….. Let us complete this sentence in any way that our need presents itself today and let us give this message to all who suffer any want. DOCTRINES GOD: ABILITY OF GOD 1. The declaration of Divine Power - Matthew 19:26 2. God is able to save forever those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ - Hebrews 7:25 3. God is able to supply every need - 2 Corinthians 9:8 4. God is able to deliver all who are tempted - Hebrews 2:18 5. God is able to sustain the weak believer and make him stand - Romans 14:4 6. God is able to keep us from falling and make us blameless - Jude 24,25 7. God is able to surpass all expectations and requests - Ephesians 3:20 8. God is able to raise us up in resurrection in the likeness of His Son - Hebrews 11:19 GOD: CHARACTER OF GOD 1. Whilst God is three persons all three persons have exactly the same essence or character: a) SOVEREIGNTY The Father (Ephesians 1:11 , cf Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 6:10, Hebrews 10:7, 9) The Son (John 5:21, Revelation 19:16) The Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11 , cf Hebrews 2:4)
The Father (John 17:25) The Son (Luke 1:35, Hebrews 7:26, 2 Corinthians 5:21) c) JUSTICE The Father (Job 37:23, cf 8:3) The Son (Acts 3:14, John 5:22, Revelation 19:11 The Spirit (Nehemiah 9:20) d) LOVE The Father (John 3:16) The Son (Ephesians 5:25, 1 John 3:16) The Spirit (John 16:7-11, 1 Corinthians 2:10) e) ETERNAL LIFE The Father (John 5:26) The Son (Micah 5:2, cf John 1:1-2, 1 John 5:11 The Spirit (Isaiah 48:16) f) ALL-KNOWING The Father (Hebrews 4:13, cf Matthew 11:27, 1 Peter 1:2) The Son (John 18:4, cf Matthew 9:4, John 2:25, 1 Corinthians 4:5) The Spirit (Isaiah 11:2, cf 1 Corinthians 2:11 g) EVERYWHERE The Father (2 Chronicles 2:6) The Son (Matthew 28:20, cf Ephesians 1:23) The Spirit (Psalm 139:7) h) ALL-POWERFUL The Father (Mark 14:36, cf 1 Peter 1:5) The Son (Hebrews 1:3, cf Matthew 24:30, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 3:21) The Spirit (Romans 15:19) i) UNCHANGEABLE The Father (Hebrews 6:17, Psalm 33:11) The Son (Hebrews 13:8) The Spirit (John 14:16) j) TRUTH The Father (John 7:28, John 17:3) The Son (1 John 5:20, cf John 1:14, 14:6, Revelation 19:11) The Spirit (1 John 5:6, cf John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13) GOD: NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD 1. Father, Son and Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19,20. These titles emphasise the function of each member of the Trinity. a) Father - the sovereign authority, who decreed the plan of salvation b) Son - the obedient Son, who offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin according to the Father's will c) Holy Spirit - the one who reveals the Son to mankind, thereby bringing honour and glory to Him 2. At the Lord's Baptism Matthew 3 where the Spirit descends, the Father speaking from heaven and the Son being baptised. 3. We have the Father sending the Son in John 3:16, in John 14 17 we have the Son sending the Spirit. 4. We have the three fold titles of God Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 1, Romans 15 5. The Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5, 1 Corinthians 3 and called the Lord in 2 Corinthians 3:17. 6. The works of the Lord are ascribed to the Father John 17, the Holy Spirit responsible for the procreation of the Son Luke 1:35, 2:11; the Son doing the will of the Father John 8, 10, the Holy Spirit sustaining the Son. Matthew 18:28, John 3:34 7. The Trinity are involved in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the first advent. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is the co operative work of the Trinity, the Father gives the son Romans 8:32, the Lord lays down his life John 10:18, the Holy Spirit empowers Him to offer Himself on the Cross Hebrews 9. On the Cross He addresses the other two members of the Trinity when He cried out "My God, My God why has thou forgotten me?" 8. All three were involved in the resurrection [a] the Father Colossians 2:12 [b] the Son as the person who was raised John 2:19, 10:18, 1 Peter 3:18 [c] The Holy Spirit was involved in His resurrection Romans 8:11 The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit will be involved in our resurrection. 9. The indwelling of the believer John 14:23, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 6:19, we have the power in us Ephesians 4:6, the Lord in us Colossians 1:27 GOD - NAMES OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT God reveals Himself and His character by His names. 1. EL - The strong one (singular) - 2 Samuel 22:33 2. EL ELYON - The most high God - Genesis 14:18-22 3. EL OLAM - The everlasting God - Genesis 21:33 4. EL SHADDAI -The almighty one - Genesis 17:1 5. ELOHIM - The all powerful one. (plural) - Genesis 1:1 6. JEHOVAH - The self-existent one - I AM Exodus 3:14 7. JEHOVAH-ELOHIM - Lord God, Creator - Genesis 2:4 8. JEHOVAH-JIREH - Jehovah will provide - Genesis 22:13, 14 9. JEHOVAH -NISSI - Jehovah is my banner - Exodus 17:15 10. JEHOVAH-RAAH - Jehovah is my Shepherd - Psalm 23:1 11. JEHOVAH-RAPHA - Jehovah that Heals - Exodus 15:25, 26 12. JEHOVAH-SABOATH - Lord of hosts - Psalm 46:7, 11 13. JEHOVAH-SHALOM - Jehovah is peace - Judges 6:24 14. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH - Jehovah is there - Ezekiel 48:35 15. JEHOVAH TSID KENU- Jehovah our righteousness - Jeremiah 33:16 SIGNS 1. A sign is something which stands for, or looks forward to something else. a) Things such as- The Temple, Regalia, Stars and Uniforms. b) Festivals such as the Jewish Feasts which spoke of the Plan of God. c) Sacrifices such as Levitical Offerings which spoke of the work of Jesus Christ. d) Customs such as Circumcision. e) Names including the names of People and Places. f) Supernatural Acts such as Miracles.
a) The virgin birth itself, in fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy; the visitation of the angels both to Mary and Elizabeth, were all miraculous events. (Luke 1:26-38) b) The attendant birth of John the Baptist is also described with its associated signs, and the recognition by the baby in the womb of Elizabeth was a sign of things to come. (Luke 1:5-25, 43-45 cf Psalm 110:1) c) Mary's prophecy of her son's role as Saviour and Sacrifice. (Luke 1:54-56) d) The signs associated with John's birth. (Luke 1:65-66) e) The prophetic song of Zachariah. (Luke 1:67-80) f) The angelic visit to the shepherds. (Luke 2:10-11) g) The song of Simeon. (Luke 2:25-35) h) The song of Anna. (Luke 2:36-38) i) The sign of the prophet Isaiah in the preaching of John the Baptist. (Luke 3:3-18) 10. Seven signs in John. a) Wedding at Cana at Galilee. 2:1-11 b) Healing of the Nobleman's son. 4:46-54 c) The Cripple by the Pool of Siloam. 5:1-16 d) The feeding of the Five Thousand. 6:1-14 e) The healing of the Blind Man. 9:1-38 f) The raising of Lazarus. 11:1-46 g) The resurrection of the Lord. 20,21 JESUS WALKS ON THE WATER MARK 6:45-52 [MATTHEW 14:22-33, JOHN 6:15-21] see HARMONY 74-10 45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. KEY WORDS
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