July 23rd's Sermon: Mark 6:30-44 “How to feed a crowd”.
Mark 6:30-44 “How to feed a crowd”.
Context: We just learned of Jbap’s execution- this story is contrast. What had happened just before this scripture? Jesus has been doing miracles- healing and preaching- he has also just sent out his disciples to do ministry and they have returned to report on what has happened.
Mark 6:30-44
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them [They were recognizing Jesus and His disciples. They were literally so excited- that they outran Jesus to the other side of the lake- have you ever had that excitement for Jesus?]. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." [Imperative- this is a command]
They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." [Imperative- this is a command]
When they found out, they said, "Five-and two fish." [- fish and bread- staples of the Palestine area diet]
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass [indicates spring season]. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. [- 5,000+ was a huge number- and this was just the men- even the large villages in that area would have less than 3,000, - it would have been difficult for this crowd to even eat in a nearby village.]
This story reminds of us of the Hebrews being provided the manna in the desert and Elisha feeding people in 2 Kings 4
Different Interpretations of this story: This is a story asserting Jesus’ messiah-ship- that he is in league with Moses and Elisha- indeed exceeds them There are different interpretations of this story. Some assert that this is not a supernatural event- that the sharing of Jesus encouraged the sharing of the people in the crowd- this may be true- I tend to think that if this was the case we would have a direct hint toward that- some say the leftovers is the hint- if you side with this interpretation that is fine- but it assumes that when Jesus sent his disciples to find food that they did an incomplete investigation. Rather I think the direct evidence is the public went on a longer journey than they anticipated so snacks ran out and people didn’t have any extra. It was just a long day trip- so starvation is not at risk- but there were likely mothers who needed to nourishment to nurse and children who were crying for food
So there are different ways to approach this story- today I approach it simply- God in Christ fed a hungry crowd- What is a miracle?
God did something his disciples thought was impossible- something that is possible by the power of God- and it therefore points to God’s reality
So lets look at the principles involved in this miracle- we don’t know how miracles are done- but we can see and learn from actions surrounding the miracle
Principles:
1. Enter into God’s Kitchen- Believe that God is able to provide- v. 41 “Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.” Give thanks to God-
2. Care for the people who are hungry. - You have to care about the crowd- v. 34 “he had compassion on them” Don’t see ministry as an object or an idea- see God’s people, serve out of compassion not obligation- Bonhoeffer community quote
3. Start with the ingredients that you have-
- don’t not start something good- because you’re not sure if you can reach everyone
- $21 through the World Food Programme can feed one adult and three children for one month- $34- can help provide education with the food to help escape the cycle of poverty
4. Be faithful to what God adds in- be faithful to deliver God’s goods. the disciples obviously continued to hand out food even after they realized that the initial amount was served. They understood their calling.
5. Marvel at God’s goodness- everyone was fed 5000 men and many more with women and children. There were leftovers- one basket for each disciple. God had provided for the disciples on their recent missionary adventures. Perhaps jesus was wanting to show them that his Kingdom was not for them alone- but that He is introducing a universal kingdom- where all people are offered forgiveness and compassion. Maybe the biggest barrier for the disciples was believing that Jesus loved each person in the crowd just as much as he loved each of the disciples.
Jesus had a doggy bag left over for each of the disciples. “Remember how I took care of you” he is saying with these leftovers- and in essences he is saying, “my plan is to show love to everyone”
Jesus had told his disciples at one point, “Freely you have received, Freely give.” How can you give this week? I am not going to tell you how- I am going to leave it to you and the Holy Spirit of God to work that out.
May you enter into God’s reality this week- Giving thanks for what God has given. May God stir compassion in your heart for some person or group this week- and may you serve- starting with whatever you have and giving also whatever God adds in. Freely we have received- Freely we give.
Amen
Context: We just learned of Jbap’s execution- this story is contrast. What had happened just before this scripture? Jesus has been doing miracles- healing and preaching- he has also just sent out his disciples to do ministry and they have returned to report on what has happened.
Mark 6:30-44
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them [They were recognizing Jesus and His disciples. They were literally so excited- that they outran Jesus to the other side of the lake- have you ever had that excitement for Jesus?]. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."
37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." [Imperative- this is a command]
They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." [Imperative- this is a command]
When they found out, they said, "Five-and two fish." [- fish and bread- staples of the Palestine area diet]
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass [indicates spring season]. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. [- 5,000+ was a huge number- and this was just the men- even the large villages in that area would have less than 3,000, - it would have been difficult for this crowd to even eat in a nearby village.]
This story reminds of us of the Hebrews being provided the manna in the desert and Elisha feeding people in 2 Kings 4
Different Interpretations of this story: This is a story asserting Jesus’ messiah-ship- that he is in league with Moses and Elisha- indeed exceeds them There are different interpretations of this story. Some assert that this is not a supernatural event- that the sharing of Jesus encouraged the sharing of the people in the crowd- this may be true- I tend to think that if this was the case we would have a direct hint toward that- some say the leftovers is the hint- if you side with this interpretation that is fine- but it assumes that when Jesus sent his disciples to find food that they did an incomplete investigation. Rather I think the direct evidence is the public went on a longer journey than they anticipated so snacks ran out and people didn’t have any extra. It was just a long day trip- so starvation is not at risk- but there were likely mothers who needed to nourishment to nurse and children who were crying for food
So there are different ways to approach this story- today I approach it simply- God in Christ fed a hungry crowd- What is a miracle?
God did something his disciples thought was impossible- something that is possible by the power of God- and it therefore points to God’s reality
So lets look at the principles involved in this miracle- we don’t know how miracles are done- but we can see and learn from actions surrounding the miracle
Principles:
1. Enter into God’s Kitchen- Believe that God is able to provide- v. 41 “Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.” Give thanks to God-
2. Care for the people who are hungry. - You have to care about the crowd- v. 34 “he had compassion on them” Don’t see ministry as an object or an idea- see God’s people, serve out of compassion not obligation- Bonhoeffer community quote
3. Start with the ingredients that you have-
- don’t not start something good- because you’re not sure if you can reach everyone
- $21 through the World Food Programme can feed one adult and three children for one month- $34- can help provide education with the food to help escape the cycle of poverty
4. Be faithful to what God adds in- be faithful to deliver God’s goods. the disciples obviously continued to hand out food even after they realized that the initial amount was served. They understood their calling.
5. Marvel at God’s goodness- everyone was fed 5000 men and many more with women and children. There were leftovers- one basket for each disciple. God had provided for the disciples on their recent missionary adventures. Perhaps jesus was wanting to show them that his Kingdom was not for them alone- but that He is introducing a universal kingdom- where all people are offered forgiveness and compassion. Maybe the biggest barrier for the disciples was believing that Jesus loved each person in the crowd just as much as he loved each of the disciples.
Jesus had a doggy bag left over for each of the disciples. “Remember how I took care of you” he is saying with these leftovers- and in essences he is saying, “my plan is to show love to everyone”
Jesus had told his disciples at one point, “Freely you have received, Freely give.” How can you give this week? I am not going to tell you how- I am going to leave it to you and the Holy Spirit of God to work that out.
May you enter into God’s reality this week- Giving thanks for what God has given. May God stir compassion in your heart for some person or group this week- and may you serve- starting with whatever you have and giving also whatever God adds in. Freely we have received- Freely we give.
Amen
posted by Palouse Fed. Church at 10:58 AM
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