GOSPEL MEDITATION #191
Mark 6:30-44
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
- Find a quiet place without distractions.
- Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
- Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
- Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
- The apostles return from their first missionary adventure and report back to Jesus all they had done and taught. This is a precedent for today as well may well be concluded.
- Jesus wanted a time to refresh, debrief, a time apart from the crowds. Here we see the importance of leisure time and rest.
- Jesus no doubt was tired, but seeing the people He had “compassion” on them. This is typical of Jesus and is what we are to model as well.
- His compassion lead to His teaching; and what He said would have more lasting value than what was to follow.
- Jesus taught for a lengthy period of time or so it could be assumed. So wrapped up in what He was giving them, time was passing and it would be too late to care for themselves. And we know from Matthew 14:21, there were women and children present in addition to the 5000 men.
- The apostles are aware of the situation, but Jesus tells them to “give them something to eat.” It seemed impossible, was impossible for them, yet Jesus issues the challenge.
- Five barely loaves, two fish – maybe enough for two, but in the hands of Jesus, after the thanksgiving prayer to God for the food, a miracle occurs in His hands. The supply of food is not exhausted until everyone is satisfied.
- The disciples give out the food, true then, true today. It is astonishing that Mark reports that everyone was content.
- Twelve baskets left over. Twelve baskets, one for each of the apostles? Is it going too far to assume the baskets was meant for the Twelve? Perhaps.