The Patience Of God's Servant
Teaching, Feeding, and Healing
Book of Mark Chapter 6:32-56
Though we took a quick look at some things last week, let's take a closer look at some things this week in Chapter six.
We have already see many times the compassion of Our Lord and we will see it again in this passage!
There is a saying that goes like this:
“People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
What we should realize is that the compassion Jesus has for the lost, is a reflection of His incredible love for all humans!
What is compassion?
According to the Webster Dictionary, compassion is suffering along with a sufferer or painful sympathy.
So compassion is hurting along with some one else who is hurting.
What was the ultimate show of compassion by the Lord?
Then said Jesus while He hung on the cross:
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do". And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
What is mercy?
Mercy is a tenderness that comes from the heart.
Mercy overlooks the faults of another person by showing love toward them!
What is God's ultimate show of mercy?
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Mercy can best be understood as God's goodness!
*****Mar 6:32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Why did Jesus and His chosen 12 depart for a desert place?
Mar 6:30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
Jesus had also gotten the word of the murder of John the Baptist and His disciples were preaching the same message that John preached.
It was time for a short rest!
God had already shown us the need for a period of rest at the time of His creation!
Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
But the world would not allow for God's rest!
Many of our pastors suffer from a lack of rest today!
*****Mar 6:33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
A few weeks ago we saw a picture of the Sea of Galilee and we could see that on a clear day ships and boats on the this sea could be seen from the shoreline.
Jesus and the disciples could take a ship or a boat but they could not hide where they going if traveling by day time.
In some cases, a destination could be reached faster by land than as by sea which happened here in our verse.
This multitude also grew as it traveled toward Jesus!
And, this also proves that most of the religious leaders were too proud or too corrupt to teach the Word of God and no one taught like Jesus!
They were hungry for the Word of God!
But also anxious to see the "Miracle Maker"!
No matter how tired Our Lord was, we can see His "Compassion"!
*****Mar 6:34 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.
A sheep is a symbol of meekness, and gentleness and submissiveness. Sheep require a lot of patience!
We may look but we do not find sheep that exists in the wild state. Sheep were created for man!
That being so, the sheep was the animal first used for sacrifice!
With these thoughts, we can understand the Lord is our shepherd and those that believe on Him, are His flock!
God is very aware of why He chose to use sheep to describe the Church.
Jer 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
God is very aware when so called Pastors do not properly lead His sheep!
Jehovah God is our Head Shepherd but in order to save His sheep, He had to become a Lamb!
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
We were introduced to this "Lamb of God" in a recent lesson:
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
We should also remember the words of Abraham to Isaac:
Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
That sacrificial Lamb, was The Lord Jesus Christ!
But we should always remember something else about Jesus?
Jesus the "Carpenter" was the builder of the entire Cosmos.
But most important, this Jesus this "son of the virgin Mary" was Jesus Christ the Son of God!
Jesus Himself said:
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
But Jesus also said these words:
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
James had this to say:
Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
The voice of Jesus, is the Word of God and if we are not obedient to God's Word then we have not listened to Our Shepherd!
It was the True Shepherd that began to teach this great multitude!
*****Mar 6:35 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:
Mar 6:36 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.
These people that had followed Jesus had not given any thought that Jesus might need some rest.
These people that followed Jesus had not given any thought that the chosen 12 disciples might need some rest.
In fact this great multitude that had followed Jesus had not even thought to pack a lunch and Jesus had intentionally led the disciples to a desert place where there were no towns or villages very close by.
We can see that a desert place is a place where there is very little or no life.
And, these people had no purpose!
The one thing they all had in common was that were all poor and they were all hungry!
But, we have a generous Savior, willing to bless all those that follow Him under any conditions!
The Lord will provide all things but we must be just as willing to receive His "Gifts"!
*****Mar 6:37 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?
Mar 6:38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
Philip responded that Judas had only 200 pennyworth in the bag where the money was kept.
Joh 6:7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
This was not enough money to buy a small quantity of perfume:
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
And it was certainly not enough money to satisfy the hunger of this great multitude!
So Jesus asked if their were any food available.
Thank God for moms!
There was one mother who had taken the time to prepare her son a lunch.
As I write today, my mom is not expected to live more than a few days, but she was like this mom!
Joh 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
The 12 disciples would have allowed this multitude of people just to leave hungry and thus unfulfilled but Jesus would not do this.
There is also another lesson our churches need to learn.
If there is not enough "Faith" in the Church, that God will provide, then the multitudes will drift away in search of fulfillment and Satan will take advantage of this!
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
*****Mar 6:39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
Mar 6:40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
Was this count important to the Lord?
Only if we consider that He wanted us to know how many were fed this day!
Our God is a God of order!
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
It would be impossible to have fed this multitude if God's servants could not pass amongst them!
But what is impossible for man is not even a simple challenge for the Lord!
Can The Lord feed such a multitude as this?
Psa 78:19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
There had been many miracles of healing every known disease.
There had been miracles showing The Lord's power over nature.
There had even been those that were raised from the dead.
Jesus had already performed many miracles but this miracle would be a miracle of "creation"!
This mighty work of the Lord was the only one that is included in all four of the "Gospels"!
God had spoke our world into existence and He would now speak to Our Father in Heaven and these people would be fed.
And Jesus knew what He was about to do!
Joh 6:6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
*****Mar 6:41 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.
Mar 6:42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
Mar 6:43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
Mar 6:44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
See if we can get this picture.
A young lad trusted the Lord Jesus enough to give Him all the food he had.
Jesus looked up into Heaven.
Jesus blessed this meager meal.
Jesus brake these 5 small loaves but we know they did not diminish.
Jesus brake the two fishes but they fed them all.
As the disciples set a basket before the Lord it was filled and this continued until much more than 5000 were fed.
They were not just given a meal!
They were given a meal that was much as they could hold!
These people were hungry!
These people were filled!
And, from 5 loaves of barley and 2 small sardines, there remained 12 baskets of fragments.
The blood scared hands of Jesus, can still deliver much more than we need with some leftover for those that have not yet come to the knowledge of Christ.
Jesus Christ is the "Bread of Life".
Jesus Christ gives of Himself, that we be nourished.
Jesus Christ gives more than we need so we can show others "His Mercy" and "His Grace".
There is great satisfaction in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord!
Psa 145:16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
*****Mar 6:45 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.
The disciples were unwilling to leave Jesus alone with this great multitude but as always, The Lord can convince us the right things to do if we just listen to His Words!
God's "Will", will be done!
The Apostle John gives us a better description of what took place:
Joh 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Joh 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
There were some of those that had seen the miracle that realized the Jesus was indeed that Prophet that was to be likened unto Moses.
Moses had prayed for the "Manna" that had fed the children of Israel in their escape from Egypt.
This "Manna" had fulfilled God's purpose by preserving God's people in the wilderness for 40 years but it was gathered day by day.
But there was a "hidden Manna" that the Jew did not know and have not found even today.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
These men realized that only a prophet such as Moses could have brought this bread from Heaven this day.
They looked around at the 5000 men that Jesus had fed and they saw a 5000 men standing army that would have followed Jesus anywhere.
They "saw escape" from the tyranny of Rome and the Rome appointed rulers of Israel.
Christ Jesus knew what was in these men's hearts and He did not want the 12 He had chosen to start the Church, to get caught up in these things.
It was not time for Jesus to be King.!
This would only come after the "Rapture" of the Church!
1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
This will happen at the "Second Coming" of Our Lord:
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
So Jesus sent these people away and He felt the need to pray for them!
*****Mar 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Did Jesus pray for Himself? No
Jesus prayed for the lost, that they might come to believe on Him!
Jesus prayed for the saved, because He is Our Mediator!
Jesus could have prayed anywhere but He went up on a the mountain!
Though He knew what was going to happen to the 12 disciples, He went up onto the mountain so He could see with His human eyes.
Prayer is the pouring out of the "soul" before God!
Prayer is the drawing nearer to God!
Prayer is the "faith" that there is someone (God) who can do something about our problems!
And "Prayer" must be sincere!
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
BUT, "Prayer" must be offered in true "Faith"!
*****Mar 6:48 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.
Mar 6:49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
Mar 6:50 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.
Even while Jesus was praying for the lost, His mind was also on His disciples.
Jesus was on that mountain top but even through the darkness He could see them!
We should be getting a picture of God's Church and the struggles that will happen in this evil world!
Most of our struggles are within our own selves!
Christ has given us a commandment to be like Him, but we are addicted to our own will and this brings with it failure!
Paul wrote:
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
We should picture ourselves in this little fishing boat struggling with all our might against against the dark and stormy evil of this world.
We sometimes doubt and even forget God's Grace, His promise of Eternal Life, and even the Power Of God, and this burdens our soul.
These things rob of of our joy and our peace that God wants us to have!
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
God did not promise us an easy road after salvation, we will toiling while we are rowing in this sea of evil we call Earth.
BUT, God did promise that He would be with us every step of the way!
AND, you see God is watching over us all the time!
If it is getting dark and Jesus has not arrived, we must realize that He may have paused along the way to pray for us!
And if we look hard enough, we may see Jesus coming to stop the storm!
God has promised He will never forsake us for any reason after our name is written in the Lamb's Book Of Life!
Just as these disciples did not understand why Jesus was not with them at this time, we may not understand many of the things we are going through!
We should realize that for every good day, there will be some stormy nights and the darkness of the sin in this world, will magnify our fears.
We must know that we are not alone, every Christian will travel this same path, some more than others:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
All these things are God's training ground to make us better prepared for His purpose for each and every one of us:
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
There is no force of Nature and no power of man that can come between us and Christ that He cannot, and will not overcome!
Walking on water to the Lord is the same as walking on pavement to us.
Notice that Our Lord never explains His absence, He just says, "It is I, be not afraid" because He knows we have these fears!
When the Lord speaks things happen!
*****Mar 6:51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
Before Jesus went into the ship there was one more thing that happened that Mark does not mention.
Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
When we add this incident to all these other things we can see why these disciples were so amazed and also another reason their hearts were hardened.
Peter wanted to do the thing that Christ Jesus was doing.
And this impulse of Peter was not some kind of test the Lord Jesus was performing with Peter.
This impulsive act of Peter could have led to his death if not for the Lord Jesus.
Man was never made to walk on water!
If our "faith" is strong enough, there is no sea that is too rough for us to travel.
BUT, It takes a special "faith" to do the things where no human power on this earth can help!
You see, it was not the water that was supporting Peter for that was impossible. It was his "faith"!
We must always be very careful not to try to prove the power of the Lord!
There was no real reason for Peter to walk to the Lord, but the Lord will use our own mistakes did to train us as He did here with Peter!
Peter was corrected by a merciful God!
Peter was allowed to test his own "faith" and then the Lord exposed his error.
"O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt"
I believe Peter got out of the boat for the wrong reasons!
They were so amazed in themselves, they did not know how to express what they had just witnessed!
I believe the other disciples hearts hardened because of this impulse of Peter to go to the Lord but most of all because he failed and this showed the weakness that they all had.
*****Mar 6:52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
It had only been a few hours since Jesus had proved that He was the "Creator" when He had fed many more than 5000 people by making the bread that was eaten out of thin air.
Remember there were 12 baskets of leftovers!
The Lord had not used those 5 loaves nor those 2 fishes!
These 12 were eye witnesses to this great miracle!
This had to be a wonderful time in the lives of these men but Jesus still said, "why do you have these doubts'?
*****Mar 6:53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
The Apostle John said while these things were on there mind, the ship just landed on shore.
Joh 6:21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
The "Navigator" was back on board.
Gennesaret was on the western shore of Galilee and does not exist today.
This was the same area that was named after the Hebrew name for the Sea of Galilee which was Chinnereth:
Num 34:11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the [sea of Chinnereth] eastward:
In the Greek is was called the Lake of Gennesaret.
Luk 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
And, This is the same sea that politicians had renamed the Sea of Tiberius.
Joh 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
*****Mar 6:54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
Mar 6:55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
It did not take long for these people to realize that Jesus of Nazareth was in town!
And again prophesy is fulfilled:
Psa 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
A day before Jesus had fed more than 5000 and no matter where Jesus appeared, great crowds would gather and the greater the size of these crowds, the more attention to Jesus came from the elders, the government, and religious system.
And they came from far and wide.
*****Mar 6:56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
They were from the villages.
They were from the cities.
They were from the country.
They were from all walks of life!
It did not matter where Jesus showed up except, for His home of Nazareth, He was able to some good.
These people had no doubt that Christ Jesus had the power to heal!
Again the garment they were seeking to touch was the fringes of the prayer shawl that Jesus wore.
Each and every Pastor would be overwhelmed with the results that Jesus had obtained!
He drew enormous crowds!
He was popular with all walks of life of the people!
He had unfailing results!
Jesus was becoming famous!
For at the touch of Jesus:
Blinded eyes can see
Broken hearts are mended
Captives are set free
When He speaks,
The mountains move at His command
At the touch of Jesus
Fallen lives can stand
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Teaching, Feeding, and Healing
Book of Mark Chapter 6:32-56
Though we took a quick look at some things last week, let's take a closer look at some things this week in Chapter six.
We have already see many times the compassion of Our Lord and we will see it again in this passage!
There is a saying that goes like this:
“People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
What we should realize is that the compassion Jesus has for the lost, is a reflection of His incredible love for all humans!
What is compassion?
According to the Webster Dictionary, compassion is suffering along with a sufferer or painful sympathy.
So compassion is hurting along with some one else who is hurting.
What was the ultimate show of compassion by the Lord?
Then said Jesus while He hung on the cross:
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do". And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
What is mercy?
Mercy is a tenderness that comes from the heart.
Mercy overlooks the faults of another person by showing love toward them!
What is God's ultimate show of mercy?
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Mercy can best be understood as God's goodness!
*****Mar 6:32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
Why did Jesus and His chosen 12 depart for a desert place?
Mar 6:30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
Jesus had also gotten the word of the murder of John the Baptist and His disciples were preaching the same message that John preached.
It was time for a short rest!
God had already shown us the need for a period of rest at the time of His creation!
Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
But the world would not allow for God's rest!
Many of our pastors suffer from a lack of rest today!
*****Mar 6:33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
A few weeks ago we saw a picture of the Sea of Galilee and we could see that on a clear day ships and boats on the this sea could be seen from the shoreline.
Jesus and the disciples could take a ship or a boat but they could not hide where they going if traveling by day time.
In some cases, a destination could be reached faster by land than as by sea which happened here in our verse.
This multitude also grew as it traveled toward Jesus!
And, this also proves that most of the religious leaders were too proud or too corrupt to teach the Word of God and no one taught like Jesus!
They were hungry for the Word of God!
But also anxious to see the "Miracle Maker"!
No matter how tired Our Lord was, we can see His "Compassion"!
*****Mar 6:34 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.
A sheep is a symbol of meekness, and gentleness and submissiveness. Sheep require a lot of patience!
We may look but we do not find sheep that exists in the wild state. Sheep were created for man!
That being so, the sheep was the animal first used for sacrifice!
With these thoughts, we can understand the Lord is our shepherd and those that believe on Him, are His flock!
God is very aware of why He chose to use sheep to describe the Church.
Jer 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
God is very aware when so called Pastors do not properly lead His sheep!
Jehovah God is our Head Shepherd but in order to save His sheep, He had to become a Lamb!
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
We were introduced to this "Lamb of God" in a recent lesson:
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
We should also remember the words of Abraham to Isaac:
Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
That sacrificial Lamb, was The Lord Jesus Christ!
But we should always remember something else about Jesus?
Jesus the "Carpenter" was the builder of the entire Cosmos.
But most important, this Jesus this "son of the virgin Mary" was Jesus Christ the Son of God!
Jesus Himself said:
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
But Jesus also said these words:
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
James had this to say:
Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
The voice of Jesus, is the Word of God and if we are not obedient to God's Word then we have not listened to Our Shepherd!
It was the True Shepherd that began to teach this great multitude!
*****Mar 6:35 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:
Mar 6:36 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.
These people that had followed Jesus had not given any thought that Jesus might need some rest.
These people that followed Jesus had not given any thought that the chosen 12 disciples might need some rest.
In fact this great multitude that had followed Jesus had not even thought to pack a lunch and Jesus had intentionally led the disciples to a desert place where there were no towns or villages very close by.
We can see that a desert place is a place where there is very little or no life.
And, these people had no purpose!
The one thing they all had in common was that were all poor and they were all hungry!
But, we have a generous Savior, willing to bless all those that follow Him under any conditions!
The Lord will provide all things but we must be just as willing to receive His "Gifts"!
*****Mar 6:37 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?
Mar 6:38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
Philip responded that Judas had only 200 pennyworth in the bag where the money was kept.
Joh 6:7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
This was not enough money to buy a small quantity of perfume:
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
And it was certainly not enough money to satisfy the hunger of this great multitude!
So Jesus asked if their were any food available.
Thank God for moms!
There was one mother who had taken the time to prepare her son a lunch.
As I write today, my mom is not expected to live more than a few days, but she was like this mom!
Joh 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
The 12 disciples would have allowed this multitude of people just to leave hungry and thus unfulfilled but Jesus would not do this.
There is also another lesson our churches need to learn.
If there is not enough "Faith" in the Church, that God will provide, then the multitudes will drift away in search of fulfillment and Satan will take advantage of this!
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
*****Mar 6:39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
Mar 6:40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
Was this count important to the Lord?
Only if we consider that He wanted us to know how many were fed this day!
Our God is a God of order!
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
It would be impossible to have fed this multitude if God's servants could not pass amongst them!
But what is impossible for man is not even a simple challenge for the Lord!
Can The Lord feed such a multitude as this?
Psa 78:19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
There had been many miracles of healing every known disease.
There had been miracles showing The Lord's power over nature.
There had even been those that were raised from the dead.
Jesus had already performed many miracles but this miracle would be a miracle of "creation"!
This mighty work of the Lord was the only one that is included in all four of the "Gospels"!
God had spoke our world into existence and He would now speak to Our Father in Heaven and these people would be fed.
And Jesus knew what He was about to do!
Joh 6:6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
*****Mar 6:41 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.
Mar 6:42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
Mar 6:43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
Mar 6:44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
See if we can get this picture.
A young lad trusted the Lord Jesus enough to give Him all the food he had.
Jesus looked up into Heaven.
Jesus blessed this meager meal.
Jesus brake these 5 small loaves but we know they did not diminish.
Jesus brake the two fishes but they fed them all.
As the disciples set a basket before the Lord it was filled and this continued until much more than 5000 were fed.
They were not just given a meal!
They were given a meal that was much as they could hold!
These people were hungry!
These people were filled!
And, from 5 loaves of barley and 2 small sardines, there remained 12 baskets of fragments.
The blood scared hands of Jesus, can still deliver much more than we need with some leftover for those that have not yet come to the knowledge of Christ.
Jesus Christ is the "Bread of Life".
Jesus Christ gives of Himself, that we be nourished.
Jesus Christ gives more than we need so we can show others "His Mercy" and "His Grace".
There is great satisfaction in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord!
Psa 145:16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
*****Mar 6:45 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.
The disciples were unwilling to leave Jesus alone with this great multitude but as always, The Lord can convince us the right things to do if we just listen to His Words!
God's "Will", will be done!
The Apostle John gives us a better description of what took place:
Joh 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Joh 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
There were some of those that had seen the miracle that realized the Jesus was indeed that Prophet that was to be likened unto Moses.
Moses had prayed for the "Manna" that had fed the children of Israel in their escape from Egypt.
This "Manna" had fulfilled God's purpose by preserving God's people in the wilderness for 40 years but it was gathered day by day.
But there was a "hidden Manna" that the Jew did not know and have not found even today.
Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
These men realized that only a prophet such as Moses could have brought this bread from Heaven this day.
They looked around at the 5000 men that Jesus had fed and they saw a 5000 men standing army that would have followed Jesus anywhere.
They "saw escape" from the tyranny of Rome and the Rome appointed rulers of Israel.
Christ Jesus knew what was in these men's hearts and He did not want the 12 He had chosen to start the Church, to get caught up in these things.
It was not time for Jesus to be King.!
This would only come after the "Rapture" of the Church!
1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
This will happen at the "Second Coming" of Our Lord:
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
So Jesus sent these people away and He felt the need to pray for them!
*****Mar 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Did Jesus pray for Himself? No
Jesus prayed for the lost, that they might come to believe on Him!
Jesus prayed for the saved, because He is Our Mediator!
Jesus could have prayed anywhere but He went up on a the mountain!
Though He knew what was going to happen to the 12 disciples, He went up onto the mountain so He could see with His human eyes.
Prayer is the pouring out of the "soul" before God!
Prayer is the drawing nearer to God!
Prayer is the "faith" that there is someone (God) who can do something about our problems!
And "Prayer" must be sincere!
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
BUT, "Prayer" must be offered in true "Faith"!
*****Mar 6:48 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.
Mar 6:49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
Mar 6:50 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.
Even while Jesus was praying for the lost, His mind was also on His disciples.
Jesus was on that mountain top but even through the darkness He could see them!
We should be getting a picture of God's Church and the struggles that will happen in this evil world!
Most of our struggles are within our own selves!
Christ has given us a commandment to be like Him, but we are addicted to our own will and this brings with it failure!
Paul wrote:
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
We should picture ourselves in this little fishing boat struggling with all our might against against the dark and stormy evil of this world.
We sometimes doubt and even forget God's Grace, His promise of Eternal Life, and even the Power Of God, and this burdens our soul.
These things rob of of our joy and our peace that God wants us to have!
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
God did not promise us an easy road after salvation, we will toiling while we are rowing in this sea of evil we call Earth.
BUT, God did promise that He would be with us every step of the way!
AND, you see God is watching over us all the time!
If it is getting dark and Jesus has not arrived, we must realize that He may have paused along the way to pray for us!
And if we look hard enough, we may see Jesus coming to stop the storm!
God has promised He will never forsake us for any reason after our name is written in the Lamb's Book Of Life!
Just as these disciples did not understand why Jesus was not with them at this time, we may not understand many of the things we are going through!
We should realize that for every good day, there will be some stormy nights and the darkness of the sin in this world, will magnify our fears.
We must know that we are not alone, every Christian will travel this same path, some more than others:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
All these things are God's training ground to make us better prepared for His purpose for each and every one of us:
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
There is no force of Nature and no power of man that can come between us and Christ that He cannot, and will not overcome!
Walking on water to the Lord is the same as walking on pavement to us.
Notice that Our Lord never explains His absence, He just says, "It is I, be not afraid" because He knows we have these fears!
When the Lord speaks things happen!
*****Mar 6:51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
Before Jesus went into the ship there was one more thing that happened that Mark does not mention.
Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
When we add this incident to all these other things we can see why these disciples were so amazed and also another reason their hearts were hardened.
Peter wanted to do the thing that Christ Jesus was doing.
And this impulse of Peter was not some kind of test the Lord Jesus was performing with Peter.
This impulsive act of Peter could have led to his death if not for the Lord Jesus.
Man was never made to walk on water!
If our "faith" is strong enough, there is no sea that is too rough for us to travel.
BUT, It takes a special "faith" to do the things where no human power on this earth can help!
You see, it was not the water that was supporting Peter for that was impossible. It was his "faith"!
We must always be very careful not to try to prove the power of the Lord!
There was no real reason for Peter to walk to the Lord, but the Lord will use our own mistakes did to train us as He did here with Peter!
Peter was corrected by a merciful God!
Peter was allowed to test his own "faith" and then the Lord exposed his error.
"O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt"
I believe Peter got out of the boat for the wrong reasons!
They were so amazed in themselves, they did not know how to express what they had just witnessed!
I believe the other disciples hearts hardened because of this impulse of Peter to go to the Lord but most of all because he failed and this showed the weakness that they all had.
*****Mar 6:52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
It had only been a few hours since Jesus had proved that He was the "Creator" when He had fed many more than 5000 people by making the bread that was eaten out of thin air.
Remember there were 12 baskets of leftovers!
The Lord had not used those 5 loaves nor those 2 fishes!
These 12 were eye witnesses to this great miracle!
This had to be a wonderful time in the lives of these men but Jesus still said, "why do you have these doubts'?
*****Mar 6:53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
The Apostle John said while these things were on there mind, the ship just landed on shore.
Joh 6:21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
The "Navigator" was back on board.
Gennesaret was on the western shore of Galilee and does not exist today.
This was the same area that was named after the Hebrew name for the Sea of Galilee which was Chinnereth:
Num 34:11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the [sea of Chinnereth] eastward:
In the Greek is was called the Lake of Gennesaret.
Luk 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
And, This is the same sea that politicians had renamed the Sea of Tiberius.
Joh 6:1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.
*****Mar 6:54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
Mar 6:55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
It did not take long for these people to realize that Jesus of Nazareth was in town!
And again prophesy is fulfilled:
Psa 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
A day before Jesus had fed more than 5000 and no matter where Jesus appeared, great crowds would gather and the greater the size of these crowds, the more attention to Jesus came from the elders, the government, and religious system.
And they came from far and wide.
*****Mar 6:56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
They were from the villages.
They were from the cities.
They were from the country.
They were from all walks of life!
It did not matter where Jesus showed up except, for His home of Nazareth, He was able to some good.
These people had no doubt that Christ Jesus had the power to heal!
Again the garment they were seeking to touch was the fringes of the prayer shawl that Jesus wore.
Each and every Pastor would be overwhelmed with the results that Jesus had obtained!
He drew enormous crowds!
He was popular with all walks of life of the people!
He had unfailing results!
Jesus was becoming famous!
For at the touch of Jesus:
Blinded eyes can see
Broken hearts are mended
Captives are set free
When He speaks,
The mountains move at His command
At the touch of Jesus
Fallen lives can stand
Questions?
Let's Pray!
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