Today’s passage: Mark 6:30-44
Helpful thoughts:
- After a time of hard work in ministry, Jesus told His disciples to rest.
- Even in a time where rest was needed, the shepherd’s heart saw the need and served the people. We need a compassionate savior and shepherd. Jesus shows His compassion.
- Jesus miraculously multiplied five loaves and two small fish to feed a crowd of over 5,000 people.
- The disciples’ question about 200 denarii of bread was rhetorical. They likely wouldn’t have had that much money on them. They were pointing out how expensive it would be (Beyond their means) to feed such a large crowd.
- This task was beyond the disciples’ means, but not beyond God’s.
Questions to consider:
- What can we learn from Jesus’ encouragement to pursue rest? When was it time to rest? Did the desire to rest prevent them from serving others? Is it always going to look perfect and orderly? What extremes can people go to in order to find “rest?”
- In what ways was this miracle similar to the daily manna that Israel received from the Lord in the wilderness during the exodus? What could people have been learning about Jesus through this miracle?
- How had Jesus been “feeding” the people prior to giving them food? In what ways do we need to be fed? Why can it be difficult to have a proper balance discerning the needs of people to whom we minister as a church? What kind of feeding to people need most? What kind of feeding to people sometimes want most? How can feeding be helpful? How could it be harmful?