Slices
Prepare
Perhaps you are preparing for a busy week. Take a moment to be quiet and still, and relax yourself. Know again that God is present.
Bible passage
Jesus feeds the five thousand
30 The apostles gathered round 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 recognised them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 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 that 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.’
They said to him, ‘That would take more than half a year’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.’
When they found out, they said, ‘Five – and two fish.’
39 Then Jesus told them to make all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 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 distribute to 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.
Explore
It has often been said that ‘Without God, we cannot; without us, God will not.’ God is the God of the miraculous, but usually he works in partnership with us to make the miraculous possible. Here the disciples are invited to cooperate with Jesus in something truly supernatural.
First he asks them to gather their resources. Although Mark makes no mention of the little boy who appears in John’s account (John 6:8,9), they return with five loaves and two fish. This of course is not nearly enough to feed the crowd. However, Jesus takes what they bring and blesses it.
Next he asks them to distribute both bread and fish to the hungry crowd. How did they feel at this point? Perhaps a little foolish, but they obey. To their amazement, there is enough for everyone.
Then, as if to help them appreciate and fully absorb the miraculous nature of what had happened, he asks them to gather the leftovers – 12 basketfuls (v 43)! What a hands-on learning experience in the supernatural provision of God. And each had a part to play. The key lesson is this: God invites us to work in partnership with him. He initiates, and we respond.
Respond
How is God calling you to trust him? What situations invite you to ask his help, and trust him for the outcome?
Deeper Bible study
‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry’.1 O Lord, please feed me today.
This passage follows the disciples’ first ministry experience (verse 30 harks back to verses 7–13). Jesus had previously outlined the disciples’ training programme: to proclaim the good news along with having the authority to cast out demons.2 In 6:7–13, the disciples have their first internship and now (v 30) they report to Jesus about the spectacular things they have done and taught. Before they get affected by their success or suffer fatigue, Jesus takes them aside (vs 31,32), knowing the importance of withdrawing from public view to spend time with God.3 Similarly, we should take time out from ministry, periodically, to rest and reflect.
Jesus’ attempt to be alone with his disciples was unsuccessful, because a large crowd was waiting for them when they arrived (v 33). Instead of being annoyed, however, Jesus has compassion, because he recognises that the crowd is a flock in need of a shepherd (v 34). Just as a shepherd leads his flock to the best meadows, so Jesus feeds the crowd with his teaching. Jesus acting as a Shepherd-Teacher has a rich basis in the Old Testament, where God is presented similarly.4
Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the crowd in a ‘remote place’ (v 35) should be viewed against the background of God feeding the Israelites in the wilderness. Rather than focusing on the spectacular, we should examine what the miracles show us about who Jesus is. This event reveals that, just as Jesus provides an abundance of physical nourishment, so he can provide spiritual nourishment. In today’s text, Jesus’ feeding of the crowd points back to his feeding them with his teaching (v 34). [Note the leftovers in verse 43; its significance will be revealed when we read the story of the Syrophoenician woman.]
Jesus is our compassionate Shepherd-Teacher. Consider how you can feast on his teaching.
1 John 6:35 2 Mark 3:13–15 3 See also Mark 1:35; 6:46; 14:35 4 Ps 23; Ezek 34
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Song of Songs 3,4; 1 Timothy 4
Pray for Scripture Union
Give thanks to God for inspiring our local church and mission partners to find creative and resourceful ways to keep in contact with the children and young people in their communities and to reassure them of God’s deep love for them.
