Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPxNUWgalko&t=18s
5000 pt. 1
Mark / Mark 6:30–34
The Compassion of Christ on the people was driven by an Active Love for them.
Theme of Mark in Mark 10:45
Mark 10:45 NKJV
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
2 by 2: True Witnesses for Christ - What Christ gave to the Apostles to do – isn’t always exclusive to them. All Christians have a responsibility to be witnesses for Christ. (Mark 6:7-13) 17-Mar-2019
Promises Promises! - A significant part of our Christian witness is how we conduct ourselves in the world – do we keep our promises, or does our witness do damage to the honor of God? (Mark 6:14-29) 3-Apr-2019
Today we will begin to look at one of only two miracles in the whole of Scripture with a fourfold witness. Jesus’ own Resurrection (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20), arguably the greatest miracle of them all; and the feeding of the 5000. Since there are 4 distinct accounts we will be examining the miracle at least twice and possibly a third time, should the Spirit direct me.
The verses we’ll be considering are what I am calling the preamble - the first 4 verses. The Compassion of Christ on the people was driven by an active love for them. (Thesis) If I were to give our message a key verse it would be verse 34.
Dealing with the text
Mark 6:30–34 (Matt. 14:13-14; Luke 9:10–11, John 6:1-4)
Mark 6:30–34 NKJV
30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
1 Number of words in the Greek - Mark 115, John 71, Matt 61, and Luke 58! Again - against all odds Mark has the most to say!
2 Unique information from Matthew - We are told that Johns’ death was at least one of the reasons for Jesus desire to get away from the crowds for awhile (Matt. 14:13) We also see a distinction in Matthews’ account - Jesus alone is being spoken of -
Matthew 14:13 NKJV
13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
This may appear to be a contradiction - It is not as we shall see.
3 Unique information from Luke - He tells us in Luke 9:10-11,
Luke 9:10–11 NKJV
10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
Two Contradictions? Resolving the where & how...
A) Where indeed did they go?
The reason this is a difficulty is that in Mark 6:45 we read that,
Mark 6:45 NKJV
45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.
There were two places in Israel, not far from each other, called Bethsaida. One of these was a city of Galilee, situated on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, a short distance north of Capernaum. It was the birthplace of the Apostles Peter, Andrew. and Philip. The Saviour often visited it. (Matt. 11:21-23; Mark 6:45-53.)
The other Bethsaida was a city in Gaulonitis, north of the same lake, and east of the Jordan. It was originally a fishing village, but was enlarged by " Philip, tetrarch of Iturasa and of the region of Trachonitis," and named Julias, in honor of Julia, the daughter of Augustus. It was "in a desert place," near this Bethsaida - probably on the hillside at the south-eastern angle of the little plain - that our Lord fed the 5000. (Luke 9:10-17.) - Ancient Geography (https://www.bible-history.com/links.php?cat=40&sub=523&cat_name=Bible+Cities&subcat_name=Bethsaida)
B) How did they go?
The purpose of this question is to acknowledge and deal with Matthews account and Marks account of the same event.
The answer to this dilemma is that Jesus went to the place separately from his apostles. I especially like the way the Lexham translation words the verses 31-32:
The Lexham English Bible Chapter 6
31 And he said to them, “You yourselves come privately to an isolated place and rest for a short time.” For those who were coming and going were many, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to an isolated place by themselves.
This also agrees to his practice - as we see in Mark 6:45 just referred to, Jesus didn’t always travel with his apostles.
The crowd arrived first, it appears that Christ arrived next, and then the Apostles.
Reasons for the getting away (4):
1 While one reason Jesus wanted to get to a private place was to grieve John, 2 another was to get away from the people! 3 To rest awhile 4 There was no time to eat!
• The feeding of the 5000 was the first of two great feedings, the other is known as the feeding of the 4000 and attested by Mark and Matthew. In the near future we’ll consider what the miracles tell us - but today we want to look at the Savior’s actions and motives leading up to this great miracle.
The Theology derived from Christ’s actions and instruction
The Compassion of Christ is seen in his active love for people.
KEY VERSE - And getting out of the boat he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
Even though he was weary, grieving, and desired both food and rest, Jesus was more interested in the large crowd.
He saw them - How often do you and I miss a ministry opportunity because we are not looking?!
Not only did he see them - He had compassion on them. This is to say he was deeply moved with pity on them.
because - this indicates that which drove his compassion - he saw them as sheep with no shepherd.
Do you see those around you as needy people? Jesus did. We tend to look at those around us a nuisances, problems to be dealt with - work.
How does this inform our interpretation of Jesus’ actions? Only a love for them could have caused such a response. Think about it -
When your child needs something - though you be weary, worn out and needy yourself - you respond to him or her; Love covers a multitude of sins and I tell you it helps us overlook the work involved when we are called upon.
When a dear friend who has carried burdens for you has a need how do you respond? Even though it is inconvenient or difficult the love they once showed to you resonates and you bear for them. That’s love in action!
When your elderly parent needs care - don’t you and your siblings seek to take action? Even though the elderly can be irascible - this one you bear with - due to love!
Listen to the NT speak of such things:
1 Cor. 13:3 (Without love - all is a waste!)
1 Corinthians 13:3 NKJV
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Gal 5:6 (Faith working in Love)
Galatians 5:6 NKJV
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
1 Cor 12:25 (Members should care for one another)
1 Corinthians 12:25 NKJV
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
Phil 4:6 (Be anxious for nothing)
Philippians 4:6 NKJV
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
In other words we need to get our eyes off ourselves and on others!
Jesus barely had any time to grieve for John and he was back at it - looking to the needs of the sheep.
This tells us at least 2 things - Jesus cares for you, and we should each care for one another - even if it interferes with our quiet time.
Jesus’ particular response to their need of a shepherd - He taught them many things - specifically about the Kingdom.
He specifically met their need of a shepherd by being a shepherd to them.
The lesson for us is that we should not only look to the needs of others, but we should actively seek to do that which is in our power to relieve their need.
This is so simple I hardly need to illustrate it - a child falls down and scrapes his knee - you clean the wound and bandage it.
We see Jesus teaching on this exact point in Matt 7:9-11
Matthew 7:9–11 NKJV
9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
It is in meeting their needs that we demonstrate love to them. Even us evil ones can do this!
› How do we balance the needs of our loved ones with the needs we have of getting away for a revitalized walk?
The answer to this is exactly what Jesus does! When we look to the needs of others often we are strengthened by that spiritual work.
Consider another time when Christ set aside his earthly need for the Spiritual need of another - John 4:5-6, John 4:31–38
John 4:5–6 NKJV
5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Then we have the familiar dialog with the Samaritan woman.
John 4:31–38 NKJV
31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
Do you see Christ instructing his disciples to see the people of Sychar as fields white to harvest? This is big! They were to consider these lost people as great blessings to their spiritual life.
Have you ever explained the gospel to someone? Sometimes it is hard work - but there are times where the seed was planted by others and it is harvest time! Whether the work is breaking up hard ground or watering along the way we know that the Word of God is never empty of it’s power. Spread that seed! Water it! Look to the fields - they may be white to harvest!
Objections
a. I’m still weak, how can I do anything to help someone else when they are in distress? Shouldn’t I wait until I have had time to prepare - or rest - or at least pray?
This objection presumes that it is our strength which is so much necessary to the task at hand.
Don’t get me wrong - we ought always to pray (Luke 18:1) - and our whole life should be a symphony of God working in our lives. We ought to be always ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us (1 Pet. 3:15)
b. What about the account of Mary & Martha? Doesn’t this prove we should be preparing more than being busy? Let’s look at it then, Luke 10:40-42,
Luke 10:40–42 NKJV
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
This account is not at all an objection to acting in love meeting the needs of those around you, even despite your readiness. Remember our thesis: The Compassion of Christ on people was driven by an active love for them. Martha surely loved the Lord, and Mary also did. But being busy for preparations sake is not the same as meeting a specific need someone you love has.
When Jesus saw that crowd he did not start looking for the apostles to set them to various tasks to remedy the needs of the people. He did not himself even look around for bread or fish.
What he did was see them as sheep without a shepherd. This is the key.
Conclusion - Truths to hold
• In the midst of the busyness of life/ministry - we all need to come away and rest - People were coming and going and they did not even have time to eat.
• Jesus even went aside himself - Even though he sent the Apostles off by themselves - Jesus also went to a desolate place. Grief requires a setting of oneself aside.
• We should have quiet time with the Lord, to pray and read Scripture.
• Even though we have probably all hear this - If the Son of God needed to get away - so do we.
Though this is true - it is only one part of the equation.
The Compassion of Christ on people was driven by an active love for them.
There can be a revitalizing aspect to engaging people were they are. When we take our eyes off ourselves, we are reminded that it is God who works in us to will and do his good pleasure(Phil 2:13).
We need to be ready to let go of our plans at times and meet the needs of those around us. We need to see people with Spiritual eyes.
While you are preparing in your day by day lives - reading your Bibles, praying, and devoting time to love your Lord, do not forget those whom the Lord loves! We do not pray and read and devote time to the Lord for ourselves only. It is to glorify Him and also to do the work he sets before us - whether the time is opportune or not.
I have had to deal with this personally over the years. I zealously guard my devotional time - sometimes to the point of making it a rule to my day. And yet if I had not looked to the harvest field of my Father or my son, I would not have had some of my most profitable discussions with them.
Finally our Lord does not leave his children without help! A precious reminder is Matthew 11:28–29
Matthew 11:28–29 NKJV
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
• Who are the sheep without a shepherd in your life?
• Who are those who need a word of encouragement?
• Are you willing to set aside your own personal needs for the needs of those around you?
• Do you look on those around you with love & compassion - or are they irritations to your pride filled spiritual hearts? Don’t be pharisees! Love the unlovable!
• Realize that some of those misguided sheep only need to be reminded of the Kingdom. They may only need a good work of encouragement that God is on the throne and He does indeed care for them. He demonstrated his love for us in Christ dying for the lost.
• Be willing to die to yourself that another may live to Christ!
The Compassion of Christ on people is driven by an active love for them. Love those in the world - that they may see Christ in you.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 3:39 PM February 20, 2020.
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