Mark 6:30-44: The Amazing Power and Compassion of Jesus

The Amazing Power and Compassion of Jesus

Text: Mark 6:30-44 | November 10, 2019

Other than the resurrection of Jesus, this is the only miracle recorded by all four gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This miracle—the feeding of the five thousand—is familiar to many, but the title is somewhat misleading. Jesus fed far more than 5,000 people. Matthew 14:21 tells us that there were 5,000 men, besides women and children.

In this account we see both the amazing power and compassion of Jesus on display. He created just enough food for the massive crowd. The fact that He created food out of nothing is amazing, but even more amazing is He created just enough. After everyone ate and were satisfied (6:42), they picked up 12 full baskets of bread and fish (6:43). The 12 disciples would each get a basket of food. This display of supernatural power points to the only conclusion: Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.

He shows His compassion for the crowd in two ways: spiritual and physical. He satisfied their physical needs by healing them (Luke 9:11, Matthew 14:14) and feeding them. However, the physical need is secondary to the spiritual need of salvation. He saw that they were like “sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34), and He began to teach them many things.

For the entirety of the lesson, please see the attached manuscript of the message.

Questions:

1. What was the response of the crowd after He had performed this miracle? Read John 6:14-15.
2. Why did Jesus ask Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” (John 6:5) Read John 6:6.

Answers:

1. They said that He was a the “Prophet who is come into the world” (John 6:14). They didn’t acknowledge that He is the Son of God. They wanted to make Him their king (John 6:15), perhaps with the intention of creating a welfare state with a king who could heal and create free food. We see that they showed up again the next morning, wanting free food (John 6:26), but Jesus would not feed them.
2. Jesus said that to test His disciples (John 6:5). Jesus was not without a solution; He knew what He was going to do. He was testing the faith of His disciples. Having spent some time with Jesus and seen many miracles, what is the level of their faith? Furthermore, they themselves were given power to heal, cast out demons, and raise the dead (Matthew 10:8).