(Read Mk. 6:32-56)
Introduction: As Jesus and His disciples departed "by
ship" for a place where they could receive some "leisure" time, the people
saw them and perceived where they were going and went where they were going. When
Jesus came out, He saw the large group of people and had compassion on them. (6:32-34). He
saw them "as sheep without a shepherd" and He began to teach them. Near the end
of the day, His disciples came and told Him
that this was a desert place, evidently having no place for them to get food, so they
suggested that He send them away so they could go purchase food. (V. 35--36). Jesus
directed the disciples to "Give ye them to eat." They responded by saying that
it would take a lot of money to buy food for all of them. He asked "how many
loaves" they had. When they calculated all they had it was Five loves and two fishes
Vs. 37-38). He commanded them to "all sit down" on the green grass, in ranks of
hundreds and fifties. He took the five loaves and two fishes, looked to heaven and
"blessed, and break the loaves" and the two fishes, divided he among them all.
Amazing: "They did
al eat, and were filled." They took up "twelve baskets full of the
fragments, and of the fish. There were about five thousand men. What a miracle (vs.
38-44)! Jesus ordered the disciples to get in a ship and go to the other side,
while He sent the people away, and then He went into a "mountain to pray (Vs. 45-46).
When He returned to the sea, He saw the ship in the midst of the sea, toiling and rowing
against the wind. He came to them walking on
the water, in the "fourth watch of the night." (Vs. 47-51). They were afraid,
when they first saw Him, thinking they were seeing a spirit, being troubled. However, He
entered the ship and told them Not to be afraid, for it was indeed Him and they could be
of "good cheer." The "wind ceased," and again the disciples were
amazed: we are told "they considered not the miracles of the loaves." We are
told "for their hearts were hardened." When they reached the shore in the
"land of Gennesaret, people recognized Him and began to gather up all the sick and
bring them to Him, so that they might touch Him, believing that they could be healed by
just touching Him. They were! We are told, "as many as touched Him were made
whole." What power! Should anyone read this and believed that it happened, yet fail
to see the power and right of this one to speak the message from heaven?
Questions:
1. Why had Jesus sent the disciple away to a desert place (Mk. 6:31)?
2. How did the disciple and Jesus depart for the place they were going?
3. When they arrived at the place, what did Jesus find when He came out of the ship?
4. What kind of view did Jesus have of the people and how did He view them (6:34)?
5. Near the end of the day, what did the disciples ask Jesus to do with the people and
why?
6. How much food did the discover they had?
7. What did Jesus tell the disciples to do, and what happened (6:37-44)?
8. What were the disciple required to do after the feeding and what happened (6:45-52)?
9. What had the disciples failed to consider and why (6:52)
10. What conditions did they find when they landed in Gennesaret and what happened (Vs.
53-56)