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Working With Jesus…But Not Understanding Him - Part 1 of 2 (Mark 6:7-56)

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd… Mark 6:34 (NIV)

Context:

We will look at the readings for Day 9 (Mark 6:7-44) and Day 10 (Mark 6:45-56) as two parts of the same section. The stories show the disciples beginning to work alongside Jesus. However, even after witnessing two of his most amazing miracles (the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water), the section concludes with their continued struggle to understand Jesus’ identity.

For today’s reading, we will need the biblical context provided by Ezekiel 34 to interpret the feeding of the 5,000. Note especially the text in bold.

Ezekiel 34:1-6, 11-15 (NIV)

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them…

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord."

Observation:

As you read today’s passage, notice how the story of John the Baptist’s death (Mark 6:14-29) “interrupts” Jesus’ sending out of the Twelve (Mark 6:7-13) and their return from ministry (Mark 6:30-31).

Then, the Twelve’s return runs straight into the next story: the feeding of the 5,000 (Mark 6:32-44). Take note of the following elements in Mark’s record of this miracle:

• Notice Jesus’ emotion towards the large crowd, even though he had been attempting to withdraw with the disciples (Mark 6:34)
• Follow the dialogue between Jesus and his disciples as they discuss what to do with the hungry crowd
• Observe the ways Jesus involves the disciples in this miracle (Mark 6:35-44)

Interpretation:

Mark intentionally “interrupts” the stories about the Twelve with the one about John the Baptist’s death. He wants his readers to consider how the central story sheds light on the stories it “interrupts.”

• What does reading these stories together communicate to Mark’s readers about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?

Reading the feeding of the 5,000 in light of Ezekiel 34 helps readers to recognize the significance of this miracle. Jesus is not simply providing a lot of food for a lot of people. He is revealing his divine identity: He is the Sovereign Lord and Good Shepherd, who promised to gather his sheep and to provide for them.

• Why do you think Jesus allowed the time he intended to rest with his disciples to be “interrupted" by the needs of the crowd?
• What does this story teach Mark’s readers about being a disciple of Jesus?

Application:

As his disciple, you also are invited to work with Jesus in accomplishing his mission on earth. This doesn’t necessarily mean you must serve as an overseas missionary! In what ways are you already partnering with Jesus and his mission? Do you sense him inviting you to take another step forward? What is it?