JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND

Passage: Mark 6:30-44

Key verse: 41

NIV

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(A)(B)

30 The apostles(C) gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.(D) 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat,(E) 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(F) to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized 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.(G) 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.”(H)

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[a]! 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.”(I)

39 Then Jesus directed them to have 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.(J) 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.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 6:37 Greek take two hundred denarii
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

30 (A)(B)The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and (C)they had no leisure even to eat. 32 (D)And they went away in (E)the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and (F)recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he (G)saw a great crowd, and (H)he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 (I)Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, (J)“You give them something to eat.” And (K)they said to him, (L)“Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, (M)“Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he (N)looked up to heaven and (O)said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 6:37 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

"Are we to go spend that much on bread?" The disciples were startled when Jesus told them to give the crowd something to eat. They were in a remote place. The intention was for the disciples to have a much needed retreat with Jesus after their mission trip. The disciples’ compassion had probably run out, and it felt like a sensible thing to send the crowd away so that they could attend to their own needs. Then the disciples could take a break.

However, Jesus guided them to understand what it meant to take care of God's flock. "You give them something to eat." Jesus told his disciples it was their responsibility to feed the crowd and then asked them to bring what they had. All they could gather was five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus gave thanks for the food and told the disciples to distribute food to the crowd. A crowd of five thousand men ate well with abundant leftovers.

We don't know how it happened. It was a miracle. When Jesus wanted to feed the crowd out of compassion, the disciples brought the little food they could find. As Jesus prayed with a thankful heart, God blessed them to have enough to feed everyone.

Prayer: Father, I often feel like I don't have enough to feed your flock. But I bring my five loaves and two fish. Please use it in your great work.

One Word: Bring my five loaves and two fish.