A "HUGE" DINNER PARTY

MARK 6: 30-34

Mark 6:6-13

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. [7] Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. [8] These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff---no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. [9] Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. [10] Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. [11] And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” [12] They went out and preached that people should repent. [13] They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Mark 6:30-31

[30] The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. [31] Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Ÿ Jesus had given the disciples instructions on what to do.

Ÿ So, they followed those instructions.

Ÿ They were very busy and traveled a lot! Miles traveled on foot.

Ÿ Some down time)was in order. Finally!! Rest.

Ÿ Was this a set-up?

Mark 6:32-34

[32] So they went away by themselves in a boat 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. So he began teaching them many things.

Ÿ All of us like sheep, have gone astray and gone our own way. Isaiah 53:6.

Ÿ What about the "rest" of the story?

Ÿ This is a great example of the compassion ofJesus.

Ÿ But also a great example of the importance of getting the message of salvation out.

Mark 6:35-37

[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 .” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

REF: Paul speaking.

Philippians 4:12-13

[12] I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. [13] I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Ÿ Will He provide all we need?

Ÿ They went to get away to a remote / solitary place.

Ÿ But the people knew where they were going and beat them there.

Ÿ During a "break" in the teaching, the disciples (worn out and hungry) made a very good point.

Ÿ The problem was the first comment to Jesus was, "send them away". And they had a great reason. It was late in the day. After all, they are hungry and need food.

Ÿ Now the real lesson for the disciples as well as the people! Jesus just keeps on teaching!!! About real life situations.

Man will not live by bread (food) alone, but by every word that comes from God. Mathew 4:4.

Ÿ He gives a response that only God can give.

Ÿ Well, then you give them food!!!

Ÿ They didn't ask God to provide. They used human reasoning instead.

Ÿ Basically stating the obvious. We don't have any money.

Ÿ Remember. His instructions to the disciples? NO money.

Ÿ We know that Jesus could do anything he wanted. He could go for weeks without food. But what about the disciples?

Ÿ Does God / Jesus ask us to do the impossible?

Ÿ Not by ourselves!

Ÿ He has given us everything we need. 2 Peter 1:3

Mark 6:38-44

[38] “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish .” [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. 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.

Ÿ John 6:8 A small boy in the crowd had a basket containing 5 loaves of bread and two fish.

Ÿ Groups of 50 to hundreds.

Ÿ Jesus gave a very valuable lesson next.

Ÿ He prayed and "gave thanks". Thanks NOT for what they had, but for what they didn't have.

Ÿ He prayed with faith to receive what was needed.

Ÿ The whole crowd was fed. They ate enough to be fully satisfied.

Ÿ With 12 baskets left over.

Ÿ More than enough!!!

Disciples needed some schooling and enforcement.

Mark 6:45-50

[45] Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. [46] After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. [47] Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. [48] He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, [49] but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, [50] because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid .” [51] Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, [52] for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Ÿ Why did Jesus make them go immediately?

Ÿ Did they get any "rest"???

Ÿ Was Jesus able to "read" the disciples minds and hearts?

Ÿ Was he frustrated with their lack of understanding?

Ÿ He needed to be ALONE to pray.

Ÿ The disciples were doing as Jesus instructed and were on the lake headed to Bethsaida.

Ÿ The wind had picked up (for some unknown reason) and they were struggling. They were in danger of capsizing!

Ÿ Why was He about to pass them by?

Ÿ This same account in Mathew 14: 28-33

Ÿ What other person also walked on water?

Ÿ Why did it take this event for the disciples to finally admit that Jesus truly is the SON OF GOD?

Ÿ Why didn't they do as Jesus did, and pray for what they needed.

Ÿ What happened when they / Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat? PEACE / CALM

Mark 6:53-56

[53] When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. [54] As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. [55] They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. [56] And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Ÿ Jesus continues his ministry.

Well, what can we take away from these passages of scripture?

Ÿ Jesus is God.

Ÿ Only Jesus can supply what we need.

Ÿ Jesus can do ANYTHING!!!

Ÿ He has a plan and will carry it out.

Ÿ We need to understand that he will reward our faith and faithfulness.