Introduction:
A. How many of you have ever fed 5000 men, plus women and children with only five loaves and two fish? Anyone?
1. Well, our Camp Hunt cooking staffs have come pretty close, especially in those early years when we had a shoe-string budget and got by on government surplus commodities, like peanut butter, mystery meat, and prunes.
2. Yes, I think it created some septic system issues.
B. How many of you have ever walked on the water? And not when you know where the stumps are.
1. Did you know that there is an animal called the Jesus lizard that can walk on the water?
a. Actually, it runs across the water.
2. Wasn’t the Looney Tune Road Runner cartoon character able to run across the water?
3. Believe it or not, I once walked on the water – well, actually, I water skied barefoot.
a. It was a lot of fun, until I decided I wanted to end my fun.
b. The guys I was with had taught me how to get going, but hadn’t taught me how to stop.
c. I had water skied before, so I assumed you just let go of the rope when you are done.
d. I was wrong. Do you know what happens when you are barefooting along at 40 MPH and you let go of the rope? You immediately faceplant on the surface of the water.
e. It’s like belly flopping at 40 MPH – not good! I thought I had broken my face!
C. As you know, feeding 5000+ with five loaves and two fish, and walking on the water are things that only God can do.
1. Today in our study of the Gospel of Mark, we will see that Jesus did both of those things.
2. Mark continues to answer the question: “Who Is Jesus?” by showing us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who can miraculously provide food for His hungry sheep, and Jesus is the Powerful Shepherd who can walk across stormy waters to rescue His needy sheep and calm their storm by simply stepping into the boat.
I. Jesus is The Good Shepherd Who Feeds His Flock (Mk. 6:30-44)
A. Mark wrote: 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, 33 but many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. (Mk. 6:30-33)
1. We notice that these verses are transitional and take us back to the mission of the apostles, which began before the information about the execution of John the Baptizer.
2. The apostles had been sent out the first time and had now returned from their mission.
3. Interestingly enough, this is the only time in the Gospel of Mark that the 12 are called apostles.
a. Jesus had many disciples, but only had 12 apostles, until the addition of Judas’ replacement and Paul.
4. Mark doesn’t tell us how long they were on their mission, but it probably lasted weeks if not months.
5. And although their preaching excursion had been exciting, it must have also been exhausting.
a. In addition to the positive experiences of teaching and healing, Matthew tells us that they had experienced persecution and rejection (Mt. 10:16-23).
b. Being the Good Shepherd, Jesus recognized that they needed some rest and recuperation.
c. Vance Havner the evangelist of old said, “If you don’t come apart, you will come apart.”
6. But getting the opportunity to rest and recuperate would prove to be difficult.
a. Mark tells us that so many people were coming and going that they didn’t even have time to eat.
b. So, Jesus had them get into a boat to try to get away from the crowd, but the crowd followed them on shore and arrived where they were going ahead of them.
c. On a calm day, the crowd could walk around the Sea of Galilee in less time than the sea could be crossed by boat.
d. At least they got a short break from the crowd while they were in the boat. Right?
7. Have you ever tried to get a little alone time, but just couldn’t get away from others?
a. Maybe it was your siblings who you couldn’t escape from when you were young.
b. Or may as a parent, it was your kids who you just needed a few minutes away from.
c. An ordinary person might get frustrated and resent this intrusion of people on their privacy, but Jesus looked on the crowds with love and compassion, as sheep without a shepherd.
B. Mark wrote: 34 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things. (Mk. 6:34)
1. So, their attempt to escape the crowds was unsuccessful.
2. Jesus could have just stayed in the boat and kept going to a different place, or Jesus could have gotten out of the boat and ignored the people, but he didn’t do either of those things.
3. Mark tells us that Jesus had compassion on the people – this is the emotion most used in the Gospels to describe how Jesus felt toward people.
a. Jesus had a sincere and deep compassion for the needs of people whom He saw as sheep who needed a shepherd.
b. Sheep are not the smartest of animals and they are pretty defenseless, too.
4. Seeing their great need, Jesus could not resist the opportunity to teach them many things.
5. Teaching them many things probably took a long time, and Jesus’ disciples became concerned.
C. Mark wrote: 35 When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late. 36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.” 37 “You give them something to eat,” he responded. They said to him, “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” (Mk. 6:35-37)
1. So, as the day passed, His disciples expressed their concern that this was a secluded place and it was quite late.
2. From a human perspective, the disciples’ concerns were quite reasonable: this is a huge crowd, this is a remote and unpopulated area where food is not readily available.
3. Aware of the people’s hunger and probably being hungry themselves, the disciples suggested that Jesus dismiss the crowd and let each person fend for themselves.
4. But Jesus had a different idea and said: “Here’s a better idea: You give them something to eat.”
5. Jesus’ words were meant to test the level of His disciples’ faith while forcing them to acknowledge that they had no human solution to the problem.
6. The disciples began to calculate how much bread would be needed and the cost (perhaps Matthew the tax collector primarily did the calculating) – they estimated 200 denari – about six months wages – but even if they had the money, where could they buy that much bread?
7. Isn’t it amazing that the possibility that Jesus could miraculously create and provide the necessary food never crossed their minds?
a. Had they forgotten how God provided food in the wilderness for 40 years for Israel?
b. Had they forgotten that they just returned from a mission where they were not allowed to take along provisions and yet God had provided for them?
8. Jesus probably allowed them to struggle with the problem among themselves for a few minutes before He asked them the next question.
D. Mark wrote: 38 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” (Mk. 6:38)
1. Jesus asked them to take inventory of the resources they had available, so they investigated.
2. They returned with dismal news: “Only five loaves and two fish.”
a. John tells us that it was Andrew who found a boy who had 5 loaves and 2 fish, so that means that among themselves they actually had nothing.
b. The five loaves were likely a pita-like flatbread or biscuit and the fish were small sardine-like fish, either dried or smoked.
c. Perhaps this boy had a good mother who had sent him off for the day with a lunch.
3. Why did Jesus want them to take this inventory? Probably to clarify just how great a miracle He was about to perform.
a. Skeptics often say that the real miracle was not Jesus’ provisions, but that everyone in the crowd had food and just shared it with each other.
b. But the disciples’ search for what was available showed that nobody really had much of anything with them.
4. It was time for Jesus to take over and do something that only God can do.
E. Mark wrote: 39 Then he instructed 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 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 Everyone ate and was satisfied. 43 They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men. (Mk. 6:39-44)
1. Don’t you love what God can do?!!!
2. Jesus’ instructions were logical and practical.
a. He had everyone sit down in groups of hundreds and fifties – this would make the distribution safer and more efficient.
b. They sat down in the green grass – a nice eye-witness detail – signifying it was late Spring – it is also a nice nod to Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
3. Jesus took the loaves and fish and looked to heaven – a posture of prayer – and blessed and broke the loaves.
a. Perhaps Jesus prayed the traditional Jewish meal blessing: Praise be to You, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who makes bread to come forth from all the earth and who provides for all that You have created.
4. So, without fanfare, Jesus kept on giving the food to the disciples who kept distributing it to the people.
a. Mark doesn’t attempt to describe how this miracle took place, but just that Jesus did it.
b. In the end, everyone ate and was satisfied, and nothing was wasted, because the disciples picked up 12 baskets full of pieces of bread and fish.
c. I think the point is that they ended up with more left over than they had started with.
5. Mark tells us the number of men who were in the crowd – 5000, which probably means the number of people fed could have been 10 or 15 thousand when the woman and children were included.
6. Mark doesn’t comment on the reaction of the crowd or the disciples, but I am sure everyone must have been amazed.
a. I can’t imagine how much food was necessary to feed a crowd that size, but it was no problem for Jesus.
7. John reported that the people were astonished by what they had seen and declared that Jesus was the Messiah and they wanted to make Him their king by force (Jn. 6:14-15).
8. Who is Jesus? He is the Good Shepherd who can provide all that His sheep need.
II. Jesus is The Good Shepherd Who Rescues His Flock (Mk. 6:45-52)
A. Mark wrote: 45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After he said good-bye to them, he went away to the mountain to pray. (Mk. 6:45-46)
1. It’s now the evening of a long day that started out with Jesus and His disciples needing rest, but couldn’t really find any because they crowd followed them.
2. Immediately following the miraculous feeding of the 5000, Jesus insisted that His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida.
a. Perhaps the disciples wanted to stay and enjoy the excitement of the moment and the Messianic fervor of the crowd, but Jesus didn’t want them to get caught up in that.
3. After Jesus got the disciples loaded and launched, He sent the crowd on their way, and somehow slipped away from them up on to the mountain to pray.
a. Dispersing a crowd of thousands who had a real reason to stay with Jesus must not have been an easy task, humanly speaking, but Jesus did it.
4. Even though Jesus was in constant communion with His Father, He also needed to spend time in solitude with His Father.
a. Perhaps Jesus needed this prayer time to stay focused on His real mission and not be influenced by the crowds.
b. Perhaps Jesus needed this prayer time to pray on behalf of His disciples, knowing what they were going to experience that night, and in the coming days, months and years.
B. Mark wrote: 47 Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. (Mk. 6:47-48a)
1. Meanwhile while Jesus was on the mountain praying, His disciples were in the boat and were in trouble.
2. The disciples’ two hour tour had turned into an all-night struggle.
a. The calm night had turned into a terrible head wind and they were straining at the oars and were not getting anywhere.
b. Back in chapter 4, the disciples experienced a similar storm on the Sea of Galilee, but Jesus had been in the boat with them that time, but this time they were by themselves.
3. What they didn’t know was that they weren’t all alone, because Jesus could see them and they were not outside of the reach of His divine assistance and rescue.
C. Mark wrote: Very early in the morning he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. 49 When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Mk. 6:48b-50)
1. Mark tells us it was very early in the morning when Jesus came to them (perhaps between 3 AM and 6 AM – the 4th watch of the night).
a. If they had left in the boat around 9 PM, then they had been rowing against the wind for between 6 and 9 hours!)
2. How did Jesus come to them? Walking on the water.
a. In the midst of the darkness and amidst the wind and waves, Jesus walked on the water.
b. The Creator of the wind and water walked on the surface of the water like it was pavement.
c. Physicists say that a human would have to run at 65 MPH to be able to do what the Jesus Lizard is able to do.
d. But Jesus wasn’t running that fast or running at all, He was simply walking along.
e. Job 9:8 says that God alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
f. Jesus was doing what only God can do.
3. When Mark says that Jesus wanted to pass by them or intended to pass by them, he might be saying that Jesus was trying to pass by in front of them to make Himself visible to them.
a. Kind of like the way that God passed by Moses and visibly showed Himself to Moses.
b. If Jesus didn’t want the disciples to see Him, He could have kept them from seeing Him.
c. Jesus wanted them to see Him and wanted them to realize He had come to rescue them.
4. In the darkness, the disciples couldn’t tell it was Jesus and obviously weren’t expecting Jesus, so they thought they were seeing a ghost.
a. Afterall, human beings can’t walk on the water, right?
b. A person’s imagination can really run wild when they are afraid. Isn’t that right?
5. But Jesus immediately relieved their fears and identified Himself saying, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
a. The phrase translated “it is I” could be translated “It is I AM.”
b. Who is Jesus? He is the “I AM” who walks on the water!
D. Mark ends the story: 51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. (Mk. 6:51-52)
1. Interestingly enough, Mark makes no mention of Peter walking on the water, which Matthew records at this point in Matthew’s Gospel.
2. If Mark’s Gospel really is the Gospel according to Peter, then the absence of Peter’s walk on the water is intriguing.
a. Was Peter embarrassed by the fact that he boldly stepped out of the boat, but then sank?
b. Or did Peter want the attention to be on what Jesus did and could do?
c. We can’t know for sure.
3. But the second Jesus got into the boat, the wind stopped immediately, and the disciples were completely astounded, but not in a positive sense.
4. Mark said: They were astounded because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.
5. These guys were so slow to get it and so slow to grow in faith.
6. After all they had seen, including the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, their confidence and trust in Jesus should have been great and ever present.
a. When they found themselves in trouble on the sea, their first thought should have been to call on Jesus for assistance, and expect that Jesus would come to their rescue.
b. They had seen Jesus do so much already, including exorcisms, healings, raising the dead, feeding the 5000, and calming the storm – they’ve seen Jesus do everything and anything.
c. So, where was their faith? Why were their hearts so hardened?
7. Thankfully, Jesus was patient with them and thankfully He is patent with us! Amen?
E. John tells us that when Jesus got into the boat, not only did the wind cease, but they immediately arrived at their destination (Jn. 6:21). (Kind of like that scary seen in the movie Willie Wonka)
1. Mark concluded the chapter: 53 When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized him. 55 They hurried throughout that region and began to carry the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch just the end of his robe. And everyone who touched it was healed. (Mk. 6:53-56)
2. Again, Jesus and the disciples have crossed back to another side of the Sea of Galilee.
3. Mark wants us to see how Jesus’ popularity and notoriety were growing.
a. People were recognizing Him and they wanted the blessings that Jesus offered.
b. People had heard what Jesus had done and they wanted to give Him a chance to do the same for them.
4. How wonderful it is that Jesus was willing to compassionately heal all who were brought to Him!
a. Jesus’ healing power had no limit and His loving-kindness had no boundaries.
b. Jesus personally and graciously cared for everyone who sought Him and His help.
Conclusion:
A. I hope and pray that all of us are growing in our faith in Jesus.
1. I hope we are getting a better picture of who He really is.
2. Are we clearly seeing that He is the Good Shepherd who feeds His sheep?
3. Are we clearly seeing that He is the Good Shepherd who rescues His sheep?
4. Are we grasping the fact that there is nothing that Jesus cannot do?
a. Does a group of five, ten or fifteen thousand people need to be fed? No problem for Jesus.
b. Does a group of disciples in the midst of a storm need to be rescued? No problem for Him.
B. These two episodes in the ministry of Jesus reveal so much about who Jesus is and why we can trust Him.
1. As Jesus spends time in prayer, we see the kind of spirituality we would expect the Messiah to have and we are compelled to follow His example.
2. As Jesus feeds the 5000 and rescues the disciples in the storm, we see the kind of omnipotent power that we would expect the Messiah to have.
3. When Jesus fed the 5000 and rescued the disciples and healed all the people at Gennesaret, we see the kind of compassion and faithfulness that we would expect the Messiah to show.
4. Who, then, is Jesus? He is the One who has compassionate love, omnipotent ability, and absolute faithfulness.
5. We all need a friend, a Savior, and a Lord who possesses those attributes and they are found in Jesus, and in Jesus alone.
C. I hope and pray that our hearts are not too hard and that our memory is not too short.
1. God has already done so much for all of us, including allowing His Son to die for us while we were His enemies.
2. And after we became His children, God has done so much for us, things we are aware of and things we are unaware of.
3. When will we learn that God will never leave us or abandon us?
4. When will we learn that we don’t have to be afraid or we don’t have to worry because God loves and provides for His sheep?
5. When will we learn that Jesus is at God’s right hand interceding for us daily and saving us eternally?
D. I pray that all of us will be a sheep who follows Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
1. Are you His sheep? Is He your Shepherd? If not, then why not make that change today?
2. If you are His sheep and He is your Shepherd, then rest in His rescue, and rest in His protection, and rest in His provision.
Resources:
• Truth for Today Commentary: Mark 1-8 and 9-16, Martel Pace, Resources Communications.
• Who is Jesus? Sermon by David Owens
• The Shepherd Feeds His Flock, Sermon by Nate Shinn
• Walking on Water, Sermon by Nate Shinn
