…and They All Ate and Were Satisfied...

Series: …and… | The Movement of God and his people through Mark
Title: …and they all ate and were satisfied
Text: Mark 6:30-44 (NIV)

Transcript

Mark’s Fast Pace And The Mission

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello, by the way. My name is Andrew Johnson. I'm really glad you're here. I actually was I was pacing on the side. I am so excited. So today might be a little fire hydrant-e. Um, sorry. So we are in Mark. Um, it is in the latter third of the Bible. If you have shown up and you do not have a Bible and you would like one, throw your hand up. Raise your hand. We have two very capable ushers who will make the trek up to you and either toss the Bible gently to you. Um, I've said within six rows they can throw. So, um, or they'll just pass it down to you. But please put your hand up if you would like a Bible. We want to make sure that you have one and that you can take that with you. It is our gift to you. Um, we are in the back third of the Bible in the book of Mark. We have been talking about how this book is about pace and it's speed, and it's, and Jesus does this, and the disciples this did this, and then they went there. And then immediately this happened, and there is this pace and this moving forward, but we don't want to get distracted by just the pace and and and we are supposed to see that the kingdom of God is advancing and it is taking ground and it is moving forward. Jesus and his movement and his people as a part of it are expanding. So we have been in Mark 6 for a few weeks. Out at the beginning of the book of Mark, Jesus sends his 12 disciples, right? The initial 12 disciples, he sends them out two by two to do ministry in neighboring villages and community. When I say ministry, they were told, Go and teach like I teach, heal like I heal. And so they then said, Okay, this is what we're doing. And so they did it, right? They went out, and it was incredible. So now join me in verse 30, chapter six, as we are going to go into this next section. It is super exciting. The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Wouldn't you have loved to be there? And just to watch their faces for story time with the 12. All right. They have just come back from ministry and that like to see their face when they were telling Jesus, they that we actually cast out a demon. Jesus, you wouldn't believe what we got to do. We got to see this person healed. Jesus, we actually got to tell people that you were the Messiah and that you had come for him, for them. Like the reaction, I bet it was chaotic. I bet there was a lot of exciting stories. It was quite jubilant. But can you imagine Jesus' face listening to all these stories? His evident joy that his closest friends were experiencing the goodness of God flowing through them to others. That they got to participate in the kingdom of God being manifest just like he did all the time. How proud he was of his friends for stepping out and doing this. They finally got a chase, a chance to taste and see what the impact of the Lord was on others. Being a part of God's work is a wonderful thing. It is thrilling, it's chaotic, it's overwhelming, it's tiring. Mission is tiring. It's tiring, verse 31. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat. Jesus said to them, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. Doing Jesus-y things doesn't automatically mean that your body is immune to wearing out. Joining Jesus and his work is going to actually take all that you have. It's going to take your emotions, it's going to take all your physical needs, uh, spiritual needs, mental needs. Uh, you, I just need it as a reminder, you do need to eat. Right? You do need to rest. You do need to recover. Um, I don't want to spend too long on this. Uh, but just as a reminder, if you have been hustling and pouring out everywhere and you're starting to doubt if you can keep going, please tell somebody. Right? Reach out to somebody that you love, that loves you, and just say, I'm I'm kind of tired. I'm actually smelling the singe of being burnt out. Okay? Speak up. Don't just keep working because that's the Jesus thing. I'm working for Jesus, so I'm tired. No, I'm not. It's for Jesus. No, please speak up and rest. Jesus didn't tell his tired disciples to suck it up. We've got 20 more towns to go. We have goals to accomplish, boys. No. He said that rest is good. And he says, please, let's go. Let's get some rest. So, verse 32, they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. All right, above me is a picture of the northern half of the Sea of Galilee. Good folks at holylandsite.com. They have really great pictures and descriptions of all major events through the Gospels so we can actually see what we're reading, so we can kind of understand. So to note the um the picture. There we go. Feeding of the 5,000 is probably on the northeastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Uh, just north of that is Beth Seda, just south of that, right next, or right under the little nub that's sticking out. That's where we read about the man who had the Legion of Demons and he was healed. So that was just below there. So the feeding of the 5,000 is on the northeastern side. Jesus and his disciples were making their way from Capernaum. So central, slightly western side. So if you'll notice, Capernaum and the feeding of the 5,000 are not next to each other. There is quite the gap. So Jesus and his disciples have gone on boat. They are making their way to a desolate place. And people hear, what? Is that Jesus? We have to go where he's going. So they hightail it. That's about 15 kilometers from Capernaum to feeding of the 5,000, right? They have heard the good news and they have dropped everything and they are running. On Thursday, we were meeting some friends who are actually from Soma East Side, and they were here in town. And we were like, Megan and I were planning our evening to like nicely go get things ready to make our way to them. I'm sitting here writing this sermon, and she comes in the room and says, There are orcas in Inner Harbor. And so the computer got shut, everything got thrown down. We raced to the car. We literally ran out the door and said, Kids, you're on your own for dinner, and then jumped in the vehicle and took off. Um, we still met our friends from Soma Eastside, but it was like, this is priority number one. Everything must be dropped because that's so cool, right? Well, how much cooler is, oh my gosh, the rabbi Jesus, the one who heals, he does miracles, he's here. We know where he's going. Let's go. Everybody drops everything. They hightail it 15 kilometers around from Capernaum to that location, and they get there before Jesus and the disciples. They won. Verse 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. In your mind, take your most tired, most worn-out day that you have had in recent memory. Can you remember that? Your contacts sticking to your eyes, everything in you hurting.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

And you can hear the dulcet tones of your bed calling to you, inviting you to stay a long while. And then the doorbell rings.

Jesus Challenges Our Limits

SPEAKER_01 8:35

And your neighbor is there, and they have said, I'm having a hard week and I need someone to talk to. Can I come in? Jesus and his disciples are right there. They are right there at that level of need for that rest. But he sees the crowd and has compassion. Why? What about this motley crew does Jesus see and say, I will choose to engage your need? It says they were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus' worn-out state was nothing in comparison to his love and compassion for those people in that moment. He chose to forego the rest that he needed, and he chose to love them well. Mission often involves sacrifice for others' good. It does. This crowd needed a shepherd. And Jesus knew he was the only one who could be that for them. Now, before you think I am negating everything that I just set on rest, please hear this. You are not Jesus. Right? These people needed a shepherd, and Jesus is the good shepherd. So please don't mistake that what we see Jesus doing, don't let it add fuel to your Messiah complex. He is the good shepherd. You are not perfect. It is okay for you to get rest and not always chase after a mission. There are times that you need to lean in, there are times that you need to sacrifice, but guess what? There are times that you need to just rest. So Jesus comes, he shows up in Matthew and Luke. We hear that he healed anybody who had need. Side note, this is the only story in the flow of the gospel ministries, of like that miraculous uh portion of Jesus' life where he's going about and he's teaching, he's doing things. This is the only one that shows up in all four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, feeding of 5,000. It's the only one. Right? So we get a lot of details. So in Matthew and Luke, uh, we hear that Jesus actually healed whoever had need. Here in Mark, we hear that he taught. He taught about himself. He taught about the kingdom of God. Same thing in Luke. He was the great teacher, he was the good shepherd. Only Jesus can satisfy us. And he knew that. And he knew that. And so that is why he engaged them. Verse 35. By this time, it was late in the day. So his disciples came to him. This is a remote place. They said, It's already very late. Send people away so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat. But Jesus answered, You give them something to eat. And 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? All right. Half a year's wages is kind of a lot for bread.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

Okay?

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So they aren't suggesting anything crazy. Are they? Right? It's a lot of money for over 5,000 people, but see, see, here is the issue. The disciples get into the same problem that we do. They are assessing needs based on what they see. They are only assessing needs based on what they see. Feeding 5,000 plus people? Let's see, we don't have the money. We don't have the food, so no. We do the same thing. Oh, there's a car repair that's needed. Well, my bank account says no. There are broken relationships in my life with family and friends. I know the history that I have with them. Can it be healed? No. I need the energy to make it through this season. I recently checked my calendar. No breaks. It's not happening. I guess I'm gonna die under this. I want my children to listen to me and not lash out. Well, my circumstances and experience say, dream on. It's gonna keep happening. I want my coworker to find healing in Jesus, but this coworker refuses every opportunity to hear about him. So I guess that's never happening. My spouse, I want them to forgive me for my selfishness, but my offense is too big.

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So I'm stuck.

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The drug and the housing problem that needs to be solved in Victoria is well, too many people have tried it. Issue's too big. I guess it's never changing. What are the things in our lives? What are the things in your life that you have basically chalked up to never happening because you have assessed it can't be done?

SPEAKER_00 13:58

Let's make it a little more awkward. What have you told God that he is unable to do because you don't think it's possible? What comes to mind?

SPEAKER_01 14:12

In verse 35, the 12 disciples ask Jesus to send the people away for food. And what does Jesus say? He says, You give them something to eat. You do it. What just happened before this? I'm not talking about John the Baptist dying. Before that, the disciples were sent out by Jesus to do what Jesus did. Jesus healed, they healed. Jesus taught about himself, they taught about Jesus. Jesus cast out demons, they cast out demons. They were supposed to show up and do miracles just like Jesus through his authority. So when Jesus, who just told them to go and tell everybody who he was and live like he was living, when he tells them, go and give these people food, they said, We can't do that. It's as if their minds were wiped of the authority that Jesus had given them to go and actually bring his power, bring his word to where they were showing up. Jesus told them, Go and bring me through word and deed. And they did. And then they show up with all these people, and they're like, Nope, can't do it.

The Meal That Satisfies Thousands

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Can't do it. Mission is bringing the word and the power of Jesus to others. Verse 38. How many loaves do you have? He asked. Go and see.

SPEAKER_01 16:00

I do like uh is it it might be Luke. I don't think it's Matthew. He asked them this to test them because he already knew what he was gonna do. Right? I always Jesus is hilarious. And I love it when he's funny, right? Hey, why don't you guys go check it out? I mean, I know what I'm gonna do, but why don't you go look? How much do we have? And when they found out, they said five. Oh, and two fish. I love the two fish. How many loaves do we have? We have five. Oh, but Jesus, we have two fish. It's gonna put us over the line. All right, the feeding of the 5,000 reminds me of that story with Gideon all the way back in Judges chapter 6 and 7. They are to go into battle. There is a literal sea of people. There are so many enemies from different nations that fill this valley. It says that they are like locusts on the floor. All right. The number of people that want to just destroy Israel are massive. And Gideon and his army are going to go and fight them, and God intentionally sends only 300 people. 300 versus locusts on the floor of the valley. The numbers are so ridiculous that God makes it utterly clear if Israel wins here, it was definitely not about Israel's military prowess. It's because I did the amazing thing. The numbers made it clear God had to intervene. So when the disciples bring forward five loaves and two fish, don't forget the two fish. It was a laughable amount of food to try to feed over 5,000 people. And if you have heard any message about this, if you have spent time in scripture, it does say 5,000 men were fed. It's not just the dudes that went and listened to Jesus. So likely there were wives, likely there was a kid or three who were tagging along. So our number of people fed was not just 5,000. I have seen counts upward about 20,000 people could have been there to hear and be healed by Jesus. So if you thought five loaves of bread and two fish was ridiculous for 5,000, what does that do for the joke at 20,000? Are you kidding me? Verse 39, then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in the groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties, taking the five loaves and the two fish. And looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves, and he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Right? Jesus thanks the maker of all good things, and then he reveals the miraculous. Hey, take this over to that group. Okay, take this pile over to that one. Hey, Pedro, this goes to all of them. Phil, this pile, that goes to that group and to that one. Okay, here's more. Go over there, here's more, go over there, get a move on. These people are hungry. Come on, guys, let's go. And so he keeps dividing and he keeps sending out. But let's not miss what's happening. Jesus commanded the disciples, you feed them.

SPEAKER_00 19:34

And what's happening? They're feeding them. The disciples are actually doing what Jesus has asked. We're gonna come back to that. Verse 42. They all ate and were satisfied.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

ESV, and they all ate and were satisfied. There is this movement. There are things that are happening, and it is continuing to move forward, and and and they were satisfied. Jesus, the good shepherd, had compassion on them because they had no shepherd. He was their good shepherd, and he made sure that they were satisfied. They had no lack. He made sure to give these sheep everything that they needed through his people, the twelve.

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And to note to note, he gave them word by teaching them and deed by feeding them.

Twelve Baskets And A Call To Feed

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Right? Sometimes I have noticed, I don't know if you have to, in the North American church, a lot of people want to fight. And some people say the most important thing is to make sure that they hear the good news. And another side says, the most important thing is to make sure that you care for their physical needs. And then we turn against brother and sister, and we argue, and we fight, and we call names. And can we please look at this passage and say, can it be both? Because Jesus thought so. Word and deed. The power of the kingdom of God is not limited to one or the other. It is both. It is both. And so he called his followers to participate with him in this good thing until all were satisfied. Verse 43, and the disciples picked up the twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of men who had eaten was five thousand. Okay. How many years did the woman suffer from bleeding? Twelve. Three people remembered that sermon from a few weeks ago. How old was the Little girl who died and was raised again? A few more people remembered. It's 12 as well. How many disciples were sent out to first heal on that journey that Jesus sent them on? Twelve. If you're catching on, you can know the next answer. How many basketfuls were left at the end here? Twelve. All right, this number of twelve, it is kind of a big deal. Mark is trying to highlight it. Often in that context, ancient Near East and the thousands of years beforehand, 12 was a big deal. It represented wholeness. It represented completion. For us, I think nowadays it was probably like 10, right? When you get to 10, oh, it's a nice, it's a nice number. Things look complete when it hits 10. Well, this is a 12-base counting system that they used at that time. So when things get to 12, they feel whole. They feel complete. They feel as they should be. Jesus was the peace, he was the wholeness of Israel, bringing satisfaction to the 12 tribes. Jesus brings this wholeness to Israel through the 12 disciples that he sent out. Jesus, the good shepherd, brings satisfaction to 12 to 20,000 people, such that they all ate their fill, leaving 12 baskets remaining. This is what Jesus does. Now I don't want to make a mountain out of a functional molehill, but go on this slight tangent with me. Different book. They've been fishing all night. Doesn't go well. He says, throw it on the other side. And then they do, and they realize as they're pulling up all of these fish, so much that it's hard to haul in. Peter says, My Lord jumps out of the boat and swims to shore just to be with Jesus. So all the disciples are there on the shore. Jesus is having a moment with Peter. Three times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him. Three times with certainty and a little bit of pain. Peter says, Yes, Lord, you know I do.

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And three times Jesus responds to Peter, feed my sheep. Feed my sheep, feed my lambs, feed my sheep. Is how the passage goes.

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Jesus desires that all humanity knows that he is the one who satisfies. From that place of satisfaction, those of us who have called him Lord, those of us who have actually tasted and seen that the Lord is good, that we have been satisfied. He desires that we feed others with this good news. If you are present, if you can hear my voice, then the word that he told the twelve, you feed them. Is the same word that he told Peter, you feed them. Is the same word that he is telling us today, you feed them. We have been invited to join in the ministry of seeing his kingdom expand. If you have shown up and you are gathering in a gathering with other Jesus people, this is wonderful. This is good. This isn't really bringing the good news to the nations.

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This is kind of that time of rest. It's kind of that time of recharge.

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But from this place, I hope you hear that Jesus is inviting you to get out and take part in this. Many have heard me say this. I will continue to say it. God is working and we ride on his coattails. Them's the best coattails. So if you feel you are participating, I say thank you, brothers and sisters. It is a joy to join with God in his mission. I hope that we see that in him we are satisfied. It is so good to be with Jesus, to drink him in, to behold him. But brothers and sisters, if you are here, if you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and you feel that the bench is nice and warm and you like it there, might I invite you to get to the pitch? That's soccer language for field. Okay. So get off the bench. Let's go see what God has for us. Where is he moving where you live, learn, work, and play? Maybe God is calling you to certain people in those spaces. What does it look like to engage with them? Maybe God has something different for you. Not better, but different.

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Maybe he actually wants to send you to a far-off place, to Slovakia, to Greece, to South Korea, or maybe from South Korea to Canada. Maybe from America to Canada. Here's the thing. We are all made in God's image. God has people everywhere that need to know him.

Three Prayer Questions And Sending

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What is he calling you to do to join him? This is exciting. I feel like this is like a big bowl, and I want to just stir it all up and not give the answers. And say, it's up to you to go to Jesus and see what he has for you. So why don't we do that? As the band makes their way up, as our communion holders make their ways down, here are the three questions that I want us to go to Jesus and ask during this response time. One, Jesus, what are the five loaves and the two fish that you've given me for your work? What I have that you want to use for your kingdom? Right? This is not a uh whatever you have in his hands, it's enough. Question two, Jesus, where am I withholding belief in you? Where is doubt in you and maybe a little overconfidence in me reigning? Three, Jesus, who are your sheep that you are sending me to? What are the names and the faces that come up where I live, learn, work, and play that you actually want me to go and bring your good news to? This is a joy. So we're gonna take a minute, and actually, I want you to pray these things to Jesus. Listen for his Holy Spirit, and then I'll jump back in and give us our next steps in response. Jesus, I thank you that you are present and that your kingdom is what we are a part of. That we are here on your merit, on your effort, on your power. And it is just so silly, Lord, but you invited us to participate with you in the bringing of that goodness elsewhere. So thank you for our salvation. Thank you for calling us to newness. But thank you, Lord, for giving us purpose and direction. As we live our lives for you. Speak to us, Lord, not just in this moment, but in the coming days. On the things that you want to do in and through us. It's for your good that we pray. Amen.