WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:07.360 We're going to be starting off in verse 30 of chapter 6, Gospel of Mark, and we're going to be reading through verse 44. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:13.439 Says the apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:18.640 He said to them, Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:23.359 For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:27.359 So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:35.280 But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:41.439 When he went ashore he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:43.759 Then he began to teach them many things. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:50.640 When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, This place is deserted, and it is already late. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:57.119 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat. 00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:00.079 You give them something to eat, he responded. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:06.000 They said to him, Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat? 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:08.400 He asked them, How many loaves do you have? 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:09.519 Go and see. 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:13.680 Then they found out and said, Five and two fish. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:18.640 Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:21.519 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:27.120 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he blessed and broke the loaves. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.879 He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:33.760 He also divided the two fish among them all. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.560 Everyone ate and was satisfied. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:41.359 They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:45.519 Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:46.879 Let's pray. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:50.640 Lord, we thank you so much for this passage here. 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:55.920 We thank you so much for the book of Mark and just the richness of what we're getting out of it each week. 00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:07.920 Lord, I pray here this morning that your spirit would speak through me specifically, that I would be your mouthpiece, your vessel in which you can flow through, and that you would help me to rightly divide your word here this morning. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:09.680 And that there would be something in this. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:19.599 Lord, this is a meal, something in it for each one of us that would sink into the deepest places of our hearts, Lord, that would mold us and shape us into the people that you desire us to be. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:21.599 We pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:23.520 And everybody said, Amen. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:25.039 You may be seated. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:34.719 So this passage that we're in here this morning, it's really a continuation of the passage that we went through two weeks ago. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:40.400 So the story of John the Baptist has been so uh covered so well last week. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:46.639 It's kind of stuck in, it's kind of this parentheses in the middle of the chapter uh six, that is. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:53.759 And so what we're gonna be doing is we're gonna kind of be jumping back into where we were two weeks ago and continuing on. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:03:10.479 So two weeks ago we saw Jesus commission the twelve apostles, and he we saw that he sent them out in pairs, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, and he instructed them to not take anything extra with them, to just go and trust the Lord for everything. 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:15.280 Uh and it actually says, so they went out and they preached that people should repent. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:21.280 They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil, and healed them. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:31.120 And where we pick up today, it's them coming back from that journey, and they're reporting to Jesus and to the other disciples everything that had happened. 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:36.240 And this is going to lead us to, as we just read, the feeding of the five thousand. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:44.400 And something we should note before we jump in is that this is the only miracle that is reported in all four of the gospels. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:51.439 And if that's the case, I think this is something that the Holy Spirit really wants to make sure that we know and understand. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:57.599 So that regardless of which gospel we're going through and which gospel we're reading, we're gonna get this story. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:11.360 Um, so I think we should pay, you know, extra close or special attention uh to what it is that the Holy Spirit wants to speak to each one of us as we're going through this miracle that Jesus performs. 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:18.800 And I think you're gonna pick up on, as we go uh through these 14 verses, the theme of Jesus being the good shepherd. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:29.360 So just keep that in mind as we're going through each section of these verses of Jesus being the good shepherd that cares for us as his sheep. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.439 So let's start right there in verse 30. 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:38.560 It says, The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:45.839 Now, just picture this scene of them coming back from all of this amazing stuff that they just witnessed. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:50.079 And imagine the excitement that must be with these 12 apostles. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:55.360 And they're telling Jesus and the other disciples about what God had done through them. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:05:02.160 You know, they've been watching Jesus for so long do all of these things, and now it's their turn. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:11.759 And maybe you can relate, you know, maybe you've been there before where God uses you to do something that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt you could never have done on your own. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:29.040 Whether he used you through prayer or used you physically to take a part in something miraculous that he was doing, do you remember that feeling of being in that place, of just seeing God move and knowing that you got to be a part of it? 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:34.480 Because that's exactly what and where the disciples are right now. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:44.639 And for me, you know, when I see God doing things and I know that I've been able to be a part of it, it's completely invigorating. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:57.120 Because one, God used me or he used you, if you're putting yourself in this story, but two, when that happens, we recognize the magnitude of the God that we get to serve. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:01.120 When we get to be a part of those amazing things that He does. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.079 And that's exactly where the disciples are right now. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:12.800 And they can't wait to share it with the one that not only taught them, but the one that empowered them to do these things that they just did. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:23.279 And I don't know about you, but a good story about something God has done, or an amazing story about somebody's testimony, it's just incredible. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:25.439 It puts me in awe of God. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:33.360 Like I said, it invigorates me, it boosts my faith, it brings me to a place of awe and wonder and praise and worship. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:36.399 And I absolutely just love those moments. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:40.319 So these disciples are experiencing all of this right now. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:41.759 So look at verse 31. 00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:48.240 It says, He said to them, Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:55.120 You know, for many, uh, see, for many people were coming and going and they did not even have time to eat. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:58.639 So Jesus says, Hey, let's go catch our breath. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:00.319 Let's go take a break. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:04.319 And I'm gonna help you process through all of this stuff that just happened. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:14.399 You can ask me questions and I can explain some things to you, and maybe we can eat some food together and just kind of hit reset before we go back to ministering to these multitudes. 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:26.639 You know, and we've hit on this before, you know, as we've been going through the book of Mark, but Jesus was really good at making sure that he didn't burn out and that he didn't burn out his disciples as well. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:30.720 And you may be thinking, well, Jesus is God, how could God possibly burn out? 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:33.519 Well, we need to remember that he's also fully man. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:40.959 He faced all of the temptations that we face so that he could take on the role of our compassionate high priest. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:53.040 So don't think that Jesus didn't face those same things that we do, you know, of going too hard for too long or saying yes to too many things, even when they seem good. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:08:00.879 You see, Jesus is aware that he can't go a thousand miles an hour all of the time without burning out. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:08.240 So we see him multiple times getting away to pray or to simply just be with the Father. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:13.120 He knew how to work really hard, but he also knew how to rest. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:16.879 You know, there's that old adage that I'd rather burn out than rest out. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.319 Have you heard that before? 00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:21.519 Which I understand where that's coming from. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:26.399 But Jesus shows that those are not the two, the only two options that we have. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:32.000 Jesus, like I said, is an extremely hard worker, but he also rests. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:35.600 And I mean, think about it, he invented rests. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:38.480 He's the one that invented the Sabbath. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:44.480 So it only makes sense that we see him taking those opportunities to rest as well. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:57.360 And whenever Jesus has a long day, he always tries, I'm gonna put some air quotes around there, to get away, to have that time to take a breath, to be with the Father, to just kind of escape for a little bit. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:00.639 And it doesn't always work as we see in this story here today. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.000 But Jesus makes resting in the Lord a priority. 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:10.159 He plans for it and he schedules it into his schedule with him and his disciples. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.799 Now, who here has heard the term self-care? 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:16.960 It's kind of a buzzword, you know, that that's been going around. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:28.799 And it's it's kind of a tricky word because I think it started off with some healthy leanings, you know, uh as a way to be more productive in the way that we work by by taking care of our needs. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:42.879 But I feel like in the last couple of years it's morphed into a word that's just justifying selfishness, you know, along the lines of kind of the Oprah doctrine of you have to love yourself before you can love others, which is, you know, completely opposite of what we see in scripture. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:55.600 So I've tended, especially recently, to kind of just avoid that phrase altogether, because I think what we see Jesus doing is more appropriately defined as God care as opposed to self-care. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:02.720 Where we see Jesus laying everything down at God's feet and just simply being with him. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:10.320 He's doing what Psalm 46, 10 says to you, to be still and know that I am God. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:21.120 You know, in the context of that psalm, it means to stop fighting and to stop battling and to recognize and understand that God is God. 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:24.000 And that's exactly what Jesus does. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:31.200 And if that's what Jesus does, and if that's what Jesus is teaching his disciples, I think we really need to pay attention. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:38.879 We need to reflect, you know, on this right now of, you know, what have we been battling that we shouldn't be? 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:45.600 Or what have we been battling for a long time and not taking moments of rest, you know, either spiritually or physically. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:48.000 What is that in our life? 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:59.440 You know, where God is calling us to stop fighting and to stop battling, and he's telling us in this situation to recognize and understand that he is God. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:03.519 Or maybe we need to hear that he is still God. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:17.759 Maybe he's encouraging you this very morning to be still and to know that he is God over everything, and that our present circumstances don't change that. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:24.799 He's still God over everything, even if what we are going through right now seems completely out of control. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:30.799 And we see Jesus doing just that with his disciples here in verse 32. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.080 So let's read that together. 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:38.240 He says, So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:46.480 But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:57.679 So they head off to get away from things, and the people are literally running around the shore, and they arrive before Jesus and his disciples do uh in the boat. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:05.600 So these people are in such need of Jesus that they're literally running after him because they don't want to be apart from him. 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:13.360 And as they go, they start gathering people from the other towns that they're running through and say, Hey, Jesus is crossing the lake, come with me. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:20.960 And all these crowds, you know, join in with them, and they arrive in Jesus' destination before he actually does. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:28.559 These people are acting exactly like what Jesus calls them in verse 34. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.440 Look at that with me. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:38.720 He says, When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:42.559 You know, surely Jesus and his disciples are tired. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:46.399 They're really looking forward to a break, they're hungry. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:50.240 You know, and this was the plan for them to rest. 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:52.320 This is what they needed in this moment. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:58.720 But Jesus, we're gonna see, is gonna teach his disciples something else in this process. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:07.919 He's gonna teach them flexibility, and he's gonna teach them selflessness, and he's gonna teach them about compassion. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:13.200 Jesus sees all these people that are not being shepherded. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:17.279 And it says he had compassion on them. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:21.120 Now, have you ever seen a sheep in the wild all by itself? 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:31.919 I sure hope not, because that means that it ran away from somewhere and it's somewhere that it's not supposed to be, because they have no natural defenses. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.240 They're easy prey for a predator. 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:37.200 They have a lot of needs that they can't meet by themselves. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:44.639 Things like being sheared, you know, or being led to the appropriate food and the appropriate water that's safe for them. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:46.720 They're built to be herd animals. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:50.879 They're not built to live alone in the wild all by themselves. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:58.639 In 2004, a sheep was found in a cave in New Zealand that hadn't been shepherded for six years. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:02.000 And they named him Shrek the Sheep. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:10.639 If you want to see a sheep without a shepherd, you're looking at him. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.720 If you can't tell, that's the nose right there. 00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.879 It looks like he has this total emo haircut. 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:17.440 You know, his eyes are like completely covered. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.360 But this is Shrek the Sheep. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:24.000 This is what a sheep looks like after six years of not having a shepherd. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:28.320 They sheared 60 pounds of wool off of him. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:30.559 Now that's one of the smaller bags of concrete. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:35.519 That's that's a load, you know, of this little sheep that's in here. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.840 That's what a sheep without a shepherd looks like. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:47.120 When the wool gets like this, if they lay down the wrong way, they can't get back up. 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:49.360 They're just four feet up in the air. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:53.120 And they're they could literally die uh from that. 00:14:53.679 --> 00:15:06.080 Uh or if they go to drink, you know, into a stream and they put their feet down and the water starts to hit the wool and stuff like that, it can get so heavy that it'll actually pull them into the stream and they can't get out and they drown. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.399 And this really just reminds me of Psalm 23. 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:16.159 A good shepherd leads his sheep beside still waters. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:19.279 For that very reason that we're talking about there. 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:22.159 So they don't get actually pulled in and drown. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:26.480 Now, the point of all this is these people need a shepherd. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:31.759 They need a caretaker, somebody that will lead, feed, and protect them. 00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:36.240 And Jesus is so ready to be that shepherd for these people. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:39.840 John 10, 14 says, and this is Jesus speaking. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.559 Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:45.759 I know my own, and my own know me. 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:52.480 Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, I lay down my life for the sheep. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:59.279 Jesus is eagerly awaiting all sheep without a shepherd to come to him. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:05.840 And he doesn't say with his arms crossed, you know, when they get there, you know, well, that's about time. 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:09.279 He shows them compassion, as we see right here. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:11.039 He welcomes them in. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:15.519 And he'll even go after the one that runs away. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.679 And as we're gonna see, Jesus loves to feed his sheep. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:24.559 Look at verse 34, second half of verse 34. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:28.960 It says, Then he began to teach them many things. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:35.440 So notice Jesus is feeding his sheep, but first, he's feeding them spiritually. 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:42.799 Matthew 4, 4 says, Man must not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.000 And here, Jesus is showing us that priority. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:49.200 First, he's gonna feed them spiritually. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:54.240 And he's not just gonna do that, but he's also gonna meet the physical need. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:59.440 But to see the spiritual need as the first priority. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:01.039 That's what we see Jesus doing. 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:05.440 But we're gonna see in verse 35 that Jesus is also going to address this physical need. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.799 So look at 35 with me. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:14.720 It says, When it grew late, his disciples approached him and said, This place is deserted and it is already late. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:22.079 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat. 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:27.200 So don't you love how the disciples think they need to look out for God? 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:32.559 You know, I could just picture them thinking, well, he obviously hasn't thought this through. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:36.400 You know, you know how absent-minded Jesus can be sometimes. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.039 So let's make this plan, you know. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:46.640 Uh, we'll let him know what the best course of action is so that he doesn't embarrass himself, you know, in front of all these people. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.400 So they actually do just that. 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:52.880 And notice what the plan is to send the problem away. 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:58.640 Instead of meeting the need, they wanted to send away the ones that had the need. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.960 You realize that? 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:04.079 So look at what Jesus tells them in verse 37. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:07.839 He says, You give them something to eat, he responded. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:14.240 They said to him, Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat? 00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:19.359 So remember where these guys just got back from. 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:24.640 An amazing time of seeing God move and work the miraculous. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:28.000 And Jesus says, You take care of the issue. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:33.200 And in fact, if you look at it, it's actually a command, it's not a suggestion to take care of the issue. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:39.039 And instead of looking to God to solve the problem, they look to see how much money they have. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:42.559 I don't know about you, but that's conviction. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:47.599 Because there's been times in our family where we have some major unexpected expense. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:51.519 And I'll be honest, the first thing that crosses my mind is how much money do I have in the bank? 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:53.039 How are we gonna pay for this? 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.759 What you know? 00:18:53.920 --> 00:19:02.160 I remember when my wife's transmission went out in her car years back, and that was the first place my mind went, and then God provided miraculously for it. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:10.720 But these guys are already uh these guys already figured out how much bread they needed and how much it was gonna cost. 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:14.319 You notice that they had the figure ready for Jesus just like that. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:20.480 And to give you an idea, 200 denarii at this time was about one year's wages for a blue-collar worker. 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:22.240 So that's not a small amount of money. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:25.759 This is a, you know, to buy all the bread for all these people and to feed them. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:39.519 But instead of leaving the how of this command that Jesus gave them up to God, they look at their funds and then tell God, Jesus, how to do it. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:43.599 Isn't that just so backwards of how we're actually supposed to approach these things? 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:47.119 But again, it's a very teachable moment for these disciples. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:57.359 Now, the other thing that I wonder about in this moment is how the disciples are feeling about these crowds, these huge crowds that can keep company. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:04.319 Because I wonder if there may be a sense of animosity that's starting to come up within these disciples. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:18.160 You know, Jesus invited them, just the 12 of them, away to this exclusive time to just be with Jesus, just Jesus and his disciples, to rest and to eat and to catch their breath. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:20.960 And this crowd just ruined it. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:30.960 You know, part of me wonders when they tell Jesus in verse 36 to send them away if there isn't a bit of frustration that's kind of stirring up within them. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:37.680 You know, hey Jesus, all these people, you know, that ruined our plans, that barged in on our time, can we just send them away? 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.880 Can we just get rid of these people? 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.599 Now we're tired. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.960 You know, we need some rest. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:47.920 You know, we don't know that for sure, but this might be the case that there is a sense of frustration for them to say, let's send these people away. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:52.880 But regardless, their plan is different than Jesus' plan. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.720 Look at verse 38 with me. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:58.640 He said he asked them, How many loaves do you have? 00:20:58.960 --> 00:20:59.920 Go and see. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:03.839 When they found out, they said, Five and two fish. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:12.640 So the disciples were faced with an insurmountable task in their eyes that they know that they cannot accomplish on their own. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:17.519 So the first thing Jesus says is, What do you have? 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:21.839 What do you have that I've already given you to work with? 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:25.599 Well, why don't we start with that? 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.920 You know, think of it, Jesus saying, you know, what do you have? 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:32.160 The disciples say, Well, not much. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:35.039 And Jesus says, I could work with that. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:37.359 You know, isn't that encouraging? 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:47.519 And we'll take Jesus, you know, is saying, and we'll take what you already have, and we'll mix that with a tremendous measure of faith, and we'll watch God do the miraculous. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:58.720 And I think that's what Jesus is trying to teach his disciples that God has given you everything that you need to complete the commands that He's given you. 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:03.839 Because our Our greatest resource is not what He's given us. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:07.839 Our greatest resource is God Himself. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:22.079 And He's saying, you know, use everything that I've given you with great faith to take on the insurmountable and to complete the command that I've given you. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:26.079 That's what Jesus is teaching his disciples right now. 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:33.920 And his disciples here today, that's us by the way, if you're a follower of Jesus Christ, that's what he wants to teach us as well. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:44.720 That everything that he's given us with great faith that we can take on the insurmountable to complete the calling and the commands that he's given us. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:50.559 But it's through him, it's not on our own, it's not through our own effort because we'll just end up looking at our bank accounts. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:54.319 We need to look to God to be that resource for us. 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:56.079 Let's look at verse 39. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.119 Jesus continues on. 00:22:57.279 --> 00:23:02.960 He says, Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:06.480 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:11.440 So every time I get to this passage, I always wonder why the hundreds and why the fifties? 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:13.599 You know, what can you just say, everybody sit down? 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.240 Yeah. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:18.079 I think one, because God is a God of order. 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:24.079 And as we look at the miracles that Jesus performs, they're all done decently and in order. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:28.319 But also it makes me think of Psalm 23 again. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:32.799 These were sheep without a shepherd, but now they have a shepherd. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:36.640 And he makes them to lie down in green pastures. 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:39.920 Did you notice that in verse 39? 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:44.400 They tell us specifically what the grass was like. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:47.359 It was green grass that Jesus had them sit down on. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:52.799 And I don't think that's an accident that that detail was included right here in Mark chapter 6. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.240 Look at verse 41. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:56.559 Jesus continues on. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:02.960 He says, uh he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:07.279 He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:11.279 He also divided the two fish among them all. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:18.160 You know, I love that Jesus is including the disciples in this. 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:28.720 He broke the bread, he divided the fish, and he gave it to the disciples, and then they went out to the groups and they distributed it. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:37.599 And then they would come back, they would get some more, and they go to the next group that was six that was sitting down, and they just continued doing that until everybody had food. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:42.799 And I love it because nothing's changed about Jesus. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:50.720 He loved to involve his disciples back then, and he loves to involve his disciples in ministry today. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:56.799 And it still baffles me that God wants to use us within ministry to accomplish the things that he desires. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:25:03.519 But think about it, Jesus could have snapped his fingers and everyone could have had a plate of food right in their lap. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:04.720 No problem. 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:19.599 But he chose to slow things down and to use his disciples to join in on the miracle and on the ministry. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:23.839 I'm going to say that again because nothing's changed in all this time. 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:30.400 He chose to slow things down and use his disciples to join in on the miracle and the ministry. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:46.880 If these disciples did have any bitterness or frustration towards these people, I think it would be really hard to maintain that after seeing God work in this way and after getting to be a part of what Jesus was doing in that time. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.440 Look at verse 42 with me. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:53.200 Says everyone ate and was satisfied. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:57.839 They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:02.559 Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:05.359 So this is God math. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:13.440 Only God can divide seven things by five thousand people and get a remainder of twelve baskets. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:18.319 You know, that's like that doesn't work in our equations, but in God's mind, he can do that. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:23.920 And the number 5,000 here is it might be a little bit misleading, as this was just counting the men. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:30.400 You know, when we count in the women and children, this easily could have doubled or tripled the number of people that Jesus fed. 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:37.839 And all of these people are now fed spiritually, and they're fed physically as well. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:47.440 And they gather up the leftovers, and there's 12 baskets full of these leftovers. 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:54.799 You know, God is not only provided in this time, but he's provided in abundance with leftovers. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:27:00.880 And they gather up the extra because no resource that God has given us should be wasted. 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:09.680 We aren't told exactly what happened to these 12 baskets, but I kind of wonder about what did they do with these 12 baskets? 00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:15.920 You know, and I wonder, did Jesus give one to each of his disciples as a reminder? 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:18.079 Like, hey, I'm gonna provide for you. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:27.920 We don't know that for sure, but I wonder, or maybe they gave them to those that were in the most need in the crowd to just take home as an added blessing because they needed it. 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:32.559 But the the idea here is that they didn't waste what God had given them. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:37.680 They took great care and they made sure that none of that was wasted. 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:44.960 So my question for us today is this What has God given us? 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:48.640 And how are we using it? 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:54.960 I'm not just talking about the physical things, I'm talking about the spiritual as well. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:28:03.119 You know, is what God has given us sitting and resting, or is it actively being invested back into the kingdom of God? 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:08.799 And if He's blessed us with an abundance, what are we doing with the leftovers? 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:13.279 Is there any waste that we're allowing to remain as waste? 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:17.599 You know, or is there any leftovers that we're allowing to go to waste, I should say? 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:23.920 You know, and this isn't a sermon to get you to try harder, to work harder, to serve more, to give more. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:32.400 This is an encouragement to be content with what God has given you and to invest that back into the kingdom of God. 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:38.880 To depend on Him to be our greatest resource and not the things that we have. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:43.119 Because Jesus loves us so much. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:48.079 You know, he already gave us everything, including his life. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:53.680 And we're in this, now we're in this two-way relationship with Jesus. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:58.319 You know, how would my marriage look if I only took from my wife? 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:00.640 Not very good, would it? 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:05.680 This relationship that we're in with Jesus, it's a relationship of giving. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:14.559 He started by giving everything, by giving us this free gift of salvation, by stepping down from his heavenly throne onto earth. 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:21.680 But Jesus invites us to participate in the giving, just like his disciples did here. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:27.599 He wants us to invest in this relationship, our time and our energy and our resources. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:35.039 And it's not that Jesus needs any of that, but he sure desires it from each one of us. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:42.720 Because he desires our participation in this relationship and in his ministry for his kingdom. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:50.640 Now, I'm gonna dip into next week's verses just for a moment, just to prove to you where Jesus' heart is in all of this. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:59.680 So verse 45 says, Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat to cross the sea ahead of him while he dismissed the crowd. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.640 Jesus didn't feed these people to keep them around. 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:14.720 You know, he had 10,000, but he wasn't saying, you know, maybe I'll have 10,000 today, and maybe that'll grow to 20,000 tomorrow, you know, maybe 30,000 the next day. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:20.240 He wasn't trying to build up this big following and this big gathering and this big meeting. 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:23.839 Jesus had true compassion on the people. 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:28.559 So he fed them because they were hungry sheep without a shepherd. 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:38.319 He had no ulterior motives of trying to build something, just compassion towards something as simple as their hunger, their physical hunger. 00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:42.400 You know, he cares about the smallest details of our life. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:50.559 So Jesus feeds his sheep out of compassion, and then he dismisses them for the time being to go home. 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:53.359 It just shows the compassion was pure. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:57.680 He cared about the smallest details instead of saying, okay, now you can stick around longer. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.839 He says, Okay, now you can go back to your homes. 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:07.759 You know, as I look as a whole at these 14 verses, I just see that it's permeated with the care of Jesus. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:27.599 It's permeated with the good shepherd, wanting us to rest, wanting us to be well fed spiritually and physically, wanting us to be a part of his ministry and works and miracles, and caring for even the smallest of the needs for his sheep. 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:34.400 You know, he truly is the good shepherd, and he proves it over and over and over again. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:40.799 And like I was saying earlier, as I was studying this passage, I just kept seeing the correlations with Psalm 23. 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.880 So we're actually just gonna read through that. 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:44.319 You don't have to turn there right now. 00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:52.799 Um, I just would prefer if you just kind of sat and listened to the heart of the good shepherd here in Psalm 23, and we'll read this and close up. 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:55.680 The Lord is my shepherd. 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:57.599 I have what I need. 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:12.240 He lets me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he renews my life, he leads me along the right paths for his name's sake. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:18.319 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me. 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:21.680 Your rod and your staff they comfort me. 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:26.079 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:30.720 You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:42.319 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.839 Let's pray. 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:53.440 Jesus, I just feel so fortunate that you are our shepherd and that we are your sheep. 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:57.200 Lord, we there's nothing that we've done to deserve that. 00:32:57.359 --> 00:32:58.480 It's it's all you. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:04.240 It all started with you, with you giving everything for us, including your life. 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:14.480 And so, Lord, we're here to thank you so much for all that you've given us, for the care and the concern that you have for every detail of our life. 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:19.680 Jesus, I thank you that you care about when we're hungry. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:26.079 Lord, you care about when we're thirsty, you care about us being cared for, Lord. 00:33:26.319 --> 00:33:31.039 You care about when we need rest and trying to take that time to do so. 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:41.759 Lord, I pray that daily that we would become more and more like Jesus, and that you would continue to develop us into the people that you desire us to be. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:34:08.079 Lord, as you place a calling on our life, as you uh give us your commands, as you give us just everyday tasks, Lord, I pray that we would depend on you more than our bank account, more than the things that we have, or our own abilities, but would realize if you call us, you're going to supply all the needs according to your riches and glory that that we have in in that moment, Lord. 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:18.320 So help us to not look ahead, to be discouraged, to not look behind, but live in that moment, recognizing that you are the perfect good shepherd, and you're going to care for every need. 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:27.039 Lord, we want to be found as your uh loving, trusting, faithful disciples, and I pray that you would find just that here in this church. 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:29.599 Lord, we love you so much. 00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:32.559 Be glorified, we pray, in Jesus' name.