The Feeding of the 20,000 (Mark 6:33-44)
Bob Schultz, January 19, 2014Part of the Gospel of Mark series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
We will study Mark 6:33-44, the feeding of the five thousand. In this passage we discover wonderful truth that is often lost in this very familiar miracle. We will consider the compassion of God not only in terms of providing for the physical needs of the people that day but for their spiritual needs as well. The Bible tells us in this context that “Jesus began to teach them many things.” In addition, we discover the common grace of God in this passage as food is given to everyone without qualification or discrimination. A wonderful point of this passage that is often lost is the common grace of God related to all men regardless of their inward attitude toward Jesus.
Mark 6:33–44 (Listen)
33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
(ESV)
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