Following Jesus in the Real World

Studies in the Gospel of Mark

 

Study Guide for Sunday Sermon on March 30, 2008

Mark 6: 30-44

 

For Personal Study and Reflection

 

Day 1: Read Mark 6: 30-33

Notice the title given to Jesus’ twelve disciples in verse 30. There are only two times in Mark’s gospel that the Twelve are given this title, here in 6: 30 and also in 3:14. As mentioned in a previous study, the word, “apostle” means a “sent one” or a “messenger” who serves as the authorized representative of the one doing the sending.

 

Based on the two usages of the word here in Mark (3:14 and 6:30), how would you flesh out the definition of the word “apostle”? What is an apostle in this context? What are Jesus’ apostles charged with? What do they do? How do they fulfill their charge? What is the difference between an apostle and a disciple? What do disciples and apostles hold in common?

 

 

 

 

This is also the second time that Mark says Jesus and his disciples were so busy that they didn’t have time to eat. Compare this incident with Mark 3: 20. What was going on in Jesus’ ministry? Why were Jesus and his disciples so busy? How does Jesus respond in each case?

 

 

 

 

Notice each part of what Jesus says to his disciples in verse 31:

• Come with me
• by yourselves
• to a quiet place
• and get some rest

 

What is Jesus’ offering to his disciples here? What is he doing for them? What do his disciples need? Why?

 

 

 

Some people think of God as a harsh taskmaster who uses people to accomplish His ends at whatever cost to them. What does it say about Jesus that he recognizes the needs of his disciples and acts to meet those needs?

 

 

 

 

Compare this with Mark 3: 14-15 and Matthew 11: 28-30. What do you think Jesus is trying to do for his disciples? What further insights do you draw from this about the way Jesus views and values his followers?

 

 

 

 

How important is it to you that Jesus recognizes your needs and acts to meet your needs?

 

 

 

 

Why is it important for you to take time to be with Jesus? How often do you take time to be with Jesus by yourself in a solitary place? And how often do you schedule times of rest into your life? Why might both of these be good and necessary things for you to do? What do you think might happen in your life if you did this?

 

 

 

 

How can you make solitude with God a regular time in your life? Think through this. When can you do it?  Where can you go to be quiet with God?

 

 

 

Day 2: Read Mark 6: 30-33

Jesus and his disciples went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place to rest. What happened? If you had been one of the disciples how would you have reacted to this? How do you think the disciples felt when they saw the crowd already waiting for them on the shore? How do you handle it when others impinge on your “personal” time?

 

They ran on foot around the lake and got there ahead of Jesus and his disciples. What does that tell you about these people? Why were they so desperate in their pursuit of Jesus and the Twelve? What do you think they needed and wanted?

 

 

 

 

When in your life have you felt so eager to encounter God, or so desperate to hear God that you were willing to do what these people did? What do you want from Jesus and his church? What do you need from Jesus and his church?

 

 

 

 

Mark tells us that many who saw them leaving recognized them. To whom does the pronoun “them” refer? Who was it that the crowd recognized? Who had been ministering to these people (verses 6: 12, 13, 30)? What does this tell you about the impact of the Twelve’s mission?

 

 

 

 

Previously the crowds had been following Jesus. Now they are also following Jesus’ disciples? What does this tell you? What implications do you see in this? What does this tell you about the growth and spread of Jesus’ kingdom?

 

 

 

 

What does this say to you about the impact Jesus wants you to have? What kind of spiritual impact are you having in your family and your community and among your friends, neighbors and co-workers?

 

 

 

 

Day 3: Read Mark 6: 30-34

What did Jesus see when he saw the crowd? And how did his perception of the crowd affect his response to the people? How else might he have responded? Why didn’t Jesus become irritated with the people for ruining his “day off”?

Michael Spencer observes that: “Jesus is "moved with compassion" because the people are like "sheep without a shepherd," so he abandons his plan to withdraw with his disciples and begins teaching the people. Mark's attention to the emotions of Jesus is one of his most appealing characteristics as a writer. On three occasions he mentions the compassion of Jesus- 1:41, 6:34 and 8:2. The word itself is used in the New Testament only about Jesus. The term makes for an interesting word study. It is the verb form of the noun splanchnon, which refers to the internal organs and was associated with the emotions in the ancient mind. (See Philippians 1:8 in the original KJV!) It is the word used in Luke 15:20 to describe the reaction of the waiting father to the sight of his returning prodigal. The word denotes more than feeling, however. It expresses the determination to act. This is love that is more than sentimental; it is active and outreaching. It is the kind of love described in I John 3:18, a love that is not merely in word, but in deed and in truth. It is a special and powerful word for Christians, as it reveals the merciful heart of God the Father, expressed towards us in His Son Jesus.”

 

 

The phrase "sheep without a shepherd" has deep biblical roots. If you would like to trace this theme throughout the Bible read the following passages:

• Numbers 27:16-18 (This first occurrence is a prayer of Moses for leadership for the nation of Israel, a prayer answered by the designation of Joshua as leader. Of course, the name Jesus is the name Joshua in Hebrew, both meaning "God saves."”
• I Kings 22:17 (refers to the nation without spiritual leadership.)
• Ezekiel 34, (a chapter devoted to evaluating the "shepherds" of the people of God.)
• John 10:14-15
• Hebrews 13:20
• I Peter 2:25
• I Peter 5:4
• Revelation 7:17
• Matthew 18: 12-14

 

What do you think it means that the people in the crowd were like sheep without a shepherd? What are sheep like when they have no shepherd? What happens to these sheep? What do sheep need?

 

 

 

 

Read Psalm 23. What does David say in this psalm about how the Lord shepherded him? What did the Lord do for David?

 

 

 

 

How did Jesus meet the needs of this crowd? How did he shepherd them?

 

 

 

 

Where can you imagine Jesus standing today and feeling the same emotions he felt in Mark 6:34? Why do you think this?

 

 

 

 

Day 4: Read Mark 6: 30-37

Note the change in pronouns between verses 30-33 and verse 34. Why do you think the focus shifts from them to simply Jesus? What might this imply about the disciples’ role in the ministry that follows?

 

 

 

 

What do you think the disciples saw when they saw the crowd? How do you think they felt when they saw the crowd?

 

 

 

 

What might you have seen? How might you have responded? Why?

 

 

 

 

Jesus saw the need of the crowd, felt great compassion and so began teaching them. Is Jesus’ response to the crowd what you would have expected? Would you have identified teaching as the primary need of sheep without a shepherd? What does Jesus’ teaching do for this crowd? What does Jesus’ teaching do for you? Does it play an essential role in your daily life and well-being?

 

 

 

 

Now look at verses 35-36. What do the disciples tell Jesus to do? What primary need do the disciples identify? What problem do the disciples put before Jesus? Why do you think it is the disciples who see this problem? What might this imply about the disciples and their state of mind and heart at this point? Does anyone else seemed concerned about this problem? Does the crowd seem concerned about it? Does Jesus seem concerned?

 

 

 

 

What do you think of the disciples’ solution to the problem? Does their solution seem good and logical to you?

 

 

 

 

Jesus has a very different solution to the problem that the disciples identify. What is Jesus’ solution to the problem? What do the disciples think of Jesus’ solution to the problem they have identified? How would you paraphrase what the disciples are saying in verse 37?

 

 

 

 

What do you think of Jesus’ solution? Does his solution seem good to you? If you had been one of the disciples how might you have responded to Jesus? Why?

 

 

 

 

What is different between the two possible solutions to the problem? Why do you think Jesus and his disciples come up with such different solutions to the problem before them?

 

 

 

 

How do you see the conflict between the disciples’ solution to ministry needs and Jesus’ solution to ministry needs being expressed in our culture?

 

 

 

 

How do you this conflict being expressed in our church?

 

 

 

 

How do you see it being expressed in your own life?

 

 

 

 

Go back to the disciples. Given all that they had seen Jesus do and given their just-completed experience where they had seen the power and authority of Jesus working through them, why did they seem so incredulous when Jesus said, “You give them something to eat”? What happened to the disciples? After having gone out in faith and seen that faith vindicated, why did they lose faith now?

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5: Read Mark 6: 38-44

Jesus asks them to see how many loaves they have (verse 38). Why didn’t the disciples already know how many loaves they had? Why hadn’t they checked before coming to Jesus with their solution to the crowd’s problem?

 

 

 

Why do you think he tells them to do this? What do you think Jesus wants his disciples to see and understand? What ministry principle do you see here?

 

 

 

 

Go back to the disciples’ solution to the hunger problem of the crowd. The disciples do inventory of what they have and discover that they have 5 small loaves and two small fish. That would be enough for a meal for one or at most two men. Now, when the disciples told Jesus to dismiss the crowd so that it could scatter and find food for itself, how easy do you think this would have been? How much of the crowd would have found food? How likely is it that the disciples’ “solution” would really have solved the problem?

 

 

 

 

So, how truly logical had the disciples’ solution been? Do you think the disciples truly cared about the people in the crowd? Do you think the disciples really expected that the crowd would be able to find food if they were dismissed? What do you think the disciples cared about? What was there “solution” designed to do?

 

 

 

 

Now look at verses 39-40. What does Jesus instruct his disciples to do?

Why does Jesus direct them to be seated in groups of hundreds and fifties?

Robert Guelich says: “He [Jesus] orders the crowd “to be seated,” to take their normal position for a meal (to recline, anakline), in “companies” [symposia), a word connoting a special kind of bond. It is used of a ‘drinking party”, a ‘banquet’.  The symbolism of fellowship around a table reflecting a new kind of community runs through Jesus’ ministry. Here the arrangement in groups according to fifties and hundreds doubtless has more than a utilitarian function. In Exodus 18:15 (see also Numbers 31:14) Moses arranged the Israelites in groups of 1000, 500, 100 and 10 under their respective leaders. The Qumran literature takes such groupings as an eschatological model for their own sectarian life… Thus, the arrangement points back to the time of God’s miraculous provision for the needs of the people in the wilderness and hints at the eschatological moment in the gathering of God’s people into communities at the end time.  (Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1-8:26, Word Biblical Commentary, p. 341) 

 

Why do you think Mark mentions the color of the grass?  Why is this important to his story? Who needs green grass? Read this passage in the light of Psalm 23. How is Jesus serving as a shepherd in this passage? In what ways is Jesus caring for his flock? How is he feeding his flock and guiding it?

 

 

 

 

Now think of the ways Jesus wants to serve as a shepherd to you? How is he doing that? How open are you to allowing Jesus to be your shepherd? In what ways are you resisting his shepherding care?

 

 

 

 

What does Jesus do with the 5 loaves and the 2 fish? Compare this passage with 2 Kings 4: 1-7. What similarities do you see between these two incidents? What ministry principle might you draw from this? What does Jesus do with the things His disciples bring to Him?

 

 

 

 

Compare, too, this passage with Mark 14: 22 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. What parallels do you see? How does Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 fill out your understanding of what is going on when you receive communion?

 

 

 

 

Why do you think Mark tells us that the disciples pick up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish? Why is this significant?

 

 

 

 

 

For Small Group Reflection and Discussion

Verse 30 says that so many people were coming and going that the disciples were to busy even to eat. How close is that description of the disciples to your life? How are stress, busyness and fatigue affecting your life and your relationships?

 

Jesus tells his disciples to come away with him to a quiet place and rest. How often do you make time to be quiet with Jesus? What happens when you do set aside quiet time to be with him?

 

What is rest for you? Where is your quiet place of rest? How often do you give yourself permission to rest? Why is this important for you?

 

Jesus and his disciples get in a boat to go to a quiet place but when they land they find a large crowd waiting for them. While we are not told this explicitly, there are clues in the text that the disciples are not happy about this; they have had enough of crowds and demands and work for a while. When has tiredness blunted your desire to care for others? What factors contributed to your tiredness and burnout? What steps can you take to counteract burnout and a hardened heart? How would you like your small group to help and encourage you in this?

 

Having stressed the value of getting rest, there is, nonetheless, an important ministry principle that is highlighted in this passage. If we rely on ourselves and on our natural, depleted strength, we will (even when rested) become resentful of people’s needs. When have you seen this to be true in your life? On the other hand, have there been times in your life when you responded to needs with supernatural strength, grace and love? How did this happen?

 

What does it mean to you that Jesus is a shepherd and you are a sheep? How have you experienced Jesus’ shepherding care? In what areas of your life do you need Jesus’ shepherding care now?

 

Verse 42 says that “they all ate and were satisfied”. Think about this verse in conjunction with the following verses

• Psalm 63: 4-5 - "I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise."
• Hosea 13:5-6 5 - "I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me."
• John 4:13-14 - "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
• John 6: 35 - "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

 

What do these passages say to you about Jesus and his intent for his people? Where do the people you know look for their satisfaction? How satisfied are they? Where are you looking for your satisfaction? How is Jesus filling and satisfying you? Is he enough for you?

 

The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle of Jesus recounted in all four gospels (Mark 6:30-44; Matthew 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9; John 6:1-14). Why do you think this is so? What is so important about this incident in terms of revealing the identity, nature, character and purpose of Jesus? And, what is so pivotal in this incident in terms of understanding what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus and how true disciples are formed?

 

Jesus and Herod, the two kings of this chapter, both serve banquets. Compare the two. What is the occasion and purpose of each banquet? Who are the recipients of the banquet? What is the end result of each banquet?

 

What do you sense God saying to you through this passage? How would you like your small group to pray for you this week?