The Gospel According To Mark (Part 22)

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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 22)

 

Welcome to Jesus Church here and online

We are on part 22 in our series talking about Jesus and His life

• Again the main objective is found in VERSE ONE (1)

Mk. 1:1

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

• Who Jesus is and his significance is found in VERSE DOUBLE ONE (11)

MK. 1:11

A voice came from heaven: You’re the Son I love; with you I’m well pleased

• The message for Jesus is found only A FEW VERSES LATER

Mk. 1:15

The time has come, he said “The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.

Last week we looked at what theologians call a Markian Sandwich

• Mark tells one story and then before he finishes… adds a 2^nd story
  • And those two stories are meant to complement each other
• And two stories are about the disciples… and John the Baptist
  • The first story tells of Jesus sending out the 12 as missionaries
    • To share the good news of Jesus to the world
    • And to show through miracles and power over the demonic
    • That the Kingdom of God has come with authority
  • But the 2^nd story is about John the Baptist… a righteous/holy man
    • Who is killed for what he believes in
• And in this Mark fuses together the ideas of mission and persecution
  • Because contrary to many books out there
    • Life as a believer is hard and dangerous
    • Jesus never said it would be easy… but it will be worth it

Today we read 1 of the most famous stories in the Bible

Feeding for 5000… and as an illustration after service we’ll feed all of you

Mk 6:31-44

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in 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. 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.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and its already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” 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?” How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in 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. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

[PRAY]

Story

One of my most vivid memories growing up in church was the felt board

• Anyone else old enough to remember the felt board???
  • And I remember those pieces like it was yesterday (Pic 1)
  • It was basically an ipad that you didn’t have to charge (Pic 2)
  • And that kid isn’t me… but with that bowl cut – could have been
    • Or my sister b/c my parents gave us the same haircut (Pic 3)
• But what I learned as a kid about this story
  • Isn’t even half of what is really going on in this story
  • The message and symbolism is far more than food/picnic
• And if you can understand what Mark is doing here
  • It will change the way you think about the work of Jesus
  • And change the way you live your life

Mk 6:31-33

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in 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.

So remember disciples just got done being sent to surrounding regions

• They’re tired… hungry… emotionally spent
  • They need to rest – So they head to the other side of the lake
  • And people see where they are going
    • And everyone from surrounding areas start running there
• 2 questions… how did they know where / why such a big deal
  • Because these are very big villages… but 5000 men show up
  • This is something significant
  • And its more than just those who were sick and demon possessed

Mk 6:34

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them…

• So they get to this place… and Jesus see’s this large crowd
  • Now usually when Mark uses the word “Crowd” – Ochlos
  • This means a crowd… but the emphasis is on MEN
  • And Matthew tells us there are women and children there
• But this word used means two specific types of crowds
  • 1: A large group of men who have come to the same place
  • 2: A multitude of troops gathered without orders
• You see growing up… story was warm fuzzies: Jesus having a picnic
  • You could see the checkered blankets on the hillside
  • Kids playing games and singing songs

That actually wasn’t what was happening at all

• B/C this remote area across the water where Jesus lands
  • It was the known hotbed for military resistances against Rome…
  • This is where the zealots/freedom fighters would attack & hide
• So Jesus shows up … and there are thousands of people waiting
  • Why are they all running from the surrounding towns
  • What are they all there for
  • Well in Johns account he says what Mark only hints at…

Jn 6:15

They intended to come and make him king by force.

• Everyone is there because they think Jesus is starting a revolution
  • And this comes on the heals of John the Baptist being beheaded
  • Which shows how awful and oppressive the rule actually was
  • So emotions are already insanely high… people are fed up

Tag: Because this is a story about a revolution

1^st thing to know: It’s a revolution that no one expected

Mk 6:34

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.

I love that even when Jesus is tired… he still has compassion

• You know it says that quite often about Jesus
  • That he looks at large crowds and has compassion on them
  • Because Jesus is compassionate…
  • We tend to get annoyed when people interrupt us
    • Jesus gets compassionate
• We often look at people and see problems
  • Jesus looks at people and see’s oppurtunities
  • To love… care… listen
• What if we were to look at people in our lives more like Jesus did
  • Specifically the people who interrupt us
  • The people who think about themselves before anyone else

But also… there is a really specific phrase Mark uses here

“Because they were like sheep without a shepherd”

• Now when you & I read this phrase we think is a pastoral image
  • We think of Ps. 23… the Lord is my shepherd
  • Or we think how the shepherd nurtures and cares for the flock
    • And all that is true…
• But that’s not what Mark is showing us here… at all
  • This is actually a quote of Moses’ prayer to God before he died
  • Moses asks God to appoint a military/political leader over Israel

Num 27:17-18

Moses said to the LORD, “May the LORD the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like a sheep without a shepherd.”

• So when Jesus looks out over this multitude of people
  • And he thinks of them as sheep without a shepherd…
  • He knows what they want… why they’re there
  • So what does he do???

Mk 6:34

He began teaching them many things.

Now if Jesus is a revolutionist: Expectation would be training not teaching

• It would be handing out weapons and teaching how to fight
  • And this happened and happens all the time
  • Military combat training by the revolutionary army
• But what does Jesus do in this passage in response

Timothy Keller

And how does he respond to their calling for a revolutionary leader? Jesus gives out his word and bread, and he gives his disciples bread distribution training.”

• • This would have been so odd… no swords, arrows, shields
  • Instead he teaches the gospel & has his generals hand out bread
• What type of revolution is that… that’s not how revolutions work
  • And its not like Jesus didn’t know what he was doing
  • This is calculated – he knew the area – what people would think
  • But HE MAKES A STATEMENT about what his revolution looks like

James Edwards

It’s clear from this account that Jesus will not march to a populist and military drumbeat… in Mark 6, He disavows that zealot model of liberation.

• In other words Jesus is rebelling against how people want him 2 rebel
  • BUT at the same time… he doesn’t reject that he brings revolution
  • He doesn’t reject that the people need to be liberated

So Jesus teaches the gospel… hands out bread – What is he saying?

• In America when we think of bread – Its carbs (deep symbolism)
  • But during Jesus time it wasn’t certain you could even get food
  • So holding bread in their hands would have symbolized “LIFE”
  • Even Jesus will tell us this when he says “I am the bread of life”
• So in “Picnic story” Jesus actually makes a huge statement for future
  • Other revolutionary leaders came to deal out death
  • Jesus has come to give out life
    • And he does that in 2 WAYS… Word & Deed

1: Through WORD… he taught them many things

Many times Jesus talks about the Word of God as bread

Matt. 4:4 (Jesus arguing with the devil in the temptation)

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Jn 6:26-27

It is not Moses who gave you the true bread from heaven, when he fed you with mana in the wilderness. It is my Father who gives you the true bread of heaven. Your forefathers ate the manna and they died. But here is the bread that a person may eat and not die. Don’t work for food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man can give you.

• Jesus tells us… we have a hunger that’s deeper than physical hunger
  • And physical bread will never be able to satisfy
  • And if you don’t get that hunger filled by me – You starve forever
  • Nothing else will align if you don’t first deal with ur souls hunger
    • Salvation… spiritual healing… relationship w/ creator

2: Through DEED… he not only speaks but also feeds

And when he feeds… its through a very intentional miracle

• Question: Why did Jesus do this miracle the way he did
  • In our world – People do amazing things to say “Look at me”
  • Naturally we think Jesus did miracles to say “Look what I can do”
• But if this was true… no way he would do this miracle
  • Multiply fish and loaves by just not letting them run out????
  • Even healing is cool… but not the best “Look what I can do”
    • Why not just stand on Sea of Galilee and fly up in the air
    • Or shoot fire from his finger and incinerate a tree
• But Jesus doesn’t do stuff life that – WHY?
  • Main reason for miracles: Show redemptive purpose of his power
  • Each miracle reveals the redemptive kingdom he invites us to

TAG: Jesus comes in WORD & DEED to show what kind of revolution this is

2^nd thing to know: Revolutionaries are very inadequate

Can’t miss this… Jesus goes out of his way to make this point

• Look how Jesus uses leaders in his movement

Mk 6:35-37

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and its already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

• Now this is a perfectly reasonable idea by the disciples
  • Up to 15000 people… only makes sense for them to get food
  • This is actually a very good idea
• But instead – Jesus responds with a very illogical solution

Mk 6:37

You give them something to eat.

• And in Greek… its really easy to see how Jesus would have said this
  • Because all the emphasis is on YOU
  • Disciples answer with a little sarcasm and a little offended
  • Why… because what Jesus is saying is IMPOSSIBLE

But that’s the point – Because this is how the Kingdom of God works

• Until you see that what Jesus is calling you to do is impossible
  • You will be absolutely unqualified to do it
  • Its when we come to that place in our lives where we realize
• There is no way I can do this on my own
  • There is no way I can tell people at my work about Jesus
  • There is no way I can lead a home group
  • There is no way I can save my marriage… raise my kids
• And you’re right – you can’t feed 15000 people
  • And once you get to that place… Jesus says ok now lets start

And look how Jesus actually walks this miracle out

Mk 6:38-44

How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in 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. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

• Jesus uses what they already have
  • He doesn’t make it all about him
    • There are no fish falling from the sky
    • No waving his hands and a platter suddenly appears
    • Jesus uses what his followers have with them
  • But again its not enough for the job
    • And only as the disciples go out in faith
    • Is it multiplied (yes the food… but also their faith)
    • Imagine the picture as they are watching the miracle happen
• Jesus power happens through the disciples… he uses people
  • B/C Jesus is telling us his work here on Earth – Takes a miracle
    • Miracle for someone to say YES when invited to church
    • Miracle for someone to listen to how God saved your life
  • And if you go out KNOWING
    • You are unqualified
    • Situation is impossible
    • This is gonna take a miracle
• Only then that Jesus can start to do his work through your life
  • Because Jesus isn’t looking for your power
  • He is looking for YOUR FAITH in HIS power
    • B/C this is the God who feeds tens of thousands with nothing
    • This is the God that storms bow to…

Tag: But this whole movement is lead by people who couldn’t do it

Last thing to know: Revolution based on shocking act

All revolutions start with a bang (invade the city/kill a leader)

• Historically revolutions always start with an act of violence
  • And Jesus’ revolution starts with an act of violence as well
  • And it’s foreshadowed right here in this story

Mk 6:41

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. (English translation)

• In the Greek the wording is very specific yet simple
  • When Mark wrote this he only used 2 words: Blessed & Broke
• Only a few chapters later in Mk 14 we see this fully revealed
  • Jesus is with his disciples at the Last Supper
  • Right before he is going to die
  • He says: This is my body

Mk 14:22

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it…

• Exact same two words used again… Blessed & Broke
  • This picnic story what is actually a revolution Jesus is starting
  • Its Jesus pointing to how he will make this revolution come alive
  • And its only through the violence of HIS death
• One day he’s with his disciples blessing & breaking
  • The next he is on the cross
  • And what does he say “Father forgive them…”
    • He was blessing
    • As he was broken

And just like Jesus… we are called to bless & break

• Not based on our ability – That’s impossible… but by his power
  • Because that’s what God’s kingdom is all about

[PRAY]