JULY 18, 2023 – ABUNDANCE OF LIFE

READ: Mark. 6:34-44

And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples … So they all ate and were filled. – Mark. 6: 41,42

When the disciples return from  their experiences, Jesus seeks a solitary place. But  the crowd follows Him. The Lord sees them and He is moved with compassion for them (v.34). They are like sheep without a shepherd. They have no guidance for their life with and for God. They do not receive spiritual food until  Jesus proclaims the Gospel message.

He shows Himself to them as the true, good Shepherd, who gives His sheep precious food. It becomes late and they have nothing to eat. But when the disciples worry about it, it turns out that the Lord Jesus also uses this situation to show Himself as the good Shepherd. Because if you seek His Kingdom, everything else will be given to you, as the Lord said in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:31-34). His disciples believe there is only one option: to send the crowd home. They cannot possibly “give them something to eat.” They do not think about the power of Jesus.     .

Jesus now gives them His orders. He is going to provide a miracle meal with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to a crowd of 5000 men. But it must proceed in an orderly manner: in groups. Everyone must be able to get their share. Jesus shows His dependence on the Father in His prayer for a blessing by looking up, so that everyone could see it. All are satisfied, much is left over. Once again, a miracle of God in which Jesus shows that He is the Good Shepherd. Believe in Him! He gives you eternal life!

What message does this hold for your life?

Singing: Ps. 25:6