Mark 6:35-45

Mark 6:35-45 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so 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 eight months of a man’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 set before 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. Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

This is a wonderful story, for it reveals the nature of a TRUE SHEPHERD. Jesus fed the sheep. The true shepherd watches out for the sheep. The disciples were there, they were reveling in Jesus' ministry, but they were not yet shepherds. They pretty much wanted to get these people out of their hair as quickly as they could since the "real ministry" was over. First, they thought Jesus should just dismiss them, send them away. Next, they thought maybe they might have to use eight months' wages to get these people fed and on their way. But Jesus says, “You give them something to eat." As a good shepherd, Jesus took inventory of what He had, how much good pasture He had left. The disciples tell him, five loaves and the two fish. This was all Jesus had to feed the sheep, but it was abundantly enough. The good shepherd will always make sure that He has abundantly enough for that day. Jesus did not let the sheep mill around, searching for their own food. He directed them. . .sit down in groups. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. When they were quieted, orderly, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Jesus gave thanks for the provisions He had and asked God to make it abundant. After the people were done eating, the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish, one for each disciple.

In this story of feeding the 5,000, we see the actions of a "true shepherd," a true dad, a true mother, a true head of the household, a true friend. We see Jesus gathering the sheep around him and taking care of them. He did not let the disciples take control of them; He took control of them. The disciples merely followed his orders. In fact, Jesus was so much responsible for the people that He first sent his disciples away to the boat before He dismisses the people. Jesus is left alone amongst the crowd to say his intimate and congregate good-byes. I am sure He must have been tired after ministering all day. But He was alone to deal with their persistent outreached hands, their pleas for help, and finally their excited good-byes. He left last because He was the "good shepherd." How quickly do we want to leave after we have ministered? How quickly do we want to leave a hospital room after we have prayed for the sick person? How concerned are we for our loved ones when we have had a long, tiring day and seek rest? Are we too quick to exit the scene, to leave the sick, the lonely, the hurting?

Jesus was the good Shepherd. I believe there were twelve baskets because Jesus was teaching each disciple that day about ministering. He was teaching them that little is enough if the provisions are provided and blessed by God. He was teaching them what it means to really care for the people. Yes, the disciples loved the ministry part, but I don't believe they cared very much for the service part. They loved the crowd looking their way because they were the chosen twelve, but they did not care as much about serving the people. Why can I say that? Because they were human, just as you and I are human. These are the same men who argued about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. But that day, Jesus revealed the work and the heart of a true shepherd: He sacrifices his life, his comfort, his desires for the sheep.