October 20th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Shepherd and Sheep

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, I look forward to this time with You, in Your presence. Energize me with Your Spirit now, I pray.

Read MARK 6:30-44

[30] The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. [31] 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.” [32] So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. [33] But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. [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. [35] 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. [36] Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” [37] 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?” [38] “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five-and two fish.” [39] Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. [40] So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. [41] 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. [42] They all ate and were satisfied, [43] and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. [44] The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

What attracted people to Jesus? Make a list of possible factors. What was the most significant? What attracts you to him?

Think Further

His availability may have been one factor: here was a rabbi who didn’t keep aloof, but allowed all comers to crowd around so that he had no time to eat (31)! Still, it wasn’t his availability that drew them in this story. Jesus tried to get away but the crowds ran after him. It wasn’t his healing power; only the fit could undertake that high-speed hike. No, it was his teaching that drew them: “he began teaching them many things” (34). He offered rich teaching and nourishment for the mind and the soul! People will travel for miles if someone offers insight and answers to the big questions they’re asking. Other things will attract, too, but good teaching and real wisdom are probably top of the list in most cultures.

This makes the feeding miracle all the more strange! These men didn’t need it. In Mark 8:2, Jesus waits until day three before raising the issue of food for the crowds. Here the disciples raise it, but not because there’s any real problem. So why does Jesus perform this amazing feeding?

He responds to the disciples in a way which pulls them out of the shadows, and makes them the main actors. He sets the problem before them, gets them to find the resources, and puts them out front, organizing the crowd into groups and distributing the bread and fish. Suddenly, instead of Jesus feeding the crowd with teaching, the disciples are doing it ― literally. “Bread” in the Old Testament was a symbol of God’s Law, his teaching for his people (for example, see Deut. 8:3; Isa. 55:10,11). Jesus has engineered a wonderful symbol of what he wants his disciples to do permanently: to feed the world with his Word.

Apply

How do you think Christians could offer wisdom which pulls crowds today? Pray about what would pull your neighbors and friends to hear about Jesus.

Closing prayer

Lord, as You have been a shepherd to me, may I be a shepherd to those connected with me. Give me words of wisdom and acts of love for them.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store