Does Jesus care? It’s a question we often ask when we’re walking through difficult times. In today’s episode, J. Mark turns to Mark 6:30-44 to reveal the answer. Through the account of the feeding of the 5,000, we see Jesus’ deep compassion as He recognizes and meets the needs of those around Him. This passage reminds us that the same Savior who cared for the crowd still cares for us today.
Transcript
It is good to be with you today for another look into God’s Word. In our passage today, we will examine one of the most well-known miracles Jesus performed. Years ago, I had a co-teacher who led a chapel on this passage; now, every time I hear this miracle, I think about my fives and twos. I am sure you remember the boy who gave his five loaves and two fish to Jesus. The boy gave all he had. My co-teacher said that it is a good lesson for us: give everything to Jesus. Even if you don’t have many possessions to give, almost everyone has five fingers and two arms. So start there, give your five fingers and two arms to Jesus, and you may be surprised at what he will do with them.
As J Mark reads Mark 6, note the times Jesus noticed and cared for the needs of those around Him. Our title is “Does Jesus Care?” and we will look at three ways Jesus cared for those close to him.
All of us go through difficult things in life. At times, we may even ask this question: “Does Jesus really care? If He does, then why doesn’t He do something to help me?”
I’m sure that when Jesus walked on this earth, people raised that same question: “Does Jesus Care?” That’s the title for our study today from Mark 6:30 to 44.
30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.
31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.
34 And when He came out, He saw a multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So, He began to teach them many things.
35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.
36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”
37 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.
41 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 to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.
42 So they all ate and were filled.
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.
44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.
Jesus’ PROVISION for the needs highlighted in our text demonstrates that He cares.
The First PROVISION that shows Jesus’ care is,
Rest for the Workers
Our text opens with the Twelve returning from their first missionary assignment. Naturally, Jesus, as their teacher and mentor, wanted to hear about their experiences. After a time of strenuous ministry, Jesus knew the Twelve were tired and needed refreshment. So, He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to some deserted place and rest awhile.”
That wasn’t possible in their current location because the crowds of people were constantly coming and going. They were so busy they didn’t even have time to eat. So, Jesus invited them to join Him in a secluded place.
In the frenzied pace of life, the rest we need is challenging to find. People today seem to be obsessed with going, going, going! Jesus knew that without rest, we would crash physically and emotionally, and He didn’t want that to happen to His disciples. And Jesus doesn’t want that to happen to you and me either.
Ministry is tiring. Dealing with people and their needs takes energy. We are not a well with an endless supply of water. We are channels through which God’s power and love can flow. We require periods of rest and replenishment. However, we can’t always get those things while maintaining our daily schedule. Jesus has rest for His workers.
Another PROVISION that shows Jesus’ care is,
Direction for the Wandering
As Jesus and His disciples were leaving, some of the people recognized Him. They spread the news, and people came from all the surrounding towns. They ran along the lake shore and arrived at the landing place before Jesus. When Jesus arrived at the designated landing place, instead of the promised rest for Him and the Twelve, a multitude had already gathered. The only rest they had was the short sail across the lake.
Jesus could have been resentful of this crowd; they were interfering with plans for much-needed rest. However, as He looked on this great multitude, He was deeply moved.
And what moved Jesus so deeply? Their spiritual need stirred him. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd. They needed someone to lead and protect them. Without a shepherd, the sheep are vulnerable to danger and destruction. That’s how Jesus viewed this multitude.
These people had numerous official leaders, including rabbis and other religious authorities. However, they were hirelings who didn’t care for the sheep. They liked the power and benefits of their positions and the cozy relationships they had with political leaders.
Unfortunately, there are many leaders like them today. Jesus warned that as we approach the end of the age, false prophets will proliferate, and many gullible people will be deceived. The sheep are uncared for. However, Jesus knows, and He’s keeping the record. Jesus has the same compassion today when He sees the needs of the sheep.
Jesus had come to this location for rest, but the spiritual needs of the multitude touched His heart. In response, “He kept on teaching them.”
The Final PROVISION that shows Jesus’ care is,
Bread for the Wanting
Imagine the crowd, in this beautiful rural setting, captivated by the authoritative teaching of Jesus, oblivious to the passing of time. As evening approaches, the disciples become nervous.
They propose to Jesus their plan for caring for the multitude. “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” These are logical conclusions, but Jesus already has a solution to the problem. In response to their advice, He says, “You give them something to eat.”
Imagine yourself in their place! They are shocked. They ask, “Shall we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread so everyone can eat?” The combined daily wages of 200 men wouldn’t buy enough bread for everyone! To their question, Jesus calmly replied, “Go and see how many loaves are available.” Soon, they returned with the answer: five loaves and two fish. What they had on hand was totally inadequate for the need.
Jesus commanded the disciples to instruct the multitude to recline in groups upon the green grass. It was near Passover time, and the afternoon sun shone down on the orderly groups of people. This organized the distribution of the food.
Have you ever tried to visualize how all this food was distributed? How did they handle all that bread? Is that what the 12 large baskets (v. 43) were used for? After blessing the loaves and breaking them, He gave the pieces to His disciples to distribute to the crowd. The fish were in addition to the twelve baskets of bread!
There wasn’t just enough food to take the “edge” off their hunger, as we sometimes say. It wasn’t a snack. Everyone ate until they were satisfied. In other contexts, this exact word is translated as “well-fed” and even “gorged.” Everyone ate as much as they wanted.
After everyone was satisfied, the remnants filled 12 baskets! And there were leftovers of fish, too. One basket of leftovers for each of the 12 disciples. What a demonstration of Jesus’ care for the people and His miraculous power.
Some copies of the Scripture place this miracle under the heading, “the feeding of the 5,000.” But that’s not accurate. It easily could have been 15,000 or more. There were 5,000 men, but only God knows how many women and children! This was the high point of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. It was a miracle that caused many to follow Him, sadly, for the wrong reasons.
How would you answer the question, “Does Jesus Care?” Can you testify personally to His care for you? I can. I have experienced His provision of rest for workers.
And direction for the wandering; have you experienced that? Do you know what it feels like to be lost, unsure of what you’re doing or where you’re going? But I’m so glad that God has given us His Word. It provides answers to our questions. It is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. The teachings of Jesus provide hope and healing in a world full of pain and hurt. Illuminated by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by our brothers and sisters, they give us direction.
The most amazing demonstration of Jesus’ care is the giving of His life for our salvation! That is genuinely a direction for the wandering. We are all like sheep; we have all gone astray, and we have all turned to our own way. But God laid on Jesus our iniquity so we could be rescued from our wandering and brought safely into His fold as His sheep. We demonstrate our care for others when we share with them this most essential provision of Jesus’ care.
Finally, have you experienced Jesus’ care in your need for physical food? No, I’ve never been fed miraculously like this crowd, but Jesus provides for my daily bread every day. If Jesus didn’t offer health, strength, and soundness of mind every day, I couldn’t work to provide for my needs and those of my family. You couldn’t either.
I trust you can say about Jesus, “Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares. His heart is touched with my grief. Though the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I KNOW my Savior cares!”
What a fitting way to end the lesson. Thanks, J. Mark. My mind also went to this song when I heard the title. Most of us know in our heads that Jesus cares, but there are times when we want to feel it as well. This desire is good, and many times when I feel far from God, I’ve found it’s my fault, not God’s. I must come to Him on His terms and take His teaching seriously.
If you have any questions about today’s lesson or would like to contact us, you can reach us by email or the internet. Our email address is hope@heraldsofhope.org, and our website is heraldsofhope.org. There, go to the “partner” tab at the top. Under this tab, you will see “contact us”; from there, you can message us directly. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks so much for being here today. One last thought before you go. Today, we looked at several practical ways Jesus cared for those around Him. I think it is clear that Jesus does care. If you are still not sure, remember this promise from 1 Peter 5:7: it requires action on our part, but the promise is dependable and solid. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
